Developers should strive to make the best game possible. Don’t try to normalize low-effort products or a bad job.
Also, i’m not sure how Redfall isn’t like the other Arkane games – it’s also a first person shooter with light RPG elements and semi-open world. You know, like the Prey or Deathloop. The only new element is a co-op. Maybe that’s down to personal preference or something.
If they’ve tried to make, i dunno, an RTS game, then i would’ve kinda get the «not their cup of tea» excuse and lack of experience. But then again, they’re professionals with trillion dollar company backing them, they can hire staff they’re missing, can’t they?
«but its technical performance and Xbox’s lackluster slate shouldn’t be used as ammo to limit Arkane’s creative freedom.» – what creative freedom?! You yourself said in the article that they’re chasing trends, i quote: «would be divorcing itself from its specialties and chasing trends instead». Creative freedom should not be an excuse to make bad games or to act like those bad games don’t matter. What, they didn’t see all the problems? Like braindead AI? Lack of coherent story? Performance issues? Bad excuse for cutscenes? They’ve traded their stellar reputation for Redfall and they’re the only ones to blame.
Demand better from Arkane, Xbox and Microsoft, that’s the only way for Microsoft and their studios to improve. If you start acting like bad games are ok or that it’s fine because it’s available on GamePass, things will get even worse.
Oh, by the way, which Supermassive Games was «poorly animated»? I mean, “samey” i get, but poorly animated? Don’t remember a single one. Weird jab.
