Sources, speaking anonymously to Bloomberg, described the leadership of co-directors Harvey Smith and Ricardo Bare as unfocused. As the project progressed, the leads allegedly failed to provide clear direction, causing frustration among the development team. The studio’s references to other games like Far Cry and Borderlands created confusion within departments, resulting in varying ideas about the game’s direction. The report also highlights a tension between prioritizing single-player and multiplayer aspects, leaving developers feeling that Redfall was trying to achieve too much without excelling in either area.
Staffing and recruitment posed additional challenges for Arkane. Many developers joined the studio to work on the immersive single-player experiences it was known for, and when they found themselves working on a multiplayer-focused project lacking a clear vision, they chose to leave. The studio’s location in Austin, Texas, also presented difficulties due to regressive social policies in the state, which affected the hiring process. The undisclosed nature of Redfall during recruitment exacerbated the staffing issues. Despite outsourcing to other studios, it seems that Arkane’s efforts to scale up for a multiplayer game fell short.
