15 Things We Already Know About Red Dead Redemption 2
After the success of Grand Theft Auto V and GTA Online , players have been eagerly anticipating when they'd be receiving Rockstar Games' next blockbuster video game. In late 2016, players were treated to the unveiling of their next big game by way of social media teases leading up to the jam-packed teaser trailer. Many people felt that if Rockstar Games made a follow-up to Red Dead Redemption, that it would actually be called Red Dead, followed by a different word. To our surprise, Rockstar unveiled Red Dead Redemption 2 and let fans know it would be coming out in the Fall of 2017.
There are tons of things we can infer about the next entry in the Red Dead series by just taking a closer look at what we saw in the teaser trailer. These large video game companies understand the complexity of a trailer and how to expertly craft and hide multiple pieces of information regarding the game. It's not that far of a stretch to understand that everything included in the teaser trailer was there for a specific purpose. The teaser not only provided a valuable setup for the tone of the game but subtly introduced us to what we can expect in this hand-crafted mega Western adventure. There are still plenty of questions that remain unanswered regarding what Red Dead Redemption 2 is exactly. Hopefully, we'll be treated to a full unveil at this year's E3, but until then, let's get into all of the things we know about Red Dead Redemption 2 so far.
15 It Will Probably be Delayed
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Unfortunately, the last four major releases from Rockstar Games have all been delayed to some extent. No one really knows if this is simply unchecked hubris or rather that they're so meticulous about the quality of their games that delaying isn't only an option, but vital. Rockstar doesn't simply create new iterations in their existing franchises, they create technical masterpieces that push forward the industry and take hardware to its absolute limits. Will this game be delayed into 2018? Maybe. Will Red Dead Redemption 2 be any worse because of it? Absolutely not. Having your most anticipated OpenWorldPilot game blog get delayed is a serious bummer, but having it ship as an unpolished product that receives critical backlash would probably feel worse. Here's hoping Red Dead Redemption 2 releases in 2017.
14 Dog Companion?
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Now, who doesn't love a good video game dog? It seems that over the last three years, companion canines have become a growing trend that players absolutely love. Dogmeat from Fallout 4 was the latest example of how fulfilling it is to traverse a large Open world game maps world with a loyal dog by your side. The trailer didn't necessarily show any indication that you could own a dog, but it did make a big deal about animal interactions in the scene from inside a very muddy town that included a scruffy dog barking at a pack of vultures. Though Rockstar hasn't necessarily dived into party member, mechanic role-playing games, it doesn't mean they'd never included it in their games. Don't be surprised if there's a portion of this game dedicated to your relationship with a dog. Heck, Rockstar has even gone as far as to create entire missions centered around Franklin's pet dog, Chop, in GTAV . There's always hope.
13 Native American Lore
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When it comes to Westerns, many people's first thoughts center around cowboys, outlaws, and rebels. Many people forget how influential Native American lore and folktales are to the same time period in which many of these Westerns took place. It was really interesting to see how many references to Native American culture were included in the teaser trailer. There's a scene where two unidentifiable characters are traversing a river in what seems to be a canoe. If you pan up and to the left, you can clearly make out a dream-catcher in the tree that's placed in the foreground. Native American tribes played a huge part in the history that shaped the American Mid and Southwest. Rockstar understands this and we wouldn't be surprised if one of the major protagonists ends up being a Native American badass.
12 Animal/Material Harvesting
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One of the interesting, yet grotesque mechanics in Red Dead Redemption was the skinning of hunted animals. The animal itself was full of blood splatter and oddly accurate noises. Now, we didn't get a look at whether or not that exact process is part of this new Red Dead adventure, but we were treated to a hint at a possible new mechanic. One of the scenes shows a man guidimh his horse back to what seems to be his home. The horse is carrying a deer carcass, as well as a few other supplies. Does this mean that players will not only have to kill animals, but also harvest them by taking their entire carcass back to base? We really have no idea, but it would add a lot of depth to a repetitive, yet fulfilling mechanic.
