With Starfield without a release date and its showcase yet to be dated, Arkane Studios’ Redfall is the biggest upcoming console exclusive for Xbox Series X/S. The co-op title sees players battling through the titular town in Massachusetts to take down vampires who have blocked out the sun. While it’s a looter shooter, much of the studio’s DNA is still inherent in the environmental storytelling.
Speaking to IGN, production director Ben Horne said, “We wanted to maintain the things about Arkane’s DNA that we love. Things about our games in the past that we really appreciate, like environmental storytelling and a strong kind of narrative throughput in the world so that the world feels lived in. It feels worth saving.
“So, as we took on this challenge to make such a huge open world, we wanted to ensure that every home that players walked into… a convenience store have readables. Thousands and thousands of lines of readables in the game tell the story of Redfall leading up – the months, weeks, and days leading up to the events of Redfall. And we think that’s one of the things that sets the game apart, and is something special.”
Though Redfall is playable solo, co-op is arguably the main appeal. Despite campaign progression being tied to the host, co-op is untethered, so each player can go to different corners of the map and explore freely. It’s also where the various character builds will shine.
Redfall launches on May 2nd for Xbox Series X/S and PC and on day one for Game Pass. A new trailer highlighted the various locations players would explore, from the real to the surreal – check it out here.
