Fans awaiting the May launch of Arkane Studios’ new vampire shooter got a bit of bad news last week, specifically those planning to play the game on console. It was announced that Redfall would launch with only Quality Mode for the Xbox Series X|S with a Performance Mode to be added via an update later on. Those playing the game on PC will have no such delay or limitation however.
Revealed on the Redfall Twitter account, the details given stated that the game would launch supporting 30 fps with 4K on Xbox Series X and 30 fps with 1440p on the Xbox Series S. This new comes with the launch less than a month away, as the game is due out on May 2nd. All footage of the game has been shown at 60 fps and it’s that detail that seems to be sticking with gamers the most. The game has already been delayed by a year to give Arkane time to produce the best quality product. Xbox fans are deservedly unhappy to hear that a console exclusive they have been waiting for willing be missing something at launch that was seemingly advertised.
This decision and the outrage it inspired has raised an interesting conversation in online discourse. Does the ability to play at 60 fps versus 30 fps really drive the sales of games? There is no real evidence to show one way or another besides some random polls done by internet writers. However, the issue at hand seems to be more about what is being taken as deception rather than disappointment. Game footage released to get players excited being at 60 fps with no disclaimer would sure seem to indicate that it will be possible to play at that level. If this marketing hit impacts sales for this game, it may be a cautionary tale for studios moving forward. It’s also entirely possible that this is just a blip on the radar and Redfall sells like crazy. Redfall launches for Xbox Series X|S and PC on May 2, 2023 and will be available Day 1 on Game Pass.
Image from: Xbox
