There's little doubt that Red Dead Redemption 2 brings with it a level of excitement that's rarely seen within the gaming world. The original, open-world entry in the series delivered a compelling title for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 fans, so it goes without saying that there are high hopes surrounding the impending release of the Wild West-themed prequel.
With Rockstar Games' latest blockbuster on the horizon though, many gamers are wondering what awaits them in the frontier when they finally have the opportunity to saddle up in 2018. As a result, Screen Rant has put together an overview of the news, multiplayer details, rumors, release date information and more to help keep fans of Red Dead Redemption 2 in the know.
What is Red Dead Redemption 2's Release Date?
Anyone chomping at the bit for Red Dead Redemption 2 won't be waiting all that much longer, as the title is set to arrive on October 26, 2018 across PlayStation 4 and Xbox One hardware. The game was initially marked to arrive in 2017 before being pushed back twice.
Following the latest delay, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick claimed that Rockstar Games needed time to polish the experience in order to appease eager fans. He then confirmed that he was "confident" that it will make its October release and won't see any further delays.
"The entire focus of this organisation is on delivering the highest quality entertainment experiences of any kind. More often than not, we feel proud that we're able to do that. All of our labels are focused on releasing a title when they reach that apex of effort and perfection. And in this instance, Rockstar Games felt more polish was required, and naturally we are in favour of that decision [to delay Red Dead Redemption 2]. The date of October 26 is set, and I am confident that will be the release date. We are incredibly excited about it."
Will Red Dead Redemption 2 Feature Multiplayer?
Rockstar Games has confirmed that RDR2 will indeed feature online multiplayer, which will presumably be similar to that of Grand Theft Auto Online – the multiplayer component launched for Grand Theft Auto 5 roughly a month after the triple-A title's launch and that has remained popular to this day on the PC and current-gen console versions of the game. As fans will recall, multiplayer was a major aspect of the first Red Dead Redemption that released almost eight years ago, and it's great to hear that something comparable will allow fans to create their own posse in a bid to tame the Western wilderness.
Outside of the fact that there will be an "online multiplayer experience" however, fans haven't been made privy to what awaits them in the mode. Furthermore, there hasn't even been any word on whether or not this "Red Dead Redemption Online" will be made available day and date with the core software or available via a patch later on. According to leaks shared by Trusted Reviews though, Red Dead Redemption 2’s multiplayer suite will include a "Battle Royale" mode (if you recall, Rockstar gave Grand Theft Auto Online its own battle royale mode called Motor Wars from its Smuggler's Run DLC last year), "Revive and Survive" and "Money Grab’ modes.
- Revive and Survive sees two teams in a deathmatch where teammates can review each other before being entirely eliminated.
- Money Grab has two teams fighting battle it out over money located in center of the map which they need to steal and bring back to their base.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Is a Prequel
The narrative surrounding Red Dead Redemption's protagonist, John Marston, came to a close within the confines of the original game, alluding to the end of the Wild West and ushering in the beginning of a more modern America. As a result, the only viable means of revisiting the series appeared to be a prequel, and after rumors and speculation it's clear that Red Dead Redemption 2 will be just that: a prequel.
The second trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2 and accompanying press release confirmed that the title will revolve around “the Van der Linde gang as they rob, fight and steal their way across the vast and rugged heart of America in order to survive.” Many will recall that the aforementioned Van der Linde gang was the group that Marston has a part of prior to being blackmailed into hunting down each member in the events of the original RDR.
Cementing this setting is the inclusion of the gang's leader Dutch van der Linde in the trailer, meaning that fans will be able to play out the events that occurred before they were ultimately placed in the shoes of the now iconic John Marston.
Who Will Gamers Play As in Red Dead Redemption 2?
According to Rockstar Games, users will be taking control of a newcomer by the name of Arthur Morgan, an outlaw working with the Van der Linde gang. Not much is known about the titular anti-hero, but fans have been given a glimpse at what the character will look like through the game's second trailer.
During the gameplay footage, Morgan can be seen utilizing a bow and arrow, dual-wielding revolvers, and even participating in a train robbery. Additionally, it's unclear what the character's motives are for joining up with the likes of Dutch and his ragtag posse, but they appear to stem from looking after his mother in the wake of his father's death. It's possible that Morgan is being forced into executing these acts to preserve what little remains of his family, but a fuller picture of the protagonist's arch has yet to be detailed by Rockstar.
Will John Marston Appear in Red Dead Redemption 2?
Since Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel, there are favorable odds for Marston's return – albeit as a younger version of the man he will become. And there's a man who look just like a younger version of John Marston in the trailer. Although Rockstar Games has yet to confirm if the raspy-voiced mainstay will be making a return, an early leak indicates that Marston won't only have a role in the main narrative, but will actually be a playable character to boot.
*Be warned, as potential spoilers follow.*
These reports originally stemmed from a NeoGAF posting that mentioned the now known protagonist of the game, Arthur Morgan, by name, but they also claim that John Marston and his family will be present in the game. According to the alleged informant, this playable section featuring the ill-fated protagonist may be nothing more than an end-game scenario of sorts that ties into the opening events of this title's predecessor, allowing players to go through the mundane task of building his family's ranch at Beecher’s Hope.
This is just a rumor for now, but it would be bizarre to have a prequel featuring the Van der Linde gang sans any mention or glimpse of Marston.
Red Dead Redemption 2's Map May Have Already Been Leaked
One of the best parts of any Rockstar-developed romp is the open-world that players inevitably spend countless hours exploring and traversing over. Often immense in size, the rugged landscapes and locales featured within the publisher's games are as much a character as the foul-mouthed occupants that inhabit it. Having said that, there aren't too many details about the land and ecosystems that'll be occupying Red Dead Redemption 2 outside of the fact that it will take place within "America's unforgiving heartland" – at least not in an official capacity.
However, much like other aspects of the game, it appears that the entire Red Dead Redemption 2 game map has been leaked. Originally posted on NeoGAF before being taken down and then preserved by TechRadar, the map appears to take place just East of Red Dead Redemption's setting, and even includes the Great Plains – albeit with fewer train tracks. There also appears to be quite a bit more water accessible within the region, although it's unknown if there will be a means of travelling across that particular terrain.
It's possible that if this is the map then it has been tweaked since these screenshots were originally leaked, so take this report with a dash of salt.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Will Feature Exclusives on PlayStation 4
As is sometimes the case between third-party publishers and hardware manufacturers, a deal has been made between Rockstar Games and Sony to secure exclusive early access to Red Dead Redemption 2 DLC on PS4. By the sounds of the deal, players will likely be getting various items for use within the multiplayer aspect of RDR2 ahead of their Xbox One counterparts, but details about what weapons, rides, outfits or more await PlayStation users are still missing in action.