Red Dead Redemption 2: Everything You Need to Know

Red Dead Redemption 2
Developer: Rockstar Studios
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Release Date: October 26, 2018
Available On: PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Red Dead Redemption 2 releases tomorrow on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and it’s not simply the biggest game of the year, but quite possibly of this console generation. The game is currently available for pre-order, and players who want to fire up the game at midnight tonight may want to get a jump on the 100+ GB download and start pre-loading your digital copy right now.

Development & Delays:

Red Dead Redemption 2 was officially announced back in October of 2016, when Rockstar Games posted the trailer to its official YouTube channel. At the time of the trailer’s release, the game had an expected release date of Fall 2017, but was soon delayed until Spring 2018.

Subsequent trailers soon followed the first one- trailers which detailed the story of outlaw Arthur Morgan, a member of the Dutch Van der Linde gang, and the open-world environment of the Wild West. It wasn’t until the third trailer, however, which came out in May of this year, that Red Dead Redemption 2 got its current release date of October 26, 2018.

Throughout the month, Rockstar Games has received an intense wave of backlash after its co-founder, Dan Houser, alluded to the fact the development team has been working 100-hour work weeks in order to finish the game. Houser has since responded to his statement, explaining that he doesn’t expect anyone to “work that way”. His comments, however, re-opened the discussion of crunch-time within the industry, and Rockstar employees from all over the world have been sharing their own experiences, both positive and grueling.

In case you are still considering which console to purchase the game for, Rockstar Games is currently in a deal with Sony Interactive Entertainment, which will bring exclusive Red Dead Redemption 2 content to the PlayStation 4 for a limited time. On a similarly sweet note, GameStop is running a special bundle that includes Red Dead Redemption 2 with the purchase of an Xbox One X or an Xbox One S. The bundle slashes $100 off the cost of the Xbox One X or S.

The Story & The Dutch Van der Linde Gang:

Though it’s releasing eight years after the first game (which was set in 1911), Red Dead Redemption 2 is actually a prequel- one that is set in 1899, twelve years prior.

The iconic, wild west era is drawing to a close as lawmen seek to rid the region of the remaining gangs. Enter the return of Dutch Van der Linde, antagonist from Red Dead Redemption, and his self-titled gang, the Dutch Van der Linde gang. After a robbery goes south, the Van der Linde gang are forced on the run and must now find ways to make their living across the American west. As this is a prequel, players will be seeing the Van der Linde gang in its prime.

In the first official gameplay trailer, Rockstar revealed whenever the Van der Linde gang is forced out of an area, they will be able to set up base camps, and will need to perform basic chores to keep the camp functional. Players will interact with and form bonds with each member of the gang; but soon, internal struggles will threaten to tear its members apart, leaving Arthur to decide where his loyalties truly lie.

A Living, Interactive World: 

In the first official gameplay trailer (see above), Rockstar explained it’s aiming to create a living world “that’s not simply open, but deeper”. The world of Red Dead Redemption 2 is a sprawling landscape littered with towns, forests, swamps, and mountainous regions. Some notable areas that have been featured by Rockstar include:

Valentine (the Heartlands): A “rough-and-tumble” town that boasts livestock auctions and attracts cowboys, outlaws, prostitutes, and more from all over.

Saint Denis (Bayour NWA): Saint Denis serves as a gateway into North America, and has been described as a melting pot of cultures and people where “businessmen, socialites, sailors, laborers, beggars and thieves all live side by side.”

Rhodes (Scarlet Meadows, LE): Brimming with tension and corruption, Rhodes has fallen victim of two plantation families, the Grays and the Braithwaites.

Who is Arthur Morgan?: 

Described as Dutch’s most “dependable and capable enforcer since he was a boy”, Arthur Morgan is the protagonist of Red Dead Redemption 2 and from the looks of the trailers, he seems to be the glue that is holding this band of outlaws together; but Arthur is developing a resistance to the way Dutch runs the game, a rift that’s serving as one of the main threads of tension in the game.

John Marston Makes a Return (First Appearance?):

John Marston is confirmed to make an appearance in Red Dead Redemption 2 as a member of the Van der Linde gang. This being a prequel, we’ll actually be seeing a younger Marston, one who has just been taken under Dutch’s wings, and who is just getting his signature facial scars.

New Features:

One of the biggest new features is Red Dead Redemption 2 can be played entirely in first-person, if that’s what floats your boat…er, rocks your horse saddle?

The Dead Eye mechanic has also been drastically enhanced, allowing players to slow down time, paint targets, or see critical points of your enemies. You can check out the new Dead Eye system in more detail, with the second official gameplay trailer below.

Red Dead Online: 

Though Red Dead Redemption 2 is first and foremost, a single-player, open-world experience, Red Dead Online aims to bring outlaws together from around the world. While there isn’t too much information of what to expect, Rockstar has explained that:

Red Dead Online is an evolution of the classic multiplayer experience in the original Red Dead Redemption, blending narrative with competitive and cooperative gameplay in fun new ways. Using the gameplay of the upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2 as a foundation, Red Dead Online will be ready to be explored alone or with friends, and will also feature constant updates and adjustments to grow and evolve this experience for all players.

This online feature currently has a public beta launch window of November 2018. Rockstar Games is already warning fans that there will inevitably be some issues with the online component, due to its size and scale. We get it. We’ve heard it before.

Is it Coming to PC?:

The answer, at least for the time being, is no.

Special Editions + Release Date: 

There are currently three Editions of Red Dead Redemption 2 available for purchase digitally and at select retailers- the Standard game; the Special Edition; and the Ultimate. For fans who want to shell out a little more for something special, Rockstar Warehouse is selling a Collector’s Box (though it’s currently sold out). See our pre-order guide for more details.

Red Dead Redemption 2 releases tomorrow, October 26 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.