During the Xbox & Bethesda showcase as part of E3 2021, one game was saved for last… and like the saying of “saving the best for last” goes, it was an announcement that created quite a buzz.
The game we’re talking about is of course Redfall, a brand new IP from studio Arkane Austin that features a unique group of characters who team up to take on deadly vampires.
From what was shown, we know a few key pieces of information, like the fact that it can be played single-player or co-op with your friends. And like the majority of games shown during the showcase, Redfall will also be available on Xbox Game Pass when it releases Summer 2022.
Filling in the gaps information wise is Redfall’s website, which we’re taking a closer look at today.
Redfall | A Standout Highlight of the Xbox Bethesda Showcase
On the official website for Redfall, there’s a lot more information than we were expecting to find, and it has us even more excited for the game’s release.
We already got the basics out of the way from when and where Redfall was announced and who’s developing the game (Arkane Austin), to the single-player and co-op options on offer and its availability day one on Xbox Game Pass when it releases Summer 2022.
Digging in a little deeper, Redfall is being published by Bethesda and joins Bethesda’s other new IP, Starfield, as an Xbox exclusive. Redfall will only be available on Xbox Series X | S and PC at release (like Starfield).
On the Redfall website, one of the first text blurbs offers a nice intro into what players can expect from Redfall in terms of setting and premise.
“The quaint island town of Redfall, Massachusetts, is under siege by a legion of vampires who have blocked out the sun and cut the island off from the outside world.
Trapped with a handful of survivors against diabolical enemies threatening to bleed the town dry, choose your hero from a diverse roster, grouping up with others to create the perfect team of vampire slayers.”
If you decide to play co-op, Redfall will let you play with three other friends (co-op up to four players supported). Teaming up or venturing out solo, you’ll be able to explore each hero’s unique abilities and loadouts, and this is where things get even more interesting.
The heroes you’ll be able to play in Redfall are all standout characters, especially the first hero the trailer introduces, Layla Ellison.
Below, we’ve included the full list of confirmed Redfall heroes along with the character backstories of each hero as provided by the game’s official website.
Devinder Crousley
“Devinder Crousley is an internet-famous paranormal investigator, amateur cryptozoologist, and aspiring inventor. His recent book tour landed him in Redfall, just before it went dark.
After years of struggling to create cutting-edge tech to hunt paranormal phenomena, everything is finally starting to click.
In Redfall, monsters are real and his inventions work. As he puts them to use fighting vampires, he documents every step of the way. If he gets out of this alive, he’ll have all of the validation he needs.
Layla Ellison
“Layla Ellison moved to Redfall from Wisconsin. She studied biomedical engineering at Redfall Technical University and interned at the ominous Aevum Therapeutics research facility, where apparently something went very wrong.
She says everything after that is kind of a blur. The last thing she remembers is waking up with a killer headache and wild telekinetic powers.”
Remi De La Rosa
“Remi De La Rosa is a combat engineer, and a brilliant one at that. She’s lived her life on the frontlines of conflict, using her brilliant mind to protect her loved ones and help those in need around the world as part of an elite Navy rescue unit.
On their way to investigate the Redfall incident, her ship was destroyed, and her entire crew was lost. Now, with the help of her robot cohort, she’s determined to help rescue Redfall’s survivors and eliminate any enemies that stand in her way.”
Jacob Boyer
“Jacob is an ex-military sharpshooter, sent in to Redfall just before the sun darkened as part of an elite private security force. Dark circumstances separated him from his platoon, forcing him down a rogue path.
Now he stalks the streets of Redfall, neutralizing evil from the shadows with supernatural precision. Look for a mysterious, ragged raven circling overhead—you may not see him, but Jacob will be nearby.”
As of right now, those four heroes are all that have been announced. In the future, it’s possible that Arkane Austin will add new heroes. If they do, we’ll be sure to share that information with you in a news post once something official is announced.
The vampire threat that players will face in Redfall were shown somewhat briefly during the trailer, though the Redfall website notes players will also have to face human cultists who worship the invading vampires in the hopes of being spared by them.
“Redfall’s vampires aren’t your typical bloodsuckers,” a blog post on the Redfall website reads.
“They were created after a scientific experiment went horribly wrong, and they’re continuing to evolve. After their transformation, some of them develop powerful abilities and become specialized vampires like the Angler.
Shown in the trailer, the Angler uses a psychic harpoon to drag you away from your team, leaving you vulnerable and alone. And that’s just one of the vampire types you’ll encounter in redfall.
But they’re not the only thing standing in your way – you’ll also face off against the human cultists who worship the island’s hungry new leadership with the hopes of joining their ranks.
These cultists have set up outposts all over the island. Clear the outposts and you’ll make that area a little safer for human survivors.”
An important detail that wasn’t mentioned during the reveal is that Redfall is open-world, allowing players to choose their own path across the island as they work to put a stop to the violent vampire takeover.
It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out in Redfall, and what strategic approaches gamers will take.
“Redfall is a co-op FPS that brings Arkane Austin’s unique DNA and love of deep, immersive stories to an ever-changing open-world setting that reacts to your choices and actions.
Traverse the island, collect and customize new gear, and upgrade your hero’s abilities to suit your playstyle, whether it’s a fast and noisy ‘bullets and stakes for everyone’ approach or something a little more subtle.”
Speaking in reference to past projects, and where Redfall fits in as a new IP, Co-Creative Director Ricardo Bare stated:
“Every game we make is a little different than the last. Dishonored featured stealth. Prey leveraged tons of physics-related gameplay. Mooncrash introduced rogue-like elements. Despite those differences, in every case our focus remains on deep world building and inventive game mechanics. The same will be true of Redfall.”
And there you have it, a closer look at Redfall. To quickly recap, Redfall is a new IP from Arkane Austin that can be played solo or multiplayer co-op (up to four players supported). Everything plays out on an open-world island infested by vampires born from a science experiment gone wrong.
To see some of this vampire fighting in action, be sure to watch through the full announcement trailer for Redfall which we’ve embedded at the bottom of this article. While we wait to hear more about Redfall, we’re curious to hear your thoughts on the game thus far.
Are you looking forward to playing Redfall when it releases Summer 2022? What do you think of the heroes? Let us know on our social media channels including Facebook and Twitter, and stay tuned for even more E3 2021 coverage here at Prima Games!
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