Redfall's Recent 60FPS Patch Might Not Be The Last, If Bethesda Gets Its Way

The problem with patches like this is most people have already given up and moved on because of the state the game released in and it it worrying that publishers seem to not think that getting these things right at launch would probably give them a better chance and keeping a dedicated userbase for much longer rather than hoping people come back and try again down the line.

It would be a nice opportunity to try the game with my friends if they can push it with great quality content.

@Zenszulu The difference with Games like Redfall is that these games will remain in Game Pass for years and whilst you and others who could play today may give up on it, the 'next' generation of gamers may end up playing.

There are people whose first Console will be a Series S/X but can still play games from years ago. If you read about Cyberpunk 2077 today, its arguably one of the best games around and even games like AC:Unity which wasn't great at launch is so much better on modern hardware.

Therefore it makes sense to ensure these games are updated and improved on because it 'adds' value to Game Pass long term - new players joining Game Pass will have 'better' games to choose from. Yes it may hurt the initial sales when the Price is at its highest so profits are highest too, but Game Pass is not about selling 'games', but selling Subscriptions so its better to have optimised, polished games in your library to sell Subs.

Unfortunately, Microsoft's games, Redfall included, especially since it is a new IP, don't command the type of love and respect generally required to launch a bad game and have everyone come back after it was fixed. They're not CDProjekt, for example.

They're already on thin ice with their strategy of saturating the market with the cheap Series S failing woefully. Meanwhile the PS5 is still selling like hot cakes and has sold about 2/3rds more than the S and X combined.

Then again, when their emphasis on cloud gaming, we may not even have an Xbox in another generation or two. If that's the case they're'll be no option but to get a Sony or Nintendo platform.

Square Enix was able to turn things around with FF14.
CDPR turned things around with Cyberpunk 2077.
Rare turned things around with Sea of Thieves.

Maybe Arkane can do it with Redfall.

I think the key is to own up to it and not pretend the ball wasn't dropped somewhere.

I think what would work is to have a series of small incremental updates to the foundation - further improve AI, fix some bugs, balance single player and multiplayer, populate the world with more encounters, maybe give more of an impact to Clearing Neighborhoods: start as a neighborhood infested with cultists and vampires only to be mostly empty once Cleared - maybe add some Wave-based skirmishes happening between citizens and cultists/vampires that you can intervene for higher drop rewards.

Figure out a believable way to unlock the entire map after you move to second area.

Then, after doing a few of these updates, have one large major update as the Redemption release - maybe adds additional story elements, overhaul cutscenes, overhauled main quest structure to be more "Arkane-like", add new Hero Characters, as well as maybe a UE5 engine upgrade.

I feel like the sky is the limit to make this mostly "linear" storyline into something that has more optional and repeatable multiplayer focused encounters - give people more of a reason to team up beyond story missions - as well expand upon single-player experiences.

Perhaps it would have been better to give the game more time in the oven, but I still think there is something great in Redfall.

Maybe they can turn things round with redfall who knows? I think starfield needs an hell of a lot of patches as well but the difference is starfield is a good game begin with redfall never was at all they might as well move on now in my opinion

@InterceptorAlpha clearly you're not paying attention to the news. In case you missed it, Microsoft just aquired Activision for ~70 billion dollars, BUT in order to appease the CMA, they don't own the cloud streaming rights for Call of Duty.

For the next 15 years, Ubisoft owns the cloud streaming rights for every ABK worldwide, except for Europe. In Europe Xbox has the cloud rights for ABK games, but they are forced to licence them for every cloud streaming service that requires it.

So, no, Xbox will not go full cloud for the next 15 years. That would mean pretty much incinerating 70 billion dollars.

@BAMozzy while I agree that it can be improved and many games have managed that saying something like it will be for people that discover it in the future and for new subscribers later down the road is the equivalent of saying the people who could have had a better experience at the start and won't return because of it don't matter.

It still doesn't change my point that publishers want to rush games like this out clearly unfinished with the plan of turning it around later just so they can meet a release date that they refuse to change.

@RazputinAquato Strange to assume I don't read the news.

Additionally strange to thing that would prevent them from going cloud based.

They don't need Xbox to sell CoD. They can do that on PC, Playstation, and mobile, just fine. Especially with how few consoles Xbox sells. The add Ubisoft to the mix, which Microsoft will get a cut of, nothing supports what you say.

To add to this, I seem to recall mention of bringing CoD to Nintendo. And we're that to come to fruition, well, Nintendo alone would give them a larger audience than Xbox and Playstation together.

As a matter of fact I'd argue that a big acquisition like this is more of a sign of Microsoft wanting to leave the console market and become strictly a publisher.

Get a nice library of well established games they can make instead of having to hazard new IPs(like Redfall) or old IPs that have lost pretty much all hype.

History repeating itself and all that.

