Many of Red Dead Redemption 2’s locations can be found in real life, however, with 8k resolutions and ray tracing, the difference between the real and unreal becomes even harder to spot. Even though this Western-themed game came out four years ago, its attention to detail is still one of the best in the gaming industry. Part of the reason for this is the real locations Rockstar copied to create amazing areas in RDR2. To this day, a community of players remain dedicated to discovering these real-world locations.
NexusMods hosts a variety of mods for PC games that can alter or enhance a game's content once installed, including Reshade. Reshade is a generic post-processing injector for games and video software that enhances the depth of field, colors, and more. A player can tweak the settings of this mod to create a photorealistic look in RDR2. Reshade is free to use and downloadable.
The Reshade mod, available via the NexusMods website, makes it possible to play RDR2 in 8k in stunning detail. YouTuber and digital artist Digital Dreams showcases RDR2 with 8k using Reshade (8,000 pixels width) and ray tracing. Ray tracing has become popular because its algorithm produces extremely realistic lighting. This algorithm essentially traces the path of light and then simulates how light interacts with virtual objects.
How RDR2’s Blackwater Compares To 1900s Blackwater, Missouri
Digital Dreams’ video shows RDR2’s Blackwater in the evening during golden hour in 8k and ray tracing. The sun can be seen shining through puddles on the muddy street, and NPCs are going about their day. What makes Blackwater even more special is that it is based on the real-life historical city, Blackwater, located in Missouri. Much like the fictional RDR2 Blackwater, the real Blackwater was platted in 1887 but had functioned as a trading point. From the buildings to the stables and the carriage tracks, the old photos of Blackwater come to life in Digital Dream’s videos.
RDR2’s Braithwaite Manor Looks Like Oak Alley Plantation
Another one of Digital Dreams’ videos showcases the entrance to Braithwaite Manor lined with oak trees. Rockstar based Braithwaite Manor off Oak Alley Plantation, located near the Mississippi River. Unsurprisingly, like the one in the game, this plantation also has a disturbing history of slavery. Digital Dream’s video is breathtaking because it replicates the intricate shadows of the tree branches on the ground. Additionally, in 8k, the trees appear realistic when placed side by side with the original photo of the Oak Alley Plantation. This makes Braithwaite Manor another real-world landmark in the RDR2.
RDR2’s Saint-Denis Evokes 1890s New Orleans
When players travel anywhere in RDR2’s Saint-Denis, they may see the resemblance to 1899 New Orleans. Rockstar copied many buildings, streets, and parks for the game. Digital Dreams presents Saint-Denis in 8k, creating a time machine for 19th-century New Orleans. Everything from the cobblestone streets to the electricity poles, and horses and carts, shows that it is New Orleans.
Designers of RDR2’s world have put so much research and detail into their setting that when viewed using Reshade, it is hard to distinguish between the virtual and the real. While most players may not be able to run Red Dead Redemption 2 with Reshade, it is worth viewing Digital Dream’s videos to see a photorealistic view of history. Most of RDR2’s locations come from real settings in Texas and elsewhere, so with 8k and ray tracing, Reshade becomes the most immersive way of reliving these historical locations.