After Microsoft’s acquisition of ZeniMax, the parent company of Arkane, the report suggests that Microsoft maintained a mostly hands-off approach. Apart from canceling the planned PlayStation version of Redfall, Microsoft allowed ZeniMax to operate with a high degree of autonomy. As a result, the final months of development were described as frantic, leading to multiple delays. Allegedly, studio leaders, including Harvey Smith, expressed optimism that the renowned “Arkane magic” would fix the game’s issues at the last minute. However, according to Bloomberg’s sources, the game’s release version remained largely unchanged since they last played it in 2021.
While Microsoft inherited what appears to be a significant challenge, the company bears some responsibility for not recognizing the flaws in the title before launch. They could have either shelved the game entirely or reworked it as a single-player experience. As the highly anticipated release of Starfield approaches in September, Microsoft will have an opportunity to learn from its mistakes and demonstrate its ability to rebound. In the meantime, Bloomberg’s detailed report offers further insight into the troubled development of this Xbox-exclusive game.
