It looks like Redfall’s physical release will include a download code for the game instead of a disc.
As spotted by aResetErauser, the game’s page on theBethesdaSupport site states that: “The physicalXboxcopies ofRedfallare Xbox Play Anywhere codes which can played on both theXbox Series X|Sand theMicrosoftXbox App onPC“.
VGC has asked Bethesda for comment on this story.
Update17th Feb 2023 / 9:40 pm
Bethesda has now updated its FAQ page and claimed that, “the Xbox standard edition is the only SKU that provides players with a physical disc of the game”.
1/4 There was unclear Redfall information shared on a Bethesda Customer Support FAQ regarding Redfall – it has since been corrected:https://t.co/24J66xsl5A. Please see replies for more information.
While some special editions of modern first-party titles have included download codes, including notable releases like 2022’sGod of War Ragnarok, it’s uncommon for the standard versions of games on Xbox to include just a code.
This is more of a common practice onNintendo Switch, but it’s more regularly used by third parties, rather thanNintendoitself.
The news follows confirmation that theArkanetitle will require anonline connection to play, even in single-player mode.
This means that should Xbox servers go down, as happened in summer 2022, it would be impossible to play the game and raises the prospect of the game being completely unplayable in the future.
While many modern games include DRM, which requires a one-off online check to prevent piracy, a persistent online requirement remains relatively uncommon for modern games with single-player modes, even in titles that are primarily co-op focused but have single-player elements.
Xbox has historicallypromoted the importance of game preservation, most significantly with its extensive backwards compatibility program. The company alsofamously u-turnedon hugely unpopular plans to require an online connection forXbox One.
