Redfall
Guide to Redfall: The Island
Redfall
Tourism in Redfall is really suffering these days!
Nobody can get a suntan due to the permanent eclipse. The fairgrounds are deserted, and not in a fun way. Fishing used to be a popular pastime for visitors and locals alike, but that’s pretty much a no-go now thanks to the tides being pushed away from the island. Even the movie theater isn’t showing anything new while it undergoes some horrifying renovations. The only folks having a good time seem to be the vampires, who have been painting the town red (with blood) ever since they mysteriously appeared. But with a lack of normal smalltown activities, those left alive on the island have had to take on some decidedly more aggressive hobbies. Namely: Vampire extermination. Time to wipe those bloodsuckers off the map and take back Redfall.
Arkane Worldbuilding
Bringing the level of detail and care that Arkane is known for to an open world is no easy feat, but it’s one the team has dived into headfirst. Carefully handcrafted and brimming with mysteries, Redfall offers opportunities for new methods of storytelling and player discovery, while still giving Arkane fans something that will feel familiar and welcoming.
“I think the core elements that make Arkane games special to our fans are deeply ingrained in Redfall,” says Lead Producer Aaron Carter. “To me, the real lens to view things through is how those core elements are applied to an open world setting. How you approach environmental storytelling to make the world feel intentional. How you create encounters that feel meaningful and empower players to approach combat in creative ways. How you design missions that take advantage of the larger scale, while still encouraging thoughtfulness and immersion. Those things help to establish a pace of gameplay and narrative density that our players should feel right at home in.”
“The wonderful thing about going open world is that players have the flexibility to poke around at different things at their own pace,” adds Creative Director Ricardo Bare. “If a particular vampire fight feels too tough, you can always go tackle a nest or do a favor for one of your fellow Redfall survivors to level up or earn some new gear, then come back to that nasty vampire fight.”
The Familiar Meets the Extraordinary
“We love small, well-detailed towns…the familiarity of corner stores, bars, baseball fields,” says Studio Director Harvey Smith. “What if we located something extraordinary there, enhanced by the powerful impact of regular people living their lives? What if you could sift through all that detail, exploring this new place, so much like where you live, and yet so different, and come to feel like the island of Redfall is a real place in Massachusetts? We like to shake it up, so each game carries most of the same core values, but also changes a few significant elements.”
Arkane has always been passionate about ensuring their settings aren’t just backdrops. The world around you is constantly telling stories, and these stories can be enjoyed no matter how many people are playing the game, whether you want to explore at your own pace or share your journey with friends.
“The setting is narrative-rich, with lots of environmental storytelling,” says Smith. “You learn a lot about the lives of the people who live (or lived) there. Our lore is important as a part of how we get under the player’s skin. Searching an abandoned house with a flashlight, learning about what occurred there, looking for resources, avoiding dormant vampires…all of that is critical to the experience. The AI is very much cat-and-mouse, with perceptions based on sight and sound awareness. And you can choose between single-player and co-op with up to four people, which gets more social and faster paced.”
More Redfall Guides:
The Heroes
Squad Up or Slay Alone
The Vampires
Customization
Redfall is coming exclusively to Xbox X|S and PC (Steam/Epic Games Store) in 2023. Play it day one on Game Pass.
