A brand new report means that Microsoft’s choice to shut Redfall developer Arkane Austin and stop work on the sport got here simply earlier than the anticipated launch of a serious replace, with extra content material additionally deliberate for the remainder of the 12 months.
The data comes from IGN, who have been instructed that offline performance, which might have allowed the sport to be performed with out a fixed web connection, would have been added in an replace this Might. This was a long-awaited characteristic that has been within the works since a substantial fan backlash in opposition to the always-online requirement that dominated dialogue all through Redfall’s reveal interval.
Importantly, the flexibility to play the sport offline would have ensured some type of longevity. With out offline performance, Redfall is liable to being rendered unplayable within the occasion that the servers supporting the sport are taken offline.
A recent message posted to the official Redfall X / Twitter account claims that “whereas there will probably be no additional updates” the sport’s “servers will stay on-line for gamers to take pleasure in.” Nonetheless, it’s troublesome to not take this with something however a mountain of salt given the litany of damaged guarantees which have surrounded the title up so far.
IGN additionally claims that the now deserted Hero Cross content material, which was accessible as a part of the sport’s expensive Chew Again Version was nonetheless in growth and set to launch round Halloween. A plan for some type of compensation for these unfortunate gamers who’ve already paid for this now-scrapped content material has been introduced, although actual particulars are scarce presently.
For those who’re out of the loop, Microsoft is closing a number of studios together with Arkane Austin and Hello-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks in a transfer that appears to have taken even the builders unexpectedly. Cellular studio Alpha Canine Video games can also be being shut down, whereas the help crew Roundhouse Studios is changing into a part of The Elder Scrolls On-line developer ZeniMax On-line Studios.
The variety of employees impacted by these closures has but to change into obvious, however we hope that every one of these affected are capable of land on their toes. TechRadar has reached out to Microsoft and Bethesda with a request for remark, although neither get together has responded presently.