In a surprising move in May 2024, Microsoft closed several Bethesda studios, including Redfall developer Arkane Austin, Hi-Fi Rush, and The Evil Within developer Tango Gameworks. Concerning Redfall, Microsoft had promised a “make-good” offer for those who purchased the now-canceled Hero DLC, which was supposed to introduce new characters to the game.
Players who bought the Hero Pass as part of the premium Bite Back Edition or its upgrade can now request a refund through Bethesda’s customer support website. Digital purchases made on platforms like the Xbox Store, Microsoft Store, Epic Games Store, or Steam will be automatically refunded to the original payment method. For purchases made through other retailers, a refund request needs to be submitted. If you bought a physical copy, you will have to contact your retailer for a refund or store credit for the Bite Back DLC.
Redfall received its final update at the end of May, wrapping up a turbulent year for the co-op vampire game. It faced heavy criticism from both critics and players upon launch and was reported to have a troubled development process. The challenges faced during Redfall’s release led to executives like Phil Spencer and Matt Booty commenting on Xbox’s involvement in its lackluster launch. Previously, Pete Hines, the former publishing head at Bethesda Softworks, had expressed confidence that Redfall would eventually become a successful game that players would enjoy on Game Pass in the future.
In IGN’s 4/10 review, Redfall was described as “a disappointingly poor experience overall. Riddled with dull missions, unintelligent enemies, and persistent technical issues, Redfall simply wasn’t ready for release in its current state.”
During an IGN Live event, Phil Spencer commented on the studio closures, stating: “I have to run a sustainable business within the company and foster growth, which sometimes entails making tough decisions that aren’t easy but necessary.”
The closure of Arkane Austin comes at a challenging time for the video game industry, with numerous employees losing their jobs this year. Major staff reductions at Sony, Microsoft, and other publishers, coupled with a growing list of studio closures, have had a significant impact on the industry.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Follow him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can contact Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
