Red Dead Online Series - Your Adventure Awaits! EP-6
Red Dead Online co-crafted by talents like Rob Nelson and Imran Sarwar, released on multiple platforms, blending action-adventure with multiplayer allure
Development
Rockstar Games developed Red Dead Online concurrently with the single-player narrative of Red Dead Redemption 2, considering both aspects during the world creation process, but placing a primary focus on the single-player experience. Despite sharing assets and gameplay elements, Rockstar treats Red Dead Online and Red Dead Redemption 2 as distinct products with separate trajectories, as evident in the decision to launch the multiplayer component separately. Drawing from the lessons of Red Dead Redemption's multiplayer (2010) and incorporating successful elements from Grand Theft Auto Online (2013), the development team aimed to introduce narrative elements into the multiplayer setting. Lessons learned from the latter game were applied, but producer Rob Nelson emphasized the need for a different approach due to variances in direction, pace, and scale. Unlike the fast-paced Grand Theft Auto Online, Red Dead Online gradually immerses players into the world with smaller steps.
The public beta for Red Dead Online commenced on November 27, 2018, initially accessible to special edition owners before progressively opening to all players, a strategy employed by Rockstar to manage potential performance issues stemming from a large player influx. Throughout the beta phase, Rockstar introduced and adjusted various modes while making balancing and economic changes. Player progression during the beta carried over when it concluded on May 14, 2019. Microtransactions in Red Dead Online involve the purchase of in-game gold bars for items like weapons and cosmetics, mirroring a similar approach used in Grand Theft Auto Online. In April and May 2020, Rockstar contributed five percent of in-game revenue from both Red Dead Online and Grand Theft Auto Online to COVID-19 relief efforts, with each of its nine studios globally supporting local charities.
On June 4, 2020, in remembrance of George Floyd, Rockstar temporarily closed Red Dead Online for two hours. Subsequently, on December 1, 2020, a standalone version of Red Dead Online was released, eliminating the need for the base Red Dead Redemption 2 game, and made available on PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One.
