Red Dead Redemption 2: everything you need to know so far

Red Dead Redemption 2’s third trailer landed on Wednesday, and gameplay-based previews from Europe were published the next day. Anticipation is cresting once more for Rockstar Games’ open-world Wild West adventure as we approach its October release, scheduled for eight and a half years after its predecessor.

It doesn’t matter if you’re an avid GTA player, a fan of Rockstar’s open-world games, or just itching to play cowboy—the upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2 will be your favorite game of 2018. 

Here are the details you need to know as we countdown to RDR2’s October 26th launch date.

WHAT IS RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2?

This is a follow-up to 2010’s Red Dead Redemption for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, which was widely acclaimed and the choice of many for game of the year. In the first game, protagonist John Marston was forced by federal authorities to capture or kill members of his old crew, Dutch’s Gang. Its story began in 1911; Red Dead Redemption 2 is set beginning in 1899, making this a prequel.

WHEN’S THE RELEASE DATE?

Red Dead Redemption 2 is scheduled to launch Oct. 26, 2018, on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It was originally due to launch in the fall of 2017, then that was delayed to the spring of this year, and then to October with an announcement back in February.

Back in October 2016, Sony announced it had secured a special deal for timed exclusive access to online content, but didn’t specify what that was.

Update, June 3: On June 2, Microsoft apparently jumped the gun with a listing on its online store divulging the pre-order incentives for Red Dead Redemption 2. They include a “War Horse” skin, a package of digital content called “The Outlaw Survival Kit,” some cash to start the game’s single-player campaign, and $500,000 in money for Grand Theft Auto Online. Preorders by July 31 will get an exclusive treasure map for single-player too.

The details are rather standard come-ons for a pre-order, but they do suggest that Red Dead Redemption 2’s online multiplayer world will trail the main game’s launch by a few weeks, somewhat like Grand Theft Auto Online did for Grand Theft Auto 5 back in 2013.

At any rate, we will likely learn more — including the PlayStation’s exclusive content — at E3 2018.

Update, June 7: Rockstar announced two special editions for Red Dead Redemption 2 packed with online goodies. The Special Edition, for $79.99, and an Ultimate Edition for $99.99. The “Special Edition” includes a mission for the game’s story mode, a new horse, outfit, weapons and other gameplay bonuses. Both are available through digital marketplaces. The Ultimate Edition delivers all of that plus more costumes, weapons and a progression bonus.

WHO DO YOU PLAY AS?

Arthur Morgan is the primary playable protagonist. He is a member of Dutch van der Linde’s first gang. Morgan is neither seen nor referenced in the first Redemption, so he’s an all-new character. Marston is also expected to feature prominently in the story as a major character and has been seen in promotional trailers.

THE CHARACTERS

Other than the aforesaid Morgan, van der Linde and Marston, other names include:

• Bill Williamson and Javier Escuella (gang members from the first Redemption) and Uncle
• Sadie Adler (the woman who featured prominently in the gang in Wednesday’s trailer)
• Newly introduced gang members Lenny, Karen, Micah Bell, Sean McGuire and Pearson, who have been named in previews

Stepping away from RDR1’s protagonist, John Marston, this time you’ll take on the role of Arthur Morgan, a member of Dutch’s gang. Rockstar has a particular skill for storytelling in their games and, if the trailer’s cut-scenes are any indication, RDR2’s story will be fleshed out equally through gorgeous cinematics and exposition during gameplay itself. That leaves plenty of space to both meet new characters and acquaint yourself with the younger versions of characters you already know from the Red Dead universe.

 THE WORLD

Rockstar is often tight-lipped about the size of their worlds until much closer to launch but they also, somewhat famously, always manage to push the envelope for each of their games. We may not be getting a sandbox that’s bigger than, say, GTA San Andreas, but we do expect an evolved approach to the world, one that’s denser, livelier and more interactive than earlier Rockstar games. It’s also been confirmed that, like RDR1, how you act in the world of the game will directly influence the way NPCs react to you.

WHAT ABOUT MULTIPLAYER?

Rockstar has confirmed their continued support for Grand Theft Auto Online—a goose that laid the golden video game egg if there ever was one—but it’s obvious that they’re hoping for similar success when it comes to online play in RDR2. We’re actually expecting a very similar approach to the persistent online world Rockstar has in store for us: Forming your own band of outlaws among friends, teaming up to pull off multi-stage heists and robberies for big payouts, using stockpiled cash to buy and run shady businesses like casinos, bars or brothels. 

Much remains to be seen regarding Rockstar’s approach to the online world of RDR2, but we know it’s coming and, if the studio didn’t approach it as the second of two pillars to keep gamers returning for years, we’d be mightily surprised.

HOW BIG IS THE MAP?

We don’t know yet, but not for a lack of trying. The synopsis Rockstar Games gave for the trailer on Wednesday referred to Blackwater — which was at the eastern end of the original game’s map — as a “western town.” This area is in the southwest corner of a leaked map that purportedly showed Red Dead Redemption 2’s world. So that suggests this prequel is going to push into the northeast away from the previous game’s setting. The terrain will still be as varied, with mountains, prairies and now a bayou setting.

THE SPECIAL EDITIONS

Pre-orders for the game have begun, and that means details of each special edition. The actual RDR2 Special Edition will come with bonuses that effect the single-player campaign only by adding extra missions, a gang hideout, gameplay bonuses and extra weapons. The Ultimate Edition takes everything from the special edition and adds bonuses to the online portion of the game, a special horse, a survivor camp theme and ranking bonuses, which may or may not take the form of boosts for ranking up. Finally, the Collector’s Box adds collectible items outside of the in-game perks of the prior two. Those collectibles will take the form of treasure maps, bandanas, playing cards, a puzzle, a collectible coin and a branded lockbox. In terms of editions, Rockstar is going bigger for RDR2 than we’ve ever seen before.

 THE GTA TIE-IN

Here’s where Rockstar is actually flexing their muscle. Knowing they still have a wildly popular game on their hands with GTAV’s online community, they’re leveraging both the GTA community and the Red Dead fanbase with cross-game bonuses that make each game even more enticing. Months ago, GTA players found a scavenger hunt item turn up in their inboxes, asking them to track down clues from pictures that ultimately led them to a double action revolver that looks straight out of the old west. Finding that gun in GTA will open up a similar one in RDR2 if your account is linked to both games.

Similarly, pre-order bonuses for digital copies of RDR2 will also stuff your GTA bank account with 500K, 1 Million or 2 Million bucks depending on which edition you pre-ordered. If Rockstar doesn’t take this opportunity to tie GTA and Red Dead together in a Tarantino-esque way, we’ll be really disappointed. 

WHEN WILL WE FIND OUT MORE?

Likely around E3 2018 in June, though perhaps not at E3 itself. Maybe Rockstar goes on stage with Sony, but a booth at E3 has never been Rockstar’s style. The studio still has a lot more to share about the online portion of the game; that may be the next round of preview coverage, with future trailers dripping out more details and context about the story and characters.

Red Dead Redemption 2 launches on October 26th, 2018 and you can pre-order any of the editions for Xbox One or PS4 right now.