It's been almost two and a half years since Red Dead Online released, and it's still far lesser than GTA Online - not only in its current state but when compared to GTA Online's first two and a half years. Both online modes launched a month after their respective single-player games, but GTA Online received and is still receiving more meaningful content than Red Dead Online.
After a number of launch issues for Red Dead Online and GTA Online were sorted, each game only had slivers of content to mull over. GTA Online quickly gained support with regular updates, and it once looked like Red Dead Online would follow suit. After all, it would make sense for Rockstar to echo its plans from the modern-day crime game, even if on a slightly smaller scale.
But Rockstar hasn't seemed as committed to Red Dead Online as GTA Online, whether because it's not matching expectations or simply because there wasn't a solid vision for it. The mode is struggling. Some believe Rockstar just doesn't understand the audience for Red Dead Online and how to cater to it, but it could be just a case of failing to capture lightning in a bottle twice.
What GTA Online Did Better Than RDO
The biggest difference between Red Dead Online and GTA Online is the massive disparity in new content added. After two and a half years, GTA Online had 21 big updates under its belt, while Red Dead Online has only seven. Red Dead Online's last update just gave the Bounty Hunter role some new bounties and gear, which felt like only a slice of a larger update and certainly wasn't worth the half-year wait it took to get it. At that same time, GTA Online got a massive new heist, featuring cameos from rappers like Dr. Dre, and a map expansion, which makes it abundantly clear which game has Rockstar's attention.
Although it's possible the pandemic has impacted development of Red Dead Online content, Rockstar's lack of communication has left fans high and dry. Support has slowed down on GTA Online in recent years, but the updates it gets have been substantial and game-changing. Multiple new heists and noteworthy missions, a working casino, and much more have continued to ensure players return to GTA Online in droves.
Some GTA Online players may be annoyed by the absurdity of the content Rockstar has added, such as flying cars and world-ending events, but there's at least no shortage of large-scale things to do. It's likely this will only continue for the foreseeable future, as Rockstar will likely want to maintain its online mode in some way whenever Grand Theft Auto 6 releases. The future of Red Dead Online, however, is unclear, to the point that fans are wondering if Rockstar is just going to quietly pull back on support and lean even more into GTA Online. With Rockstar having already confirmed there will be exclusive updates to the new version of Grand Theft Auto 5 on current-gen consoles, this doesn't seem out of the question.
What RDO Has Done Better Than GTA Online
Red Dead Online has done a lot to differentiate itself from GTA Online. Its open world is far more dynamic, lively, and interesting. There's all kinds of ways for players to keep themselves entertained and still make money without ever actually entering a mission, which can't be said for GTA. Being able to fish, hunt, and do other activities makes for organic fun with friends that is simultaneously purposeful.
Red Dead Online is also a strong roleplaying game without having to use mods. Although it has potential to be much more, it allows players to pick job paths and be more than just a two-bit outlaw. Whether it's hunting down those that have broken the law or attempting to study wildlife, there's something for all kinds of playstyles. Players don't have to kill everything they see or cause mayhem; there's a viable playstyle for those who just want to soak in Rockstar's quiet, immersive world.
What Red Dead Online Needs From Rockstar
Red Dead Online would benefit greatly from doubling down on the things that make it good, adding purchasable properties, new story missions, and heists or other gang-related activities. It already has plenty of roles that offer diversity for what players can do with their posses, but there's not a lot of criminal shenanigans to get caught up in, outside of the moonshining business. Rockstar already has foundations for this kind of content built into Red Dead Online and GTA Online - the talented developer just has to build upon them.
With Red Dead Online now a standalone game, there are potentially more eyes on it than ever, and Rockstar needs to capitalize on this quickly before new players grow disinterested. After two and a half years, GTA Online had received numerous businesses, extensive customization options, quality-of-life improvements, heists, and more. It was hard to lose interest in the game, as Rockstar was constantly adding new content that mattered. The most exciting addition to Red Dead Online so far has been the Moonshiners update, which was nearly a year and a half ago.
When it comes to Red Dead Online support, weekly discounts and free packages at the in-game postal office just don't cut it anymore. It's time for Rockstar to take one of its most critically acclaimed games and become more proactive with it. If there's not going to be any single-player DLC for Red Dead Redemption 2, the company should at least make Red Dead Online as worth playing as GTA Online.