Microsoft has found itself in a tough spot recently with major console exclusives like Halo Infinite, and most recently Redfall, failing to live up to the expectations placed upon them. The Xbox Series X/S has already faced criticism for its lack of must-play exclusives when compared to the PS5, and while Microsoft has been successful with its Xbox Game Pass subscription service, it is in desperate need of a successful exclusive title this far into the current generation of hardware. While Starfield could be that game when it releases later this year, this recent trend of subpar Xbox exclusives is a worrying sign.
The release of Redfall has been marred by bugs, performance issues, and lackluster gameplay that has led many to criticize the game as feeling unfinished. Among the issues the game is facing are weak enemy AI, a lack of match-making for co-op gameplay, and a 30 FPS lock on Xbox Series X/S. Redfall isn't the first major Xbox exclusive to release in a rough state as its launch feels eerily similar to Halo Infinite's back in 2021. With the precedent set by these two games, future Xbox exclusives need to avoid falling into the same trap.
Halo Infinite and Redfall's Launch Woes Signal a Worrying Trend for Xbox Exclusives
In a first for the series, Halo Infinite launched its multiplayer and campaign separately with the multiplayer being free-to-play and only the campaign requiring purchase. Despite the free-to-play model allowing for greater accessibility across both PC and Xbox Series X/S, Halo Infinite received backlash for its limited features available at launch and its live-service model relegating missing content to a drip feed over the coming months. Its bare-bones multiplayer and controversial single-player design choices left many Halo Infinite players ultimately dissatisfied with the series' latest entry.
After its rocky launch, Halo Infinite struggled to maintain a player base as the features that rolled out over the following months were too little too late for many players. Redfall finds itself in a similar position with the pedigree of Arkane Studios putting high expectations on a game that ultimately lacks the staying power of an online multiplayer game in its current state. While bugs and performance issues of Redfall can be fixed in a post-launch patch, poor design elements like map layout and enemy AI means the game could have a tough time retaining players even with updates.
The big question on many players' minds after Redfall's disappointing release is the state Starfield will be in come its launch. Bethesda's track record of release day bugs and performance issues is not great, and Redfall joining this club doesn't bode well for Starfield. A lot is riding on this upcoming title and its ability to get Xbox back on track with its exclusives, but Redfall's missteps mean Starfield will have even greater expectations placed on it to become the must-play title on Xbox.
These launches indicate the need for Xbox exclusives to release in satisfactory states if they want to capture their intended audience in the long term. Microsoft has a lot of big titles like Avowed, Fable, and Starfield in development for its console, but to succeed where Redfall and Halo Infinite failed these games need the time they deserve to release in a finished state with the polish necessary to keep players engaged. However, with the gaming industry trending towards a "release now, fix later" mindset with the prevalence of early-access and live-service games, it might be hard for future Xbox releases to avoid the development pitfalls that plagued the launch of Redfall and Halo Infinite.
Redfall is available now for PC and Xbox Series X/S.