Some Redfall Devs Were Hoping The Game Would Be Cancelled Following Microsoft Acqusition

Redfall did not live up to expectations. Neither those of the developers, nor those of the players. That much is pretty clear. From the middling to poor review scores, to the plethora of bugs showcased online, Redfall has disappointed far more than it has pleased.

According to a report from Jason Schreier over at Bloomberg, many at the Redfall development studio, Arkane, were hoping the Microsoft buyout would mean a cancellation of the shooter. Arkane and Bethesda's parent company Zenimax had been pushing studios to produce live service games with recurring monetization, something Arkane just isn't known for making. They produce single-player gems that are beloved by their fanbase.

From the very beginning, it seems there was no clear-cut direction for Redfall, with higher-ups being all over the place with references to everything from Far Cry to Borderlands. Different departments were given different visions of what Redfall should be, all the while going against what had made the studio popular amongst fans.

As development continued, many of the Arkane staff that had worked on games such as Prey and Dishonored 2 simply left the studio. Offering lower than standard wages made it difficult for Zenimax to refill these positions, putting the remaining staff under more stress.

The final product is the perfect reflection of the development hell Redfall went through. It's a mess of a game that feels meaningless. We have been assured that Redfall is continuing to be worked on and improved but, if we're being honest, it's probably too late. You never get a second chance to make a first impression. The reviews are in, and I just can't see this game making that oh-so-rare "No Man's Sky" style comeback.