Redfall Final Update Was Made by Fired Staff Who Returned to the Office
The final update for Redfall, released on May 30, 2024, was developed by former Arkane Austin staff who had been laid off when the studio closed that month. According to an interview with The Game Business, director Harvey Smith negotiated with Microsoft to allow six or seven ex-employees back into the studio to finish the update. Smith, who was fired during the closure, asked Microsoft, "I know I don't work here anymore, but can you let me release this version?" and received permission. The team completed version 1.4, which added offline mode, a reputation gauge system, and other improvements. The update was initially announced as canceled, then reversed. Smith reflected that if the game had launched in this final state, it would have been "a far better game," though not a massive hit. He also noted the project was difficult, citing the shift to live-service design, the COVID-19 pandemic, and remote work departures. Redfall, an open-world co-op FPS, was released in May 2023 for PC and Xbox Series X|S, and received poor reviews for performance, AI, and bugs. Arkane Austin closed in May 2024 alongside other Bethesda studios.