RDR 3’s Ultimate Test: Can It Redeem the Multiplayer Disaster of RDR 2?

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2025 not only marks the anticipated debut of Grand Theft Auto 6, but also celebrates the seventh birthday of Red Dead Redemption 2. Released by Rockstar as their latest significant title, Red Dead Redemption 2 extended the studio’s winning trend, garnering widespread acclaim and selling more than 67 million units.

When the next installment of “Red Dead Redemption” arrives, it faces a daunting task. The compelling narrative of “Red Dead Redemption 2”, the outstanding performances by its lead actors, and the meticulous craftsmanship of its open world have established lofty standards, not just for the series, but for open-world games in general. Given these high expectations, fans are eagerly anticipating “Red Dead Redemption 3”. Time and again, Rockstar has demonstrated its prowess in storytelling, but what may particularly concern fans is how “Red Dead Redemption 3” will rectify one of its predecessor’s significant flaws.

Redeeming RDR 2’s Abandoned Mode

Rockstar Games experienced an unprecedented triumph with Grand Theft Auto V. Not only has it been widely acclaimed by both fans and critics as one of the greatest video games ever created, but it has also generated billions in earnings since its debut. A significant factor contributing to GTA V’s ongoing popularity and profitability is its online gameplay mode.

Two weeks following the debut of Grand Theft Auto V, Grand Theft Auto Online was introduced. In this mode, players have the freedom to create their own unique characters and traverse San Andreas. They can then undertake missions, acquire property, and engage with other players’ characters in real-time. Although it had a few bumps at launch, Rockstar’s consistent updates transformed GTA Online into one of the most cherished multiplayer adventures of the 2010s, an experience that continues to attract numerous players even today.

Given the massive success of GTA Online, it was only natural for Rockstar to try and recreate that success in Red Dead Redemption 2. The online component of Red Dead Online went into beta on November 27, 2018. Unlike the original Red Dead Redemption, which had a more traditional multiplayer experience with limited PVP and co-op modes, Red Dead Online aimed to mimic GTA Online by letting players create their own gunslinger character and explore the expansive world of Red Dead Redemption 2 with friends. This concept had fans of Red Dead Redemption really excited, but unfortunately, the reality of Red Dead Online fell short of expectations.

Why Red Dead Online Failed

The experience with Red Dead Online had issues right from the beginning. Not only did it suffer from numerous bugs and glitches, but the combat controls felt rough around the edges – a pity given the game’s focus on shootouts – and the general gameplay felt slower compared to that of GTA Online. This can be understood due to the constraints of vehicles and weaponry in the historical context of Red Dead Online, but the slower pace was even more apparent because of the excessive grinding needed to earn in-game money.

To amass enough currency for buying numerous cosmetics, horses, and weapons on Red Dead Online, one needed to invest a substantial amount of time playing. Given the meager variety of open-world activities that doled out cash at launch, this lengthy and monotonous process was quite challenging. Some players speculated that Rockstar Games intentionally made the grind so arduous, aiming to coerce players into spending real money to bypass it, enabling them to fully enjoy the game as intended.

Initially, the economic structure of the game left a sour impression on players, leading to fewer players and lower revenue than anticipated. Consequently, Rockstar reduced the number of updates for the game. This reduction in updates discouraged players from playing, which in turn led Rockstar to cut back on further development. Eventually, Rockstar decided to stop working on Red Dead Online altogether in 2021, choosing instead to direct their resources towards Grand Theft Auto 6.

Moving Forward With Multiplayer in the Red Dead Redemption Series

Due to the significant missteps Rockstar took with Red Dead Online, any future multiplayer offerings in the Red Dead Redemption series might struggle to garner support. Players will carry lingering doubts, questioning if investing their time and money into a game that Rockstar may abandon during challenging times is wise. The initial launch of Red Dead Online was lackluster, suggesting that a sequel could potentially improve, but Rockstar faces the challenge of regaining trust from fans to persuade them to give another Red Dead Online a chance.

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2025-02-27 23:02