According to the official FAQ page for Redfall, the game will always require a "persistent online connection" no matter if you are playing it with friends or exploring the single-player mode. Put simply, there will be no way for Redfall players to play offline.While the single-player modes of games usually don't need to send or receive important data between the client and servers, it has been proven as a safe method to stop hackers from breaking the security walls of games and avoid them from launching a piracy version for free. Of course, Bethesda doesn't confirm this to be the official reason for the decision.
Redfall received a new gameplay trailer recently, after which Bethesda announced a new release date and launched a new FAQ page to answer some of the most-asked community questions. Although the game's official PC system requirements mentioned an internet connection earlier, fans assumed that it was only a requirement for the co-op mode.
Since the game doesn't feature a split-screen co-op mode, you will obviously need an internet connection to play it with friends, but it remains unknown if Redfall would feature a matchmaking system to find random players and create teams. There has also been no announcement regarding an in-game VOIP system yet.
Redfall is supposed to launch on May 2, 2023. The game will be released directly on Xbox/PC Game Pass as well as Steam. Redfall was going to be the first title by Bethesda following its acquisition by Microsoft, but the surprise launch of Hi-Fi Rush pushed Arkane Austin's upcoming shooter to the second spot.
Aside from Redfall, Bethesda is also busy working on Starfield, another highly-anticipated title that was supposed to launch in the first half of 2023, but recent reports suggested that it might have been delayed internally once again. The game originally targeted a release in November 2022.
Microsoft's schedule seems pretty impressive for 2023, especially after how well Hi-Fi Rush performed. Forza Motorsport is another big hit for this year along with Mojang's promising Minecraft: Legends. In between, Game Pass subscribers can also expect big third-party launches such as Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty and Atomic Heart.