Redfall Fails to Attract More Players on Steam After Major Update

Redfall Major Update

Arkane’s highly anticipated open-world vampire hunting first-person shooter, Redfall, continues to grapple with a disappointing player count on Steam, even after a significant update. Positioned alongside Xbox’s marquee releases for 2023, which included Bethesda Game Studios’ Starfield and Turn 10’s Forza Motorsport, Redfall fell short in terms of a successful launch. Unlike its fellow titles, Redfall faced scathing criticism for technical issues, poor performance on Xbox Series X and S, and questionable design choices.

A Promising Update

When Arkane initially revealed that Redfall would be locked at 30 FPS on consoles, they made a commitment to deliver a 60 FPS patch post-launch. Five months later, the highly anticipated 60 FPS update finally arrived, accompanied by a slew of much-needed enhancements to the vampire-themed looter shooter. These improvements encompassed better performance on PC, crucial bug fixes, and enhanced accessibility features. A notable addition was the introduction of proper stealth takedowns, a feature strangely absent from the game’s initial release. Given Arkane’s legacy with the Dishonored series and their recent success with Deathloop, the omission of stealth takedowns left fans perplexed. Additionally, input options tailored for players who prefer faster-paced FPS gameplay were incorporated.

Player Count Woes

Despite these commendable updates, Redfall’s player count on Steam remains dishearteningly low. On SteamDB, the game’s player count is a mere 36, with a 24-hour peak of 42 players and an all-time peak of just 6,124. It’s worth noting that these figures are exclusive to Steam and do not account for player counts on Xbox consoles or via PC Game Pass.

It’s conceivable that Redfall may be enjoying more success on Xbox Series X and S, as console gamers eagerly awaited the arrival of the 60 FPS patch. Moreover, PC gamers may have opted to experience Redfall through PC Game Pass, which offered the game at no additional cost, instead of purchasing it on Steam. Nonetheless, if the post-update player counts on consoles and PC Game Pass mirror the lackluster numbers seen on Steam, several factors may be contributing to this trend. Technical issues and performance concerns were just one facet of Redfall’s underwhelming reception. Fundamental design problems persisted, encompassing the game’s story, characters, cutscenes, loot system, and level design, all of which were criticized by players. Even with multiple bug fixes and performance enhancements, these core issues remain unresolved.

A Competitive Year

Another element to consider is the sheer volume of exceptional games that have graced the gaming scene this year. Titles such as Diablo 4, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Armored Core 6, and Baldur’s Gate 3 have kept gamers engrossed. It’s reasonable to assume that this latest update may be the final substantial one for Redfall, as Arkane likely shifts its focus to its next project. With Bethesda under the Xbox umbrella, one can hope that Arkane will return to its forte of creating stealth-based immersive sims in their forthcoming endeavors.

System requirements for Redfall on PC?

A: The system requirements for Redfall on PC are:

Minimum system requirements for Redfall:

OS: Windows 10 64-bit
Processor: Intel Core i5-4460 or AMD FX-8350
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 or AMD Radeon R9 280
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 50 GB available space


Recommended system requirements for Redfall:

OS: Windows 10 64-bit
Processor: Intel Core i7-6700K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 or AMD Radeon RX Vega 56
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 50 GB available space

Redfall FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

  • What caused the Redfall player count to remain low despite updates?
    Despite updates, Redfall’s low player count can be attributed to persistent design issues, including story, characters, cutscenes, loot system, and level design, which received criticism.
  • What enhancements were introduced in the latest Redfall update?
    The latest update included a long-awaited 60 FPS patch, better performance on PC, bug fixes, accessibility features, and the addition of stealth takedowns.
  • Why did Redfall’s initial performance on Xbox Series X and S receive criticism?
    Redfall faced criticism for its poor performance on Xbox Series X and S, including a locked 30 FPS frame rate.
  • Which other games contributed to Redfall’s competition this year?
    Redfall faced competition from highly anticipated games such as Diablo 4, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Armored Core 6, and Baldur’s Gate 3.
  • Is Redfall available on PC Game Pass?
    Yes, Redfall can be experienced through PC Game Pass at no additional cost.
  • What is Arkane’s next project after Redfall?
    While it’s unclear, it’s expected that Arkane may return to creating stealth-based immersive sims for their upcoming titles.
  • How did Redfall’s technical issues impact its reception?
    Technical issues, including performance problems, contributed to the game’s underwhelming reception.
  • What were the major issues with Redfall’s design?
    Redfall faced criticism for its story, characters, cutscenes, loot system, and level design, all of which were considered subpar.
  • Why was the absence of stealth takedowns in Redfall surprising for fans?
    The absence of stealth takedowns was surprising given Arkane’s history with the Dishonored franchise and their expertise in stealth gameplay.
  • What were the standout features of the latest Redfall update?
    The latest update not only introduced the highly anticipated 60 FPS patch but also improved performance on PC and added input options for faster-paced FPS gameplay.
  • What is Redfall?
  • Redfall is an open world vampire hunting FPS from Arkane, the studio behind Dishonored and Deathloop. You can play solo or with up to three friends in co-op mode, and choose from four different characters with unique abilities and weapons. You can explore the island of Redfall, which has been taken over by vampires and cultists, and fight them using various tactics and strategies.
  • When was Redfall released?
  • Redfall was released on June 23, 2023 for PC and Xbox Series X|S. It was one of the three big first-party releases for Xbox in 2023, along with Starfield and Forza Motorsport.
  • What are the metacritic scores for Redfall?
  • Redfall received mixed or average reviews from critics and users on metacritic. The game has a metascore of 62/100 for PC and 59/100 for Xbox Series X|S based on critic reviews. The game also has a user score of 4.9/10 for PC and 5.1/10 for Xbox Series X|S based on user reviews.
  • Who are the characters in Redfall?
  • The characters in Redfall are:
    • Devinder Crousley: A paranormal investigator and inventor who uses gadgets and traps to fight vampires.
    • Layla Ellison: A telekinetic hacker who can manipulate objects and enemies with her mind.
    • Remi de la Rosa: A combat engineer and former navy officer who can deploy turrets and shields.
    • Jacob Boyer: A former military sharpshooter who can turn invisible and use a sniper rifle.
  • How do I update Redfall?
  • You can update Redfall by downloading the latest patch for the game on your platform of choice. The latest patch for Redfall is version 1.0.5, which was released on November 23, 2023. The patch added 60 FPS support for consoles, improved performance on PC, fixed various bugs and glitches, added stealth takedowns and input options, and enhanced accessibility features.
  • How long is Redfall?
  • Redfall is estimated to take about 15 to 20 hours to complete the main story, depending on your playstyle and difficulty level. You can also spend more time exploring the open world, doing side missions, finding collectibles, and playing co-op with friends.
  • Is Redfall available on PS4 or PS5?
  • No, Redfall is not available on PS4 or PS5. The game is an Xbox console exclusive, meaning that it is only available on Xbox Series X|S and PC. The game is also part of Xbox Game Pass, which means that you can play it for free if you have a subscription to the service.
  • How can I get the latest news and updates on Redfall?
  • You can get the latest news and updates on Redfall by following the official social media accounts of Arkane and Xbox, such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can also check the official website or the official Steam page of the game for announcements and information.