When the name Redfall first leaked online, many Bethesda fans thought it might be the long-awaited Elder Scrolls 6. However, they learned the truth when Bethesda Softworks and Arkane Studios revealed the Left 4 Dead-style co-op shooter during E3 2021.
Bethesda already revealed plans to release Redfall in early 2023. However, fans hadn’t seen that much of the vampire-hunting co-op shooter up to this point. That finally changed during today’s Xbox Showcase, which opened with Redfall’s pulse-pounding gameplay reveal.
The gameplay trailer begins with playable character Layla investigating a church that she suspects is home to one of Redfall’s vampires. Her hunch proves correct when her exploration culminates in a tense close-quarters fight with the resident bloodsucker. The shotgun-wielding vampire-hunter manages to kill her opponent, only to be set upon by the vampire’s friends. Fortunately, the timely arrival of fellow player-character Jacob helps even the odds, and they make quick work of their undead opponents.
As Layla narrates Redfall’s backstory, she explains how vampires overran the small New England town, blocking out the sun and pushing back the sea to isolate it from the outside world. She then introduces viewers to the four playable vampire hunters while the trailer shows off their unique powers in action. For example, Layla can block attacks and send enemies flying with telekinetic fields. Jacob, meanwhile, is the team sniper, while genius engineer Remi goes into battle with her dog-like robot companion. Finally, cryptozoologist Devinder deploys various crowd-controlling gadgets.
The trailer also showcases some of Redfall’s enemies, including human cultists and varied forms of vampires. As Layla explains, these are not all typical horror movie vampires. Arcane previously revealed that Redfall features multiple vampire variants, similar to Left 4 Dead’s special infected. Even the less original-looking undead still manage to be creepy in new and creative ways. Redfall also has plenty of unusual-looking monsters, such as the flaming-eyed female vampires that appear at various points in the trailer. Meanwhile, human cultists fill the role of typical gun-toting FPS antagonists.
The trailer also shows the importance of teamwork in Redfall. In one scene, Jacob provides cover from a rooftop as his team stealthily moves into position for an ambush. During the battle, viewers see Layla manifest a spectral platform so that one of her teammates can leap over a crowd for a flanking attack. Combat finally ends after Devinder traps the horde in an electric field, letting his fellow vampire hunters easily gun them down.
Of course, gamers should always be suspicious of these highly edited and tightly choreographed gameplay trailers. However, Redfall at least appears to check many of the boxes that people expect from a Left 4 Dead clone. As a result, co-op shooter fans may have something to look forward to when Redfall drops in 2023, assuming Arkane Studios can deliver on what the trailer promises.
Redfall releases in 2023 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.