11 Major Female Protagonist
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Earlier, I mentioned how important Native Americans were to Western culture and how excited we are for the possibility of them sharing center stage. Another character that doesn't get enough play in the Western genre happens to be the female outlaw. In the closing scene of the teaser trailer, it seems as though the left most rider happens to be a lady. Their clothing is brighter than the other and her body structure seems to lend itself to a more feminine figure. A lot of players feel as though there isn't enough diversity when it comes to protagonists in video games. Having a leading lady that also happens to be a badass would be a great, but not necessarily a new addition to the Red Dead series. There have been plenty of awesome females in the franchise, but it would be great to finally play as one.
10 Campfires Return
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Fans of the first Red Dead Redemption understand the importance of a good campfire. Not only was it treated as a save location, it was also the area in which you could fast travel and change outfits. Fans were treated to a beautiful shot of a campfire deep within the wilderness with a gorgeous backdrop of the night sky. It wouldn't surprise us if the campfires served the exact same purpose they did in the first Red Dead Redemption . The only other element that would be a welcome addition to the campfire menu would be if it were the area in which you could level up and/or upgrade your skills. This would assume that Rockstar is leaning more into the RPG mechanics of an Open world game tips-world experience.
9 A Technical Masterpiece
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If there's one thing Rockstar nails, it's scope. Their games might not be as 'deep' of role-playing games as their Bethesda counterparts, but they're every bit as meaty and way more technically advance. Rockstar's major releases always push the boundaries of what people think is capable on the current hardware. They take their engine and push it to its absolute limits. With the recent release of PS4 Pro and Xbox's Project Scorpio imminent, look for Red Dead Redemption 2 to be featured heavily on both of those platforms. As technology progresses and the tools game developers have multiplied exponentially, so does Rockstar's vision of what a video game can be. Look for Red Dead Redemption 2 to be the prettiest game you've ever laid your eyes on.
8 Dual Wielding Guns
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Though dual wielding is such an iconic part of Westerns, it's never been a part of the Red Dead series. The ability to fire two guns simultaneously has to be one of the most electrifying feelings in video games. At the end of the trailer, during the shot of the seven riders, we get a glimpse at one of the rider's dual wielding pistols. This doesn't indicate that the player themselves will be able to do this, but the fact that it's a primary characteristic of a main focus of the trailer does give us hope. It's not crazy to think that in a game that may have an RPG skill tree, a player could unlock the ability to fire two pistols simultaneously. At the very least, we'll have the opportunity to fight with or against a character with the ability to shoot multiple people at the same time.
7 Wildlife Density/Diversity
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Even though Rockstar games are huge, they've never really showcased a large variety of animals. Some of this is due to most of their games taking place in heavily occupied cities, while other games, such as the first Red Dead Redemption , just didn't feel as though there was a lot of variety. It seems that Rockstar has made it a major point to show fans how many different types of wildlife will be in their next big game. We not only see countless numbers of birds, we're treated to buffalo, weasels, field mice, dogs, vultures, coyotes, deer, and much more. This game seems to be taking place closer to the American Midwest. During the time period in which this game will take place, it's accurate that there would be so much wildlife in every inch of unoccupied land. Hopefully, we'll be treated to a glimpse of the infamous Rockstar Bigfoot.
6 There Will Be blood!
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During the late 1800s, the oil industry was off to a competitive and dangerous start. It seems as though this is a major theme that Red Dead Redemption 2 will be tackling wholeheartedly. Towards the end of the trailer, fans are treated to a voice-over while images of an oil plant going up in flames fills the screen. The first Red Dead Redemption was primarily about the death of the cowboy. This one might center around the invasion of the industrial age and how it killed the American wild west. It seems like a lot of themes in the trailer center around beautiful landscapes and vistas that directly contrast the shadowy scenes of oil and flames. Once again, Rockstar knows how to visually tell a story and communicate areas of thematic importance.