Redfall gameplay, trailers, story details and more

Redfall will be taking us to an island town overrun by vampires sometime next year. Created by Arkane Studios, the developer behind Deathloop and Prey, the upcoming open-world co-op FPS looks set to deliver some very different bloodsuckers into the fray. With four different main characters with their own set of abilities, we’ll be able to jump in solo or take on the vamps with three other players. Set to come to PC and Xbox Series X/S, the game is currently slated for release sometime in the first half of 2023 after being delayed alongside Bethesda’s Starfield

We got a load of new details and a gameplay trailer at the Xbox and Bethesda Game Showcase at E3 2022, so read on below to find out everything we know so far about Redfall. 

Redfall release date delay

Redfall

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Redfall was initially meant to launch in summer 2022 on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, and Xbox Game Pass. But as we suspected due to so many dev teams working from home and other complications of the COVID-19 pandemic, a delay has been announced. 

There’s no set release date since the delay announcement, but we did get a rather large window: the first half of 2023. Since it’s still a ways off, pre-orders aren’t live just yet, but they will likely open up once it gets closer to release. However, you can sign up for updates by joining Arkane Outsider (opens in new tab), and doing so nets you a nifty digital artbook. 

Redfall cinematic trailer

Redfall was revealed via a stylish cinematic trailer during Microsoft and Bethesda’s E3 2021 showcase. It unfortunately didn’t give us a look at its gameplay, but it did a great job at conveying tone, which seems to blend intriguing characters with a dark, yet beautiful world. 

Its trailer clocks in at nearly five minutes long, so there’s plenty to gawk at for the time being. 

As explained by Bethesda, “the quaint island town of Redfall, Massachusetts, is under siege by a legion of vampires who have blocked out the sun and cut the island off from the outside world.  Trapped with a handful of survivors against diabolical enemies threatening to bleed the town dry, choose your hero from a diverse roster, grouping up with others to create the perfect team of vampire slayers.”

Redfall gameplay trailer

The first Redfall gameplay trailer dropped at E3 2022 during the Xbox and Bethesda Game Showcase on June 12. After watching Layla Ellison take on vampires in the attic of a house, the trailer walked us through the abilities of each of the game’s four characters. Check it out above!

Redfall’s emphasis on co-op is a departure for Arkane

Redfall

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Arkane has traditionally made a name for itself with superb single-player adventures that blend environmental storytelling with captivating gameplay design. And while both of those aspects will likely be present in Redfall, this project is unlike anything the studio has done before, particularly due to its emphasis on cooperative play.

Sure, you can play it solo, but it’s being designed with four-player co-op in mind, allowing you to choose from a diverse cast of vampire hunters. Each character will have their own abilities, weapons, and personalities, which could make for some entertaining experiences. 

Bethesda has stated that Redfall will “blend single- and multiplayer options seamlessly,” though it’s unknown if playing solo will put players at a disadvantage like in some games. Still, it’s proof that Arkane isn’t afraid to venture into unfamiliar territory. However, Bethesda’s Pete Hines says Redfall will satisfy fans of Arkane’s single-player games.

“It’s a first-person shooter that you can play solo or with up to four players,” Hines said. “So immediately, you might say, well, it’s not a single-player game, it must be wildly different. And don’t get me wrong, there’s absolutely ways in which it is different. But I think when folks play the game and even when they see more of the game, I think they’ll start to see all those things about an Arkane game that they love and appreciate … If you wanna play a game by yourself and get a great Arkane story, you can absolutely do that in Redfall,” he said during the Xbox Extended Showcase on June 14, 2022.

“But you can also do things that you haven’t been able to do in an Arkane game,” Hines continued, “like experience it with friends and find out how the whole can become greater than the sum of the parts by playing off each character’s abilities … You almost are gonna want to try and play Redfall a couple of different ways. You might want to play it by yourself a little bit, play it with others, and it’s a game that allows you to do either or both of those things.”

