Everything We Know About Red Dead Redemption 2
MAJOR UPDATE: Rockstar Games has officially announced Red Dead Redemption 2 for release in Fall 2017 for Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
Update 2 - 20 Oct. 2016
Rockstar release first official Red Dead Redemption 2 trailer (see below).
Update 1 - 18 Oct. 2016
There are rumours flying around claiming that Red Dead Retribution is gonna be the title according to this reddit post.
ICANN WHOIS database shows parent company Take-Two Interactive have registered domain REDDEAD.ONLINE.
Teaser or announcement trailer and release window (likely 2018) could reveal Thursday, October 20th "according to sources close to former TechRadar writer, Hugh Langley," reports PSU.
The Situation
Rockstar Games is working on the Red Dead franchise once again but what exactly are they doing with it? It's time to rustle us some rumours and facts.
Red Dead Redemption is hailed as not just as one of Rockstar Games' greatest creations but across the entire industry. It was praised for its story-telling, its gameplay and its many distracting activities and being able to lose yourself as a roguish gunslinger. The original released for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in May 2010 and was developed by Rockstar San Diego.
For the longest time nothing happen except a Halloween-special type expansion called Undead Nightmare in October 2010, but outside of that it was DLC for the game's multiplayer side. Many thought Rockstar would develop a PC version of Red Dead Redemption but it never materialised.
"An epic tale of life in America’s unforgiving heartland, the game's vast and atmospheric world will also provide the foundation for a brand new online multiplayer experience," reveals Rockstar Games.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is the next instalment from Rockstar Games and will feature a 'Red Dead Online' multiplayer experience, similar to GTA Online.
The Tease And The Trailer
The first official trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2 included a number of things and here's a highlight:
• Lush and highly detailed environments
• Remote homesteads and cattle ranches
• Wildlife predator/prey interactions, herds of buffalo
• Hints of hunting activities, dead deer strapped to back of horse
• Canoes for traversing bodies of water
• Trains blistering through the game world
• Highly detailed settlements with carriage-drawn traffic
• More developed settlements with bustling activity
• Large posse of players/NPCs riding together - possibly Red Dead Online
Rockstar Games officially began a marketing push - for what would soon be revealed as Red Dead Redemption 2 - starting in mid-October and updated their Twitter and the official Rockstar Newswire blog with an image of the company logo printed in a style similar to Red Dead Redemption.
They've already posted a second teasing artwork showing a rather large sunset back-dropped with some craggy terrain and a curious bunch of rifle wielding silhouetted figures walking toward us.
Another artwork release has confirmed the next Red Dead title as Red Dead Redemption 2 and announced its release window as Fall 2017. Although it doesn't mention platforms, a separate post on the Rockstar Newswire reveals it for Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
What's In A Name?
It has been revealed as of October 18th that the new game is titled Red Dead Redemption 2, leaving little doubt that it will be carrying on from the original Red Dead Redemption. It remains unclear whether it will be stepping forward or back in time to the original as a sequel or prequel.
Sequel or Prequel?
The question of whether Rockstar Games is developing a new Red Dead or remastering the original has been answered and they're moving onto greener pastures with a full new entry. However it's not settle yet whether they want events set after, before or perhaps even during the original Red Dead Redemption.
Will the supposed leaked map of the new game world prove true?
A prequel is edging out over a sequel given that the time period Redemption was set in was basically the death throes of the Wild West era. As the above 'leaked map' suggests everything would be much grander in scale and dwarfing the original game world, much like Grand Theft Auto titles have done throughout the years. Grand Theft Auto V is a massive slab of land to explore on foot, by air or even by sea.
The validity of the map is at best taken as rumour but it would suggest a greater diversity of areas and set pieces to visit. It also implies that swimming won't be the deadly experience it was in the original.
The GTA Effect
Advancements in the next Red Dead are guaranteed but in what form will they take? It's possible Rockstar will be trying to bring across some of their most recent achievements with Grand Theft Auto V to Red Dead.
• Multiple Protagonists
The return to Los Santos in GTA V brought with it the crazy idea of choosing to play as multiple player characters and not just one, like all previous instalments in the series to-date. Could Rockstar be taking a similar approach to a prequel/sequel Red Dead Redemption?
Could we flip between the worlds of outlaws and lawmen? It was the major driving force in the original Redemption as John Marston had to deal with trying to leave his previous life behind only to be strong-armed into serving the not-so squeaky clean authorities.
In Grand Theft Auto V certain player decisions late in the game could even result in the death of another protagonist. Will more branching decisions be included?
• Red Dead Online
Take-Two Interactive has in fact registered the domain REDDEAD.ONLINE according to the official ICANN WHOIS database of nosy online busybodies.
A huge pillar of success for Rockstar Games today is GTA Online, not just Grand Theft Auto V itself. Red Dead Redemption already had multiplayer with co-op missions as well as sandbox mayhem to enjoy.
Rockstar is introducing a Red Dead Online world component with the new Red Dead Redemption 2, but it remains to be seen whether it will try to capture the scope of GTA Online or if they'll go for something different. It's likely they want to copy the success - swapping cars and bikes for horses and carriage.
Release Date
Red Dead Redemption 2 is scheduled to release for Xbox One and PlayStation in Fall 2017.
A PC version has not been mentioned which isn't unusual for Rockstar as their big flagship behemoth Grand Theft Auto has tended to favour a console release first before taking up to a year before launching on PC. A desktop release should come much sooner for Red Dead fans this time as Grand Theft Auto V first had to be remastered for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 as it came to PC, but they're the starting platforms this time around.
Red Dead Redemption 2 for PC could arrive by no later than Fall 2018. It remains officially for Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