@InterceptorAlpha why would Xbox go full-cloud in order to sell Call of Duty everywhere except on their own cloud-based platform? So they spent 70 billion dollars in order to promote its rival platforms, instead of their own? And remember that Ubisoft+ will have Call of Duty, whereas that "fully cloud-based" Xbox you're imagining would not, unless they licenced it from Ubisoft.

@RazputinAquato Because they still make money from Ubisoft vending it. They were licensed to Ubisoft, not sold. So Microsoft still gets a portion it.

And given how comparatively few Xboxes are sold, it may be cheaper to go that round and invest further in Azure than it is to perform the R&D required for new consoles.

It would work much the same as it already does. Sign into your digital Xbox, press Ubisoft+, and boom play Call of Duty.

You're strictly looking at it from the standpoint of Microsoft selling Call of Duty on Xbox.

Microsoft has already shown they don't care about selling their games on their own platform as they're all added to Gamepass.

Add a future deal of Ubisoft+ being part of Gamepass, and boom, set.

@InterceptorAlpha they don't care about selling Xboxes, but they care about selling subscriptions. They just spent 70 billion dollars in order to make those subscriptions more compelling. But that will only work for them if people can actually download the ABK games in those subscriptions to their hard drives and play them locally either on PC, console or mobile.

Xbox is moving away from cloud. Not completely, but it won't be a huge focus for them anymore because people just don't use it very much. Check this: https://www.purexbox.com/news/2023/08/talking-point-what-would-convince-you-to-use-xbox-cloud-gaming-more-often

Not to mention that Call of Duty is a competitive multiplayer shooter which requires quick reflexes and any additional lag from cloud streaming is very disruptive to the gameplay. Cloud Call of Duty will not be a thing for a very long time.

@RazputinAquato @Moonglow @InterceptorAlpha let me try and help and spin tech for the entire industry and not just Xbox since Sony and Nintendo outsell them. Sony without question sells a lot of consoles worldwide. Around 100-115 million a generation. So let’s take a game like Spider-Man, mass appeal of the character, add in it’s a really well made game and it will sell let’s say 30 million copies. Let’s take the Last of Us, my favorite PS game series, has a hugely successful show on HBO and it will sell around 25-30 million copies. So i ask what is the other 70 million PS users doing with their console? Well they are playing FIFA and other sports games and some shooters most likely. They might buy 2 games a year and play it casually. In order for them to do that they need to buy a $500 dollar console, what happens in 10 years if Cloud from Sony and other publishers is a good enough experience for FIFA and other games to the casual player and they have those games streaming on the TV they already own? Let’s say half still want a PS and the other 35 million say they no longer need to spend that money and are fine with the cloud. That takes 35 million console sales off the PS in the future. How does that only hurt the Xbox and not Sony? How are we sitting here thinking that if Sony don’t change their dated idea’s that supporting PC day and date is important that they don’t see massive shifts in their bottom line running PS. The future of consoles is dicey at best. The future of PC/Mobile and Cloud is only going to continue to grow. I ask you interceptor who has the better IP’s going forward and infrastructure to move away from console if that becomes necessary and in what shape is Sony in to compete with the changing times ahead? Nintendo will likely always have a console. But to think Xbox is on it’s way out and everyone will just be on PS and Nintendo is not seeing where the shift is happening and why Xbox moved heaven and earth in the courts along with 70 BILLION cash to get those types of IP’s. ABK deal was for Mobile and PC growth. Not the console, Hence the CMA said they approve the deal on console. Not to mention if consoles stick around 20 more years, all Xbox needs to hit is 70 million units sold and lean on PC and mobile and they will rake cash in. They aren’t leaving that money on the table. The Doom and Gloom stories on Xbox are centered around not outselling PS in console sales, when the real focus should be on how much money in the next 5-10 years does MS have the ability to make owning all these IP’s. I’ll give you a hint it starts with the letter B

@HonestHick Bazillions?

I've enjoyed EVERY moment of this game and never understood all the hate for it. Really Iove see it continue on as a franchise.

@Zenszulu It all goes back to what I've said for years about my "6 month rule".

If every developer would follow my rule, everything would go much smoother and happier gamers.

@InterceptorAlpha Despite the fanboys praise, the Series S is complete failure and obvious money grab that blew up in their face. Series X is by far the superior console in every, single way.

@GamingFan4Lyf Those complaining about the cutscenes are simply haters as that argument is weak.

Borderlands is a beloved franchise. Aren't those cutscenes just drawings as well? "Ahhh, so you want hear a story...."

@Dan1283 Starfield is a Bethesda game. We all know that. Just as we all know most gamers call them, bugthesda. That's not a compliment.

Tells anyone all they need to know.

@Moonglow With your scenario, all I would need to do is pick up a Playstation controller, then pick up an Xbox controller.

I'm walking out the store with an Xbox 15 out of 10 times.

