Despite its undeniable potential,Red Dead Onlinehas seemingly been neglected by Rockstar. Audiences have certainly expressed an interest inRDO’s continued development, with online movements likeSaveRed Dead Onlinegaining tractionin recent years. However, it would appear that the wild-west quasi-MMO may never reach the same heights as its predecessor,GTA Online.
Indeed, while the online component ofGrand Theft Auto 5continues to receive significant, substantial updates to this day,Red Dead Onlinehas been more or less abandoned, with only a few comparatively minor expansions to its name. This is puzzling, asRed Dead Redemption 2is a considerably popular and beloved game with a dedicated audience, andGTA Online’s success sets a strong precedent for another massive, open-world online experience from Rockstar. Perhaps the more grounded tone ofRDR2simply doesn’t provide the same fertile soil for creative development as the outlandishGTA 5, or maybe Rockstar simply opted to play it safe by avoiding deviating from its already-successful online game. Whatever the reason, it’s clear thatRed Dead Onlinewill need a major shot in the arm to live up to its older sibling, and learning fromElden Ring Nightreigncould be just what the doctor ordered.
ThoughRed Dead Onlinefeatures team deathmatch, horse races, and all manner of other competitive multiplayer modes, these are hardly the highlight of the game. After all, there are countless competitive multiplayer shooters and racing games on the market, and most high-profile ones have considerablybetter mechanics thanRed Dead Redemption 2. In other words,RDO’s PvP options are a nice touch, but they don’t take advantage of its unique strengths.
Mission-based gameplay is a different story, however. Embarking on bounty hunts or the variousmissions introduced in the Blood Money updateis whereRed Dead Online’s real fun is had, and engaging in these activities with other players deepens the interactive experience. These missions are also far more immersive than something like team deathmatch, actually elevating theRed Deadfantasy rather than providing a western-tinged rendition of a competitive shooter or racing game. Moreover, projects likeElden Ring Nightreignprove that there’s a strong market for these sorts of cooperative experiences, and this market should only be expected to grow over time.
Thesuccess of recent releases likeSplit Fictionfurthers the notion that gaming audiences are hungry for dedicated co-op experiences.
While the two games are fundamentally different for obvious reasons, thedesign philosophy ofElden Ring Nightreignmay apply quite nicely toRed Dead Online, at least in part. For one thing,Nightreign’s narrative structure, which centers on a grand antagonistic force but is broken up into various modular gameplay sections, might work surprisingly well for aRed Dead Onlineexpansion. For instance, perhaps the game could feature a mission pack designed around several brutal combat encounters, which require multiple players to complete effectively. These encounters could come together to tell a larger story, building toward a final confrontation or grand heist.
The potential of large online worlds likeRed Dead Online’s is immense, which is why it’s so disappointing that Rockstar seems to be squandering it. Cooperative gameplay can benefit these virtual realities, encouraging players to collaborate and create their own stories within the digital space. With a game as immersive, detailed, andhard-hitting asRed Dead Redemption 2, this potential is increased tenfold, and learning fromNightreign’s broad-strokes approach to cooperative gameplay could help it be realized.
Red Dead Online
WHERE TO PLAY
Step into the vibrant, ever-evolving world of Red Dead Online and experience life across frontier America.Forge your own path as you battle lawmen, outlaw gangs and ferocious wild animals to build a life on the American frontier. Build a camp, ride solo or form a posse and explore everything from the snowy mountains in the North to the swamps of the South, from remote outposts to busy farms and bustling towns. Chase down bounties, hunt, fish and trade, search for exotic treasures, run your own underground Moonshine distillery, or become a Naturalist to learn the secrets of the animal kingdom and much more in a world of astounding depth and detail.Join millions of fellow players in the American West, and experience a world now packed with years’ worth of new features, gameplay and additional enhancements.
