When Arkane Studios and Bethesda's FPS Redfall was first announced in 2021, fans were eager to explore this new IP and get stuck into the vampire-infested world. Since then, there has been some sporadic bad news out of the Redfall camp, like the cancelation of the PlayStation 5 version of the game after Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda Softworks and delays to the title's release that pushed it back to 2023. Gamers have faced a few disappointments, but Redfall finally is around the corner. However, the game's DLC plans could arguably throw a sizable spanner in the works.
Back in January, Arkane finally revealed Redfall's release date – a relief for fans who were worried that the game could face further delays if no updates were forthcoming. Redfall was confirmed for a May launch, and more details were also released regarding the different editions of the game that would be available to players, including the Bite Back Edition which featured added perks and extras. However, the reveal that there would be additional characters coming to the roster after launch has caused some discussion among the community and debate over Redfall's future.
Redfall's Revealed DLC Plans
Ever since the game was first revealed during the Xbox and Bethesda E3 2021 showcase, Arkane has provided quite a few insights into its upcoming title, with behind-the-scenes looks, gameplay deep dives, and plenty of trailers for fans to sink their teeth into. Alongside the launch date announcement earlier this year, the developer showed off more of the customization options, combat, and various game settings during its spotlight at the Xbox Developer Direct. This provided fans with lots to unpack as Redfall's release approaches, but one of the more interesting features leading up to the launch is the title's DLC plans.
Redfall's preorder packages were revealed, which included the Bite Back Edition and its two additional future heroes. These will be available alongside items like the Laser Beam Multi-Weapon Skin, the Tactical Knife Stake Weapon Attachment, and an alternative outfit for each of the four original playable characters. Although most of these perks are cosmetic, the promise of two new playable characters coming at some point in the future raises lots of interesting questions, and maybe even a few concerns as well.
How This Could Disrupt Redfall's Gameplay
While some players had their own gripes about Redfall's setup, such as the lack of a local co-op mode, overall fans were intrigued by the premise and the chance to figure out how best to utilize the four playable protagonists. Although gamers can choose to play Redfall solo, it definitely seems geared toward cooperative gameplay and the combination of all four heroes and their unique skillsets. Players will naturally have their favorites and will gravitate towards the character that compliments their playstyle the best, but while four characters for up to four-person co-op makes sense, six could be asking for trouble. There aren't any details about who these characters will be just yet, but their impact could be significant.
Including two additional characters will automatically create inequalities among the playerbase between those that have paid for the extra content and those that haven't, and while it may make sense to give more content to those that have paid more, it doesn't always lead to happy players. Redfall could even risk getting review bombed if gamers are unhappy about the two additional characters and how they've been handled, which could affect Redfall's success and overall reception further down the line.
Adding more options but only letting players team up as a four will inevitably lead to spare characters being left out and potentially forgotten, and if gamers traditionally stick to their mains and are reluctant to switch after establishing a playstyle with one character, the new DLC protagonists could become redundant very quickly. That's not to say adding new features with Redfall's DLC is bad, but the game will have to consider carefully how it keeps the six characters in a balanced state to make the game function at its best.
Redfall launches on May 2 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.