We’ve known thatRed Dead Redemption 2would boast an ambitious online mode for quite some time, but Rockstar has been mum on official details until now. Expanding on the multiplayer mode from the original game,Red Dead Redemption 2‘s online mode, titledRed Dead Online, will feature a combination of competitive and cooperative objectives in a persistent open-world experience.
As expected, Red Dead Online, from the initial details, sounds an awful lot likeGrand Theft Auto Online. That’s a good thing.Red Dead Onlinewill receive “constant updates and adjustments to grow and evolve this experience for all players.”
You won’t be able to hop online whenRed Dead Redemption 2launches October 26, though.Red Dead Onlinewill enter public beta sometime in November and will be free for those who own the base game.
In an interview withIGN, Imran Sarwar, Rockstar North director of design, offered a few more details about the mode. Sarwar said players can feel free to enjoy the online component solo but that you may also “easily join with friends or other players to compete or work together.”
There appears to be an increased emphasis on providing rich story experiences in the online mode this time around. While the original game had engaging online modes, it felt mostly detached from the characters and stories that existed throughout the main campaign. Josh Needleman, Rockstar senior producer, told IGN the team took cues fromGrand Theft Auto Onlinewhen buildingRed Dead Onlinein terms of story.
As for whyRed Dead Onlinewon’t be available at launch, Rockstar told IGN that the team views the main game and the online component as two different games.Red Dead Redemption 2‘s solo adventure will provide a huge open-world experience, and it sounds as if Rockstar doesn’t want the online mode to distract from the main game at launch.
The public beta will allow users to submit feedback to see what’s working and what’s not, and give the developers time to work out kinks for the full release.
