Arkane, Bethesda, and Xbox Game Studios' Redfall is one of the most disappointing releases of 2023 for several reasons, but mainly because it feels like a collection of ideas and mechanics in search of a game. The island setting and vampire slaying action can be fun at times, but it's an experience that is also plagued with technical issues.

A snippet.

As an open-world setting for a new first-person action, stealth, exploration jam from Arkane - the studio behind critically acclaimed titles like Dishonored, Prey, and, more recently, Deathloop - Redfall the town presents an evocative and strikingly quaint locale to videogame in. That said, this is also a departure for both the studio and Bethesda, so Redfall the videogame offers a story-driven and loot-heavy campaign that can be played solo or co-op with up to four players.

It’s a shame, then, that even with its sound premise, an interesting setting, and co-op sandbox framework, Redfall is just so disappointing. So many of its elements feel off, from small things like the lack of a weapon wheel to switch between weapons to slightly more critical gripes like being three screens away from changing a pistol to a UV Beam.

These criticisms sit low on a list that includes bigger things like its confusing and meandering narrative, lack of meaningful exploration and discovery, and the complete lack of surprise. For a game with “loot” to find, that last bit is what you’d call a nail in the wooden box.

Our Full Redfall Review

Today marks the release date for the long-awaited Redfall from Arkane Austin, Bethesda, and Xbox, with the game now playable and available via Xbox Game Pass for Xbox Series X|S and PC. The review code for this one came in hot over the weekend, so we're not quite done with our adventure through the sleepy vampire-infested town of Redfall, but so far, it's a disappointing outing for the studio known for great games like Dishonored and Prey.

This is not to say that it's outright bad or not worth playing, its just that its ambitions as an open-world sandbox looter shooter thing mixed with Arkane's immersive sim sensibilities fall flat. Which, yeah, is disappointing. Often in strange, baffling ways too.

Throw in technical shortcomings and a feeling that this was released long before it was "ready," and you've ultimately got something that feels like mechanics, structure, and systems in search of a game - a fun co-op game. But hey, it's out now, so be sure to jump in and play for yourself if you're keen on taking out a few vampires.

Here's the launch trailer, which does reaffirm one of Redfall's strengths - its art direction.

Console releases these days usually arrive with two visual modes, Quality, and Performance. The former offers a native or close-to-native 4K resolution with additional visual settings running at 30fps. Performance is the 60 frames-per-second modes rendered at a lower resolution to maintain smooth performance. Arkane's co-op vampire-slaying Redfall is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S with its Quality Mode only.

The announcement came via the official Redfall Twitter account, confirming that Redfall is launching with Quality mode only, which means 4K 30 FPS on the Xbox Series X and 1440p 30 FPS on the Xbox Series S. No word on when the Performance mode will arrive other than "at a later date."

Redfall is launching on Xbox consoles with Quality mode only:
Xbox Series X: 4K 30 FPS
Xbox Series S: 1440p 30 FPS
60 FPS Performance mode will be added via game update at a later date. pic.twitter.com/NLaGsMbwdW

— Redfall (@playRedfall) April 12, 2023

The news has caused a lot of backlash amongst the Xbox community and critics alike, noting that for first-person titles, especially an FPS, 60 FPS should be mandatory or the norm on systems like the Xbox Series X. Naturally, 60 FPS is commonplace as the performance target when it comes to PC gaming - and it's expected that Redfall will be a 60 FPS and higher game on PC, especially with the addition of tech like DLSS.

Our recent hands-on with Redfall (which you can read here) was conducted playing the PC version, where performance, although a little inconsistent as the preview code, definitely hit 60 FPS.

Redfall is out May 2 for Xbox Series X|S and PC.

From the creators of Dishonored and Prey, Redfall is a co-op action game set in a sleepy coastal town overrun by vampires. It headed to Xbox Series X|S and PC in May (and will be available as a part of Xbox Game Pass) and we recently had the chance to go fangs-on. That is hands-on, and, err, play the game.

And... so far, so good. A snippet.

With the game’s release slated for May 2 on PC and Xbox, Redfall is something of a departure while still feeling like a game from the studio behind Dishonored. And that’s a departure in that the setting of coastal Redfall, Massachusetts, presents an open-world environment full of exploration and NPC-driven “side quests.”

Class-based skills, leveling, and a string of weapons of varying rarity and stats give the action an action-RPG feel. But this isn’t a “looter shooter” per se, in that rewards and weapons are not the be-all end-all of progression - as Redfall is firmly focused on delivering an engaging cinematic action and ability-based experience with story front and center, alongside that quintessential Arkane style.

Check Our Full Redfall Hands-On Preview HERE