Redfall’s charismatic cast of characters

Redfall

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Arkane seems to be leaning into characters more so with Redfall than ever before. In it, you can choose from four vampire hunters who all look, act, and (hopefully) play distinctly. The four playable characters are Devinder Crousely, Layla Ellison, Jacob Boyer, and Remi de la Rosa. 

Paranormal investigator, Devinder Crousely, is finally making a name for himself in Redfall now that he can put his inventions to good use. The stakes are particularly high for Crousely, as he wants to come out of Redfall alive to prove himself to the world.

Layla Ellison will likely be a blast to play as, especially with her mysterious telekinetic powers. How she got those powers is unknown but perhaps we’ll get to find out along the way.

Ex-military sharpshooter, Jacob Boyer, has what Bethesda refers to as “supernatural precision,” allowing him to stalk his prey from the shadows. Boyer will probably be an ideal character for those who like long-range weapons as he’s armed with a sniper rifle.

Finally, Remi de la Rosa is a twofer, and comes with a “robot cohort.” This character is a combat engineer who seems to be comfortable around the vampire infestation. Bethesda says she has a “brilliant mind” and hopefully we’ll get to see that in action.

Based on their descriptions, Redfall’s characters don’t seem to be your typical archetypes. 

But, each one has unique abilities, which are all upgradeable, and you’ll have the option to switch out playstyles and loadouts on the fly. 

Redfall will keep the studio’s “signature gameplay” 

Redfall

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Arkane has an impressive portfolio thanks to its focus on stellar gameplay design (among many other things). And although we haven’t quite seen what that will look like in action in Redfall, Bethesda is touting a killer gameplay experience in Arkane’s next adventure.

We don’t know much on this front, but we can say for certain Redfall will be a first-person shooter. In it, you’ll have different weapons and abilities at your disposal, and the ability to choose between various loadouts. We’re curious to see how this element ties in with the different characters available.

It also seems like there will be some form of melee action alongside the shooting mechanics, at least judging by the trailer. 

In between the action, you’ll be able to explore the open world, gather and customize new gear, upgrade your characters’ abilities, and approach situations in a multitude of ways. As with other Arkane games, stealth will be an option in Redfall in addition to going loud (or as Bethesda calls it, a “bullets and stakes for everyone” approach).

The publisher also made mention of an ever-changing open world that focuses on player choice, though it’s unclear to what extent that will play a part. Many developers and publishers boast about having games that focus on player-choice that ultimately end up lacking in that category.

Redfall’s vampires

Redfall

(Image credit: Bethesda)

The city of Redfall is infested with vampires, though they probably aren’t what you’d expect. The vampires in Redfall are a lot like the aggressive zombies that appear in games like Left 4 Dead and Dying Light. 

“Redfall’s vampires aren’t your typical bloodsuckers,” Bethesda says. “They were created after a scientific experiment went horribly wrong, and they’re continuing to evolve. After their transformation, some of them develop powerful abilities and become specialized vampires like the Angler.”

There will also be other enemy types aside from the deadly Angler, but we’ll have to wait to see more from the game’s roster of enemies. One thing is clear — vampires aren’t the only enemies we’ll be facing off against in Redfall, as “human cultists” will also stand in your way as you try to survive. 

Redfall won’t be coming to PlayStation

Redfall

(Image credit: Bethesda)

One of the most notable things about Redfall (aside from its wonderfully varied cast) is the fact that it’s not coming to PlayStation. You read that correctly. Now that Microsoft owns Bethesda, many of its games including Starfield will be Xbox console exclusives. That includes Redfall. 

While this may be a bummer to some, the nice thing is that it’ll launch on Xbox Game Pass on day one, allowing more people to play it. When Redfall launches next summer, it’ll be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, and PC. 

With that in mind, it’s also unlikely Redfall will come to Nintendo Switch, even though Microsoft and Nintendo have been known to play nice with one another in the past.

See what else could be on the way with our look at upcoming Xbox Series X games

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