During today's Xbox Developer Direct livestream, we finally got a Redfall release date. Arkane's open-world co-op vampire shooter is launching on May 2nd, and we also got to see a whole bunch of new gameplay showing how you'll be able to explore and do battle on the island of Redfall.
Arkane describes Redfall as "an exciting step forward" for its world design; Redfall will contain the studio's largest world to date. There will be several districts to explore, including a haunted forest and a desolate seaside boardwalk. Dotted throughout the island are resupply stations, where you can chat with NPCs, receive missions from survivors, and take a breather.
One particular vampire type Arkane shows off is the Shroud, which blankets an area in darkness to hamper your vision. Shrouds can also fire projectiles and shift through the floor to avoid damage, so you'll have your hands full if you're unlucky enough to encounter one. Other hazards shown during the trailer include vampire nests, which, as you might imagine, are defended by a whole host of vampires you'll need to take down.
What's waiting for you in Redfall
Redfall will have plenty of side activities to take on if you're not currently following the main story, too. Fans of Arkane's previous works, like Prey and Dishonored, will be happy to learn that it's possible to approach missions in different ways; you can sneak around, go in guns blazing, or find more innovative approaches. The mission shown off in the Redfall Developer Direct trailer looks pretty reminiscent of "classic" Arkane fare; it's a large structure that looks to have multiple entry and exit points, which is what you want from a studio well-known for its detailed immersive sims.
Missions include clearing out vampire dens, retaking districts of Redfall from the vampiric menace (which will also entail battling powerful vampire underbosses with unique abilities), and more. Every character can, in theory, approach any mission, so if you're playing single-player, you won't need to worry about missing any of the other characters' abilities. Naturally, there's a skill tree for each character, too, so you can upgrade and customize your heroes. Weapons, too, can be customized; everything from military-grade sniper rifles to homemade vampire stakes will be available to you.
We also got a look at some of the unique abilities possessed by Redfall's cast. Remi, for instance, gets access to a little robot buddy she can use to distract enemies and help her sneak around more easily. Dev, meanwhile, has access to a teleporter that instantly closes gaps, allowing you to travel around more quickly. You'll need to use these special abilities if you want to conquer Redfall's many challenges, which will culminate in tackling the terrifying vampire gods.
You'll be able to pick up Redfall on PC via either the Microsoft Store or Steam, as well as Xbox Series X|S, on May 2nd. The game will also be available on Xbox Game Pass on day one, so if you're a subscriber, you'll get access to it at no additional cost. Stay tuned to TechRaptor for more info about all things Redfall.
