Locked in the Coffin – Canceled Redfall Update Detailed
When revealed at the Xbox Showcase back in 2021, Arkane Austin’s Redfall had a rocky launch. Delayed a full year and upon release in 2023 failing in a number of ways. The title was slowly making an effort for a bite back. It started with an October 2023 patch, adding in a Performance mode and various bug-fixes.
The developer was set release a major update soon, adding in the final batch of missing features fan requested. Sadly, due to the studio being no more as of this writing, development on the game has concluded. Here is the information surrounding the canceled update and DLC plans.
Getting Staked – Redfall Canceled Patch and DLC
IGN got the scoop, detailing the following regarding Redfall and it’s now canceled 2024 content;
Arkane Austin was working on DLC and updates for the game with the expectation they would release until very recently, IGN understands, suggesting Microsoft’s internal announcement today that it was closing the developer as well as Hi-Fi Rush studio Tango Gameworks came as a shock to staff.
IGN was told that the now canceled Hero Pass content, which was set to add two new characters to the vampire co-op shooter, was scheduled for release this Halloween. If it had come out, the Hero Pass would have marked a year-and-a-half of post-launch support for a game that had suffered a disastrous launch and an ever-shrinking playerbase.
The developers were working on this update to the wire, according to Kotaku. It was likely possible Arkane Austin would have shared information on this update sooner than later, potentially even being part of the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase.
Microsoft has confirmed that despite the game never receiving the offline mode, the servers would remain active for the time being.
Overall Thoughts
Redfall was a title I simply did not play. I dabbled with it when the 60FPS patch released in October 2023 but I never played beyond the opening area. But like other live service failings at launch, the game deserved a chance at redemption.
Look no further than Fallout 76. The game released in a horrific state at launch, being critically panned and turning Bethesda Game Studios into a laughing stock. It took many years of support and game-changing updates to turn it around. And as of this writing, Fallout 76 is one of the biggest successes Bethesda today.
It was a great companion piece to the Fallout TV series and that was only possible with giving it time to recover. If Redfall had a similar opportunity to redeem itself, it could have been a great companion game for Arkane. Similar to how Fallout 76‘s micro-transactions helped keep the lights on for Bethesda Game Studios. It could have done the same for Arkane proper.
But will you stake some vampires for old times’ sake while the servers are still active? Let us know in the comments below!