No. That was not a typo, either. Playstation controller is the ONLY reason I not own Playstation. The centered sticks, the uncomfortable grip, the hitting wrong shoulder button EVERY time, etc. Horribly designed controller.

@InterceptorAlpha I see what you are saying about adding ubisoft to game pass. But that will just increase game pass to $25 month probably.

Wish people would really stop a moment and realize game pass is not a sustainable model despite what Spencer and Microsoft says. It will become basically unaffordable for what is offered. It should be called indie pass at this point. 99% the games are side scrolling jumping over lava pits I quit playing almost 40 years ago on the original Nintendo or game boy. Unless someone actually enjoys playing that it's waste of money. Heck just go out and buy game boy color and some games and your set.

@HonestHick You might have some really good points. But after two sentences in with that wall of text, I was out. Try couple paragraph breaks. Sheesh!

@GuyinPA75 You have made 8 comments in a row, two separate ones toward me.

You can reply to multiple people in the same comment.

@GuyinPA75 I don't have any problem with them, personally. But they seem to be a complaint, so it's something to consider "fixing".

@AlwaysPlaying not quite that much. But that sure would be nice HAHA

@GuyinPA75 for the money series s is a great little machine but Microsoft should never have made it and did what Sony did with the 2 playstation 5 different versions not have an inferior console I've got a series s but everyone knows it's definitely holding the series x back

@GuyinPA75 if you want to be my English teacher i applaud you, as i am an accountant. Math and money is my brains strong suit. How much for your grammar lesson? God knows i need it! The point is all the Doom and Gloom on Xbox is coming from people with good and bad grammar but they are missing the overall picture that when tech changes it don’t effect just one platform and the person or company in the lead is always the last to join and sometimes that hesitation is what leads to them no longer being in the lead.

@GuyinPA75 I haven't yet tried it yet but I would like to. Just always busy.

obligatory and unnecessary comment tearing the devs and game in regards to moral compasses and the degradation thereof also pertaining to the gaming industry lack of standards, disintegration of integrity and increase of corruption and the general wishing of ill will to gamers as consumers based on my extensive authority as an armchair gaming industry analyst.... or some such nonsense

@Dan1283 What's holding the Ps5 back then? That console can't even handle a Final Fantasy 14 raid in 4k on a 10 year old game. And that game isn't even on Xbox.

@HonestHick Do you expect someone to read all that? Yikes. At least break up your paragraphs.

@InterceptorAlpha Yep. Sure can. But when I'm just reading down the comments I'm not going being out a scratch pad out and be like, ok got reply to this dude about this, then that dude about that. I'm just going down the row and share my thoughts on case by case basis

Not have enough time to preplan and chronicle my replies. Lol

@Xeraphis both the ps5 and the series are powerful machines just the series s isnt that's all and is lagging behind

@HonestHick Dude, you definitely do not want any of my grammar lessons. People will laugh you out the room. Lol I'm terrible.

@Xeraphis RELAX! Scroll past it.

@GuyinPA75 oh crap, then we are both screwed. Hahaha. Well i suppose it’s back to math and money for me. Being an accountant hides a lot of grammar issues and luckily pay’s well for me. 😊

@Moonglow Owning them means nothing. I'm a major Xbox fan. But look at their track record with new studios. Sorry.

Some of y'all need to learn to ignore the trolls...lol

I doubt it will be a No Man's Sky redemption story but I'd definitely come back for more updates or DLCs that continue to improve the game. I'm still going strong with NMS and I originally just put it down and walked away at the release. GP changes the playing field for the success of games in the long term.

@BAMozzy I agree. another reason why game pass is such a good deal for gamers.

Games that had a redemption arc like Fallout 76, No Man's Sky and Sea of Thieves had one thing going for them that Redfall hasn't. They're interesting. A pirate MMO, a Fallout MMO, a space exploration game all have interesting concepts and don't have much competition in their fields. A coop looter shooter is a dime a dozen. Even if it's fixed completely, it's going to be just average instead of crappy.

An ability to matchmake with others in the lobby to then go do missions would be good!

@Moonglow yeah that would be true if Sony would just sit there and do nothing ,but thats not gonna happen anytime soon is it.

@Xeraphis cherry picking one badly optimised game does not prove a point ,have a play of spiderman 2 if you wanna see what the ps5 can do in the hands of a competent studio.

Might not be the last patch, but the first time I played it was certainly the last.

@Mephisto2869 You have to love someone picking one random game, saying "OMG this one doesn't run properly, SEE!" and act like that's an example of the entire piece of hardware.

Maybe an uncapped w VRR since it's, you know.... An xbox first party game. As an Xbox journalism site, y'all should be screaming and demanding on behalf of the community for bettet quality. We got this console (specifically the series x) for high frame rates AND higher graphical fidelity. Not necessarily both at the same time. Why don't we have a 1080p 120hz and fps mode? This game isn't exactly graphically demanding. Unreal.