Red Dead Online Series - Your Adventure Awaits! EP-12

Post-release reception

Zwiezen from Kotaku found the October 2020 Halloween update to be lacking in memorable or significant content, expressing disappointment. He also criticized the December update, accusing Rockstar of favoring Grand Theft Auto Online. This sentiment was echoed by other players who felt the update lacked substance and rewards. On a positive note, Zwiezen acknowledged the improvement in the February 2021 solo missions, which addressed concerns about interactions with other players. In March 2021, GamesRadar+'s Alex Avard believed Red Dead Online had the potential for greatness if it continued the momentum from the previous year, but highlighted the persisting imbalance in the monetization system. Polygon's Marshall, in July, deemed Blood Money suitable for regular players but found the lack of regular updates frustrating given the game's potential. Screen Rant's Rion Duncan criticized the similarity of Blood Money missions to stranger missions and the absence of preparatory gameplay for heists, contrasting it with Grand Theft Auto Online. However, Otto Kratky of Digital Trends praised Blood Money, commending Rockstar for finally embracing Old West clichés and steering the game in the right direction. In December, PC Gamer's Lauren Morton expressed disappointment in the comparative lack of activity throughout the year compared to Rockstar's other projects but acknowledged the game's enduring expansiveness and visual appeal.

In January 2022, the update that offered additional rewards for existing missions faced criticism from players who deemed it "low effort." They expressed dissatisfaction with the perceived stagnation of the game, comparing it unfavorably to Grand Theft Auto Online, which received substantial updates in 2021. The latest Blood Money update for Red Dead Online was deemed lackluster in contrast. A fan campaign emerged, with the hashtag #SaveRedDeadOnline trending on Twitter, amassing over 18,000 tweets. Kotaku's Zwiezen speculated that Rockstar's silence on a new Grand Theft Auto Online mode might be influenced by this campaign. Rockstar's social media posts drew support for the campaign, but some employees reportedly faced abusive spam.

In May, Take-Two's CEO acknowledged the player frustration. On July 13, players organized an in-game funeral for Red Dead Online, marking one year since the last major update and expressing sorrow over Rockstar reallocating development resources. Participants gathered at virtual graveyards, taking photos and consuming virtual alcohol. TheGamer's Stacey Henley, while disappointed with Rockstar's decision, saw it as inevitable, feeling the game lived in the shadow of Grand Theft Auto Online and stating that closure was all that could be expected. Despite criticism for broken promises, missed opportunities, and the game's success compared to non-Rockstar titles, many players and communities remained committed to the game despite the absence of major updates.

The game was developed and published by Rockstar Games, with Rob Nelson serving as the producer and Imran Sarwar as the designer. Phil Hooker contributed as the programmer, while Aaron Garbut worked as the artist. The writing team included Dan Houser, Rupert Humphries, and Michael Unsworth. The game belongs to the Red Dead series and operates on the RAGE engine. It was released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on May 14, 2019, for Windows on November 5, 2019, and for Stadia on November 19, 2019. Categorized as an action-adventure game, it features multiplayer mode