Redfall: Arkane Austin Was Hoping Microsoft Would Cancel The Game

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Malik Usman

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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Microsoft acquired Zenimax for 7.5 billion dollars in March 2021. It was a great step for Microsoft as it got ownership of popular gaming studios like Arkane. The developer has recently released Redfall, but the game was not well received.

A report by Bloomberg reveals that Arkane Studios was never too confident with Redfall. The game suffered from a troubled development, and the report also revealed that many developers were hoping that Microsoft would cancel Redfall.

Why it matters: Microsoft took the blame for Redfall’s poor launch, but the report confirms that the game was already in poor shape before Microsoft took over Zenimax.

Many developers at Arkane had already realized that Redfall would become a disaster as the game did not have a clear direction. As such, some developers were also hoping Microsoft would reboot the project as a single-player title.

However, Microsoft kept a hands-off approach and decided to delay the game in an attempt to allow the studio to improve things before launch. Following a year-long delay, Redfall finally launched last month, but it was evident that the delay did little to help the game.

Redfall began as a multiplayer live-service title. But Arkane Studios developers are equipped with the skills of making single-player titles, as seen with games like Dishonored and Prey.

While Microsoft’s hands-off approach can be great in some cases, it seems like the company was too relaxed, in this instance.

If the gaming giant had intervened and shifted the game’s direction, Redfall could have been another fantastic title from Arkane Studios. Microsoft intends to improve the game with post-launch updates, with a 60FPS update also planned.

However, it remains to be seen if Redfall will ever become a title that can live up to Arkane’s legacy of excellent releases.

Malik Usman

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Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

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