What We Know About Red Dead Redemption 3 so Far
Red Dead Redemption 3 has been a hot topic among fans ever since the conclusion of Red Dead Redemption 2. The franchise’s massive success begs the question of “when” rather than “if” a sequel is coming. Red Dead Redemption 2 was a critical and commercial triumph, solidifying its place as a cultural landmark in the gaming industry. Even after half a decade, discovering hidden secrets within the game remains commonplace.
While Rockstar Games has yet to officially confirm a threequel, speculation runs rampant about who might be involved, where the story might go, and what the gameplay might entail. Given Rockstar’s attention to detail, they face a formidable challenge in surpassing the achievements of Red Dead Redemption 2.
How the Story Could Go
The Red Dead Redemption saga revolves around the Van der Linde gang and its three main protagonists: John Marston, his son Jack Marston, and Arthur Morgan. In previous events, both John and Arthur met their demise, leaving Jack as the only surviving playable character who could appear in the next installment.
In Red Dead Redemption 2, Jack was kidnapped by the Bureau of Investigation, enemies of the Van der Linde gang. They abducted him and his mother, forcing John to track down his allies. Despite John and his wife Abigail’s efforts to shield Jack from a life of violence, Edgar Ross, a Bureau agent, betrayed and killed John, prompting Jack’s desire for revenge in Red Dead Redemption’s epilogue.
Following John’s death, Jack’s distrust of the government deepened. This could potentially form a significant part of his character arc in the future. By the end of Red Dead Redemption 2, Jack had become a wanted man after avenging his father. Combining the events of the past and the horrors of a potential war, it’s not unreasonable to envision him evolving into a radical figure in the story.
RDR 3 is Currently Not on the List of Priorities
Currently, there’s no indication that Rockstar Games is working on Red Dead Redemption 3. In 2022, disappointing news emerged that they allegedly halted development on an RDR remaster. One might assume this freed up resources for other projects, but it seems they’re prioritizing other titles, particularly with the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto VI.
It’s likely that Rockstar will eventually tackle a Red Dead Redemption 2 sequel, even if they haven’t yet dedicated resources to pre-planning. Red Dead Redemption 2’s eight-year development cycle shouldn’t come as a surprise, meaning a significant wait for news or information about RDR 3 is reasonable.
Rockstar’s Promise
While Rockstar hasn’t made any statements about Red Dead Redemption 3, they have discussed upcoming changes to the artificial intelligence in their games. Rockstar Games promised the following AI enhancements in a presentation:
- Machine learning approaches
- Enhanced parity between player-controlled and AI characters
- Improvements in the quality and responsiveness of animals and humans, while reducing production costs
It’s safe to assume these changes will find their way into RDR 3, though this isn’t a major revelation, it provides a basis for speculation.
The Release Timeline Has Me Worried
The release of Red Dead Redemption 2 coincided with the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 being five years old. Despite being halfway through their life cycles, the game sold millions of copies. However, can the same strategy be repeated this time?
If Red Dead Redemption 3 follows a similar release schedule, we could expect it to hit store shelves sometime before the end of 2024. This assumes Rockstar prioritizes the game, which, unfortunately, there’s no evidence to suggest, given their focus on GTA VI.
As it stands, Red Dead Redemption 3 isn’t on track to meet the timeframes established by previous releases in the series. Console generations have unpredictable lifespans, with some lasting longer than others. While an eventual release of RDR 3 is practically guaranteed, the likelihood of it happening on current-generation consoles diminishes with each passing day.
Red Dead Redemption 3 is Still Years Away
With Rockstar Games fully engrossed in the development of the upcoming Grand Theft Auto game, it’s unsurprising that Red Dead Redemption 3 could be years away from production. We’re still years away from even a teaser trailer, let alone a release date announcement. By the time RDR 3 is released, the next console generation might already be in production.
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