Microsoft had canceled the PS5 version of Redfall after acquiring Bethesda in order to focus on the development of the Xbox and PC versions.
Speaking during a Redfall preview session held by IGN France, the game’s creative director, Harvey Smith, stated that one notable consequence of Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda in 2021 was the immediate cancellation of the PS5 version, right in the middle of the game’s development.
According to Smith, post-acquisition, Microsoft stepped in and made it clear that there would be no PS5 version of Redfall, and that the studio will solely focus on development of the Xbox and PC versions. The creative director doesn’t see this as a negative thing, however.
Smith stated that the decision made by Microsoft favored Arkane Studios Austin, as there was one less platform to worry about, which meant one less complexity for the development team. He also pointed out that the game would immediately be available to a large audience via Xbox Game Pass. As a result, he believes that Redfall could become the studio’s biggest game to date, as “30 million” or so subscribers would have access to the game from day one.
Previously, it was revealed via the Xbox Store that Redfall will include native keyboard and mouse support in both the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S versions. Given that it is a first-person shooter that will support PC/console crossplay, mouse and keyboard support would be welcome by the game’s fans.
It was also confirmed that Redfall will be an online only game, despite also featuring a single-player mode. In an FAQ shared by Bethesda, the publisher had confirmed that the game will only be playable online, despite it offering a single-player mode. This came as a disappointment for those who support game preservation. However, as a result of backlash, Arkane Studios Austin is now looking into a solution for those who’d prefer to play the single-player mode offline.
