Red Dead Redemption 2: release date, gameplay, horse balls, story, PC, guide, Ultimate Edition, characters and more

It feels like we’ve been waiting forever, but the cowboy hat-wearing silhouette of Red Dead Redemption 2 has finally appeared on the horizon.

As it slowly gallops towards us, we’re going to attempt to make the final hours of that wait a little less painful. With that in mind, here’s everything we know about Red Dead Redemption 2.

Red Dead Redemption 2 Horse balls



Rockstar has given fans what they really want in Red Dead Redemption 2: horse balls. Fans have marvelled over the inclusion of ever more realistic looking horse anuses for years and Rockstar has taken it a step further this time with horse balls that will shrink in the cold and have a generous swing about them – exactly what you need in a next-gen gaming experience on this scale.

Red Dead Redemption 2 mini games

There are four minigames confirmed that will be available to play in Red Dead Redemption 2, as if horse balls and x-ray weapons targeting wasn’t enough to contend with.

Hunting and fishing are more than just survival tools; you’ll be handsomely rewarded for big kills and catches in Red Dead Redemption 2.

You’ll also be able to play card games, such as Poker, with friends and allies alike. Socialising with your campmates is recommended and bonding with them over a friendly-ish game of cards could be the way forward.

There’s a rumour that Dominos may also be featuring in the game, not least because Rockstar is selling a Red Dead Redemption 2 Domino set online.

Five Finger Fillet will also feature in Red Dead Redemption too which will hopefully come with a good targeting system to avoid any mishaps.

The Red Dead Redemption 2 release date is October 26, 2018, for PS4 and Xbox One. Originally, the game was due out this Spring, but it was pushed back because Rockstar needed more time to get it up to standard.

Red Dead Redemption 2 customisation



 

Unlike its predecessor, you will be able to customise the look of Red Dead Redemption 2’s main protagonist, Arthur Morgan. You can have your guns engraved, change the look of some of your carried items and even change Arthur’s appearance. Arthur’s hair and beard grow in real time, so you can visit a barber a la The Witcher 3 to get a trim, style your beard and get a new look.

Clothing now comes as single items as opposed to whole outfits and you can customise not only what Arthur wears, but how he wears it, such as deciding whether you want his trousers tucked into his boots or not. However, don’t be tempted to think you can go gallivanting into the snowy hills with a just a shirt with the sleeves rolled up – your stamina will be affected if you wear clothing that doesn’t suit the climate you’re in.

You also have the option of customising your base camp. You can bring back game, chat to fellow gang members around the fire and play cards with your pals. You can also choose to contribute positively to the camp, such as stocking up on food, supplies and medicine. Allies will comment on your deeds contextually and the responses will be different each time you visit, giving you the feeling that you’re doing something meaningful. Whether you contribute or not will affect morale, which can affect the outcome of quests, activities and people you can engage with.

You can also upgrade certain aspects of the camp, such as unlocking additional hitching posts, stocks of food, ammo and new fast travel points. Your sleeping area can also be customised with rugs, hunting trophies and more.

Red Dead Redemption 2 online beta



 

Rockstar has announced that there will be an online multiplayer segment in Red Dead Redemption 2 called Red Dead Online. It will initially be released as an open beta sometime in November and access to Red Dead Online is free to anyone with a copy of Red Dead Redemption 2.

Red Dead Online will feature narrative, competitive, and cooperative gameplay that can be enjoyed solo or with friends, much like GTA 5 online. The online portion uses the gameplay of Red Dead Redemption 2 as its foundation and will be updated and adjustment over time.

There has been no mention of a wild west battle royale mode yet, but a recent information dump mentioned that there would be multiplayer modes titled Revive and Survive, and Money Grab.

Red Dead Redemption 2 weapons



 

Weapons and gunplay in Red Dead Redemption 2 are set to be deadlier than ever. As a wanted man, Arthur Morgan has refined his skills to stay one step ahead of the law and anyone else who decides to cross him.

You’ll be able to carry a limited number of weapons when on foot, such as sidearms, rifles and bows. You’ll also have a hunting knife, throwing weapons, and a handy lasso. Your horse acts as your inventory cache and when you’re either riding or standing near the horse you’ll have full access to all your guns and gear.

The Dead-Eye targeting system returns to Red Dead Redemption 2, with five levels of lethality, including slowing time down to unleash a fury of bullets upon a group of enemies, and x-ray vision that lets you target vital organs for the ultimate gory takedown.

Weapon performance will degrade over time if you don’t maintain them properly – overuse or the environment can affect how effective your weapon is. If you keep wading through water and bogs, expect your weapons to rust quickly. You’ll also be able to add mods to weapons that can improve recoil, range and damage.

Arthur is skilled in fisticuffs and can use close range takedowns, both violent and non-violent. You can also fire a warning shot in the air to disperse wildlife or catch the attention of NPCs. You can also threaten folk with your gun, which is what you’d expect from a wanted man, really.

Red Dead Redemption 2 first-person


 

You’ll have the option in Red Dead Redemption 2 to play in either third or first-person, allowing you to get an even closer look at your surroundings and the finer details. When travelling by horseback, you can use a cinematic camera and hold X to travel to your destination automatically for when you want to take in the scenery.

Red Dead Redemption 2 preview



We were lucky enough to play a preview of Red Dead Redemption 2 and experience a few hours in the muddied boots of Arthur Morgan. Rockstar has created what is surely the closest example of what it was like living in the Wild West and developed a character who feels incredibly real. Every interaction leads to subtle and unique changes to your surroundings or comments from NPCs and companions.

This is the first look at six minutes of pure Red Dead Redemption 2 gameplay. In it we see Arthur Morgan getting into fistfights, hunting, playing poker minigames and grooming his horse. We also get a good look at the gunplay and firepower at Arthur’s disposal as well as a glimpse of the Dead Eye targeting system which returns for Red Dead 2.

Red Dead Redemption 2 PC



 

Is Red Dead Redemption 2 coming to PC? We’re not entirely sure, but one of the game’s developers did list a PC version of the open-world game on their LinkedIn profile recently. It was removed once sites reported on it.

Rockstar had previous success by releasing GTA V towards the end of a console generation. Red Dead Redemption 2 is coming out just as rumours on the PS5 and next Xbox are heating up. We won’t be surprised if a PC version comes out a year or so later, alongside a next-gen version of Red Dead Redemption 2, in the hopes that people double dip.