Harvey Smith, a veteran game designer and former Arkane studio director, reflects on the closure of Arkane Studios by Microsoft following the poor performance of Redfall, emphasizing the unpredictability of creative efforts and expressing concern for the junior staff affected by the shutdown. He also discusses the challenges of online feedback and the potential missed opportunities with updates and unreleased projects like a Blade Runner game.
Arkane Austin's final update for Redfall pays homage to its immersive sim roots and the legacy of Looking Glass Studios with a reference to the iconic '451' code. The update, which includes an offline mode and other enhancements, marks a poignant end for the studio following its closure by Xbox.
Arkane Austin has released the final update for Redfall, marking the end of the studio's work on the game and its closure by Microsoft. The update, version 1.451.3.0, includes long-awaited features like offline mode and single-player pausing. The closure of Arkane Austin, along with other Bethesda studios, has been met with industry criticism.
Arkane Austin, the studio behind the vampire-themed loot shooter Redfall, has released its final update before being shuttered by Xbox. The update introduces an offline mode, a revamped neighborhood system, elder nests, and various improvements. Despite the team's efforts to address player concerns and enhance the game, Redfall will not reach its full potential due to the studio's closure.
Redfall's final Xbox update, Game Update 4, introduces an offline mode, ensuring the game remains playable even if servers are shut down. The update, around 19.94 GB, also adds a reputation bar, Elder Nests, a Story Mode setting, and more. This comes as Microsoft announces the closure of Arkane Austin and other Bethesda studios, raising concerns about the future of Xbox's game lineup.
Bethesda Softworks and Arkane Studios Austin have released the final update for Redfall, adding features like offline mode, single-player pausing, and new gameplay elements such as "Community Standing" and "Elder Nests." The update enhances the game with quality-of-life improvements and new challenges, allowing players to enjoy the game disconnected from the internet and pause during solo sessions.
The gaming industry in 2023 faced several blunders, including Logan Paul's failure to refund CryptoZoo buyers, a YouTuber accidentally revealing his wallet's seed phrase, the controversial launch and subsequent failure of Creator League, Unity's unpopular fee model announcement and subsequent retraction, the poor reception of Bethesda's game Redfall, and the unique permanent ban of Dota 2 streamer Mason by Valve with a virtual lump of coal. These incidents highlight the challenges and missteps within the gaming and crypto spaces over the year.
The player count for Xbox's exclusive game "Redfall" has dropped to single digits on Steam, making it difficult to fill a four-player co-op lobby. The game debuted with 6,124 concurrent players on Steam but quickly dwindled below 100. Despite being available on Game Pass, the low player count is seen as a negative sign for the game, although recent updates have led to a slight increase in player numbers.
Redfall, the troubled shooter game from Bethesda, has finally received a much-needed update, bringing a 60 FPS option for Xbox players, along with other improvements to gameplay. The update comes six months after the game's disastrous launch, which saw low player numbers and negative reviews. Despite the game still lacking matchmaking, the update has been well-received by players, with many praising the significant improvements. It is speculated that more changes will come to Redfall as Xbox aims to boost its GamePass offerings.
Five months after its release, Redfall has finally received a 60fps mode on Xbox Series X/S, along with improved performance on PC, stealth takedowns, increased enemy counts, and more. The update also includes gameplay and performance improvements, such as increased open-world enemy population and balancing for mission encounters. Redfall's concurrent player count on Steam has dropped significantly, with the game facing technical issues and unfulfilled potential.
Redfall, the vampire-themed first-person shooter game from Bethesda and Arkane Studios, has seen a significant decline in player numbers since its release, with concurrent players dropping below 100 on Steam just two months after launch. The game has struggled to attract a substantial audience, with a peak of only over 6,000 concurrent players. Redfall has received negative reviews from players, citing bugs, glitches, and server issues, as well as a lack of staff and an unclear vision for the game. Despite being backed by Microsoft's Bethesda Softworks, Redfall has failed to live up to expectations and has a "Mostly Negative" player score on Steam.
The number of concurrent players for the game Redfall on Steam has dropped significantly, reaching single figures every day for the past two weeks. At times, there are not enough players to fill a full four-player co-op lobby. The game's peak concurrent player count in the past 24 hours was 36 players. Redfall, an Xbox exclusive published by Microsoft-owned Bethesda, is also available on Game Pass, which may contribute to some PC users still playing the game. Despite the underwhelming reception at launch, Bethesda plans to continue improving the game and make it a good experience for players.
Bethesda insists that Redfall, the co-op vampire shooter developed by Arkane Austin, will improve over time despite its underwhelming launch. The company compares the game's situation to previous titles like The Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 76, which also had rocky starts but eventually became successful. Bethesda plans to continue working on Redfall, including releasing a 60FPS update, as they believe in the longevity of Game Pass. Recent minor patches have already addressed various gameplay issues and improved performance and stability.
Bethesda's Pete Hines reassures players that despite the lukewarm reception of Redfall, the company is committed to improving the game and believes it will be a popular title on Game Pass in the future. Hines compares Redfall to previous Bethesda games that faced challenges at launch but eventually became successful. The game is expected to receive updates, including a promised 60fps performance mode, although no specific timeline has been provided. Redfall's launch struggles have prompted reflections on Xbox's role in its weak release.
Despite its rocky launch and negative reviews, some fans of the Xbox exclusive game Redfall have found enjoyment in the flawed vampire shooter. These dedicated players appreciate the grind of leveling up and unlocking new gear, as well as the hidden lore and world-building elements. While the game has lost a significant number of players since its release, there are still fans who hope for improvements and additional content in the future. The game has received patches to address bugs and balance issues, but there are still areas that need improvement, such as tracking story progress for all players and allowing travel between open-world maps. The future of Redfall remains uncertain, but its devoted fan community continues to support and explore the game.