After a relatively quiet 2022, Xbox is finally gearing for a few major exclusives in the spring, and Arkane Studios' Redfall is one of the larger releases expected in the months ahead. The developer now has a solid date following an ambiguous delay into this year, among other pre-release insights that describe new gameplay details. Arkane's latest genre hybrid is just starting to gain momentum as fans learn more about the project, leading to much excitement over different modes of play - including co-op. Traditionally, multiplayer has not been a major focus in the studio's prior titles, but Redfall seems to shake things up by aiming for a larger scope than players are used to.
While single-player is still an option for those that prefer a solitary experience, Redfall will require an online connection regardless of the selected mode. This news has understandably provoked some frustrations given the company's history with offline, immersive titles like Dishonored; on the other hand, the co-op mode has a particular functionality to consider as well. Going into multiplayer, there are certain limitations for progression that players must keep in mind, as the game also lets them roam free in their battles against the growing vampire threat.
How Players Can Explore Redfall as a Team
Starting off, Redfall's co-op only tracks the host's progress in a cooperative lobby, so the rest of the team won't gain completion from finishing story missions. Players that do join will get to keep their loot, upgrades, and experience points though, which means there is still an incentive to assist friends in their worlds. It is an interesting design choice that may or may not affect the fun factor of the new IP, and even with these persistent rewards, the structure of Redfall's main story remains to be seen.
A known feature that does link with the narrative is Redfall's open-world exploration, and the team promises several neighborhoods that present distinct challenges. Once someone joins a host's lobby, the team can then prepare by planning how they want to approach these areas with their respective characters. However, it is confirmed that players will not be tethered to one another in multiplayer. Instead, players can roam the map freely, but those who stay together will get a buff through the game's trust system. Party members may want to resist the urge to wander apart because of this, but nevertheless, this news will probably ease fans' worries about the degree of freedom that they should expect from Redfall.
Organic exploration is an important element of Arkane Studios' titles, and alongside interactivity, many appreciate the sandboxes its games provide. Taking these elements further, Redfall's online co-op has a great opportunity to use its player-driven systems to encourage tactics that parallel stealth mechanics from past Arkane games. Through a combination of first-person action and role-playing, players could customize a playstyle that fits their team composition while also enabling them to ambush enemies more efficiently. Overlap is not an issue when matching up with friends either - it's possible to play as the same hero as other teammates in multiplayer.
Arkane's upcoming Redfall might be among the most anticipated shooters of 2023, and its co-op feature is noteworthy considering how much it supports non-linear gameplay. Some are probably hesitant to fully commit themselves to a multiplayer playthrough because of its progression scheme, though these concerns should be alleviated if the quality of the adventure makes replaying that story worth it. The studio's recipe for world building may produce an online experience that's unlike most FPS games, proving that Redfall has a lot of potential by bringing players together in a dynamic setting.
Redfall launches May 2, 2023, for PC and Xbox Series X/S.