Redfall is an upcoming open-world co-op FPS from Arkane Studios Austin and Bethesda Softworks for Xbox Series X|S and PC. Set in the small town of Redfall, Massachusetts, players must survive against legions of vampires and other dangerous enemies after a failed experiment leaves them trapped. Thematically similar to the popular Left 4 Dead series, Redfall lets four players work cooperatively to fight against hordes of foes while progressing through narrative and objective-driven missions.

While Redfall gives gamers the option of single-player as well as four-player co-op, according to Arkane Studios, they won't get the option to play these modes offline. Through Arkane's Redfall FAQ, it's stated that "A persistent online connection is required for single player and co-op." Redfall looks to follow the modern trend of online-only games, but this comes with some concerning implications that affect gamers and the state of gaming as a whole.

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Anti-Piracy Is the Justification for Redfall's Online-Only Model

In recent years, developers have adopted anti-piracy practices to ensure the safety and protection of their projects. DRM or Digital Rights Management is the most efficient way to protect copyrights for digital media, including video games. It essentially limits the copying and selling of games and is used to authenticate game purchases. Utilizing an online-only model with DRM takes it a step further. Making sure the player is always connected online authenticates the player's game. Although this practice is beneficial to developers and their products, the online-only model can pose a problem for the player.

The Online-Only Model Is Detrimental to Gamers

Redfall Protagonists Walking at Dawn

Unless players are linked to an online Steam or Xbox account in addition to an online Bethesda.net account, they won't be able to play Redfall. This discourages players who prefer to play offline or at least want the option to do so. The online-only model can also alienate players who don't have access to a reliable online connection. Although a persistent connection to play online-only games is the responsibility of the player, it's also something the developer should be concerned with as well.

Online-only games run the risk of inconsistency due to online issues such as server crashes. When this happens, players face the risk of loss of progress and often lengthy wait times until servers are back online. This can deter players from returning to the game. The online-only model also sheds light on the concerns of game longevity and preservation. When a studio decides to cut its losses and no longer support a product, this results in a decision to shut down servers of online games permanently. Without the ability to play offline, this leaves players with no options and their purchase becomes worthless.

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Online-Only Is Not a Viable Model for Gamers

Redfall key art showing the heroes approaching a vampire

The trend of online-only games is a wavering one, with developers attempting to practice this model in the past, only to revert to a more gamer-friendly and familiar approach later. Back 4 Blood, another Left 4 Dead-inspired game, initially launched with a very similar online-only model but was eventually updated with an offline single-player option amid pushback from gamers. Marvel's Avengers launched with an online-only model, but later gave gamers the option to play offline after a steep rise in complaints. It Takes Two also launched with an online-only model in mind but was later updated with an offline couch co-op option, much to the delight of players. Thus, it is possible for studios to be self-aware enough to take player concerns into consideration when deciding the online requirements for their games.

Arkane Studios' decision to require a persistent connection to play Redfall is interesting, especially when considering their single-player history. Coming from a studio that has heavily focused on single-player games such as Prey and the Dishonored series, the lack of an offline single-player option is peculiar. However, Arkane does have the opportunity to alleviate gamers' disappointment regarding the online requirement. They can follow in the footsteps of studios that have eventually realized the online-only model just isn't viable for many gamers.