Xbox's first event in 2023 brought the gaming community a new showcase to unveil the latest news on some major games coming soon to Xbox platforms and Game Pass. This new presentation format wasn't like the Xbox Games Showcase the company does at E3, with dozens of announcements from Xbox Game Studios and Bethesda. Instead, it focused on a select few projects, but offered more in-depth information, including for Redfall.
Arkane Austin, the developing studio, announced that the vampire game will be available on May 2 and showed gameplay that revealed part of the open world, character customization, and different variants of enemies. In that same gameplay it could be seen that, although the game looks like a frenetic shooter with very fast action, Redfall could allow for great stealth playthroughs.
Redfall Will Change When Playing Alone
Redfall is a cooperative online game, but its developers have confirmed that it can also be played alone. Players who want to go single-handedly into this Massachusetts town to battle the vampire menace should keep in mind that, unlike Left 4 Dead and other multiplayer shooters with which it has been compared, they will not be accompanied by AI characters. In fact, the rhythm of the game will change completely when playing alone, creating more emphasis on stealth and exploration.
Solo players can quickly find themselves outnumbered without AI backup, but they will be able to use stealth and exploration skills to gain a tactical advantage over the hordes of bloodsuckers. Creative director Harvey Smith has further revealed that stealth can be used in Redfall to kill enemies, get to strategic locations, or even avoid combat entirely. Smith described the game as a stealth-enabled shooter that combines various mechanics to create truly dynamic enemy encounters.
Players will be able to choose between four different characters, each of which will possess their own skills and abilities that will help them take down their undead enemies. Some will be more focused on stealth, enabling this playstyle through abilities such as optical camouflage or a robot that creates distractions for the player. Arkane is known for creating immersive singleplayer games such as Prey and the Dishonored series, which each include stealth mechanics in their own ways. While the co-op vampire shooter Redfall may seem like a departure from Arkane's previous work, the game will still contain this core feature from previous titles.
In addition, if there is something that defines Arkane Studios' style of game, it's the interest in providing players with a wide range of options on how to face the challenges proposed by the game. Stalking enemies, avoiding detection, using the right type of weapon and damage, choosing when to use the special powers of each character, and knowing to stake a vampire who has been petrified by the ultraviolet light all form part of the tactical gameplay of Redfall.
Another important point to value Arkane Austin's title as a strong candidate to be one of the best stealth games of the year is that the developer has also revealed that the enemies' artificial intelligence systems include simulated vision and listening skills. Redfall is quite action-oriented but also promises to offer tense sections where stealth will predominate. In order to increase their chances of survival, players may have to get a good strategic position to eliminate enemies before being seen, or avoid a fight completely if it would lead them to certain defeat. Even if it's not mandatory, it's clear that Redfall offers plenty of ways to use stealth to engage with the game world.
Redfall launches May 2, 2023 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.