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Some time ago Rockstar announced that Red Dead Redemption 2’s release will be delayed until the spring of 2018. In doing so, innumerable “top games to look forward to in 2017” articles across the internet were ruined. The move also tossed up the gaming schedules of many an eager fan waiting to dedicate the latter half of this year to delving into the vast Wild West world that Rockstar is creating. So, now that your gaming schedule has been cleared out, you’re going to need something to fill that void – or rather, multiple somethings. Luckily for you, the recently held E3 event had some heavy hitting reveals coming later this year, and 2017 has already been a seriously strong year for game releases. Out Now 1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Also known as “that one game on the Nintendo Switch”, Breath of the Wild has stolen headlines consistently since release. Praised as one of the best Zelda games, and worthy on its own to justify buying a new console just for this purpose, Breath of the Wild gave players a fantastic, deep, detailed and lively open-world in a sea of bland and empty ones being produced by the AAA corporate machine. The game world is packed to the brim with activities to do and hidden secrets to uncover. Add to that an endearing artstyle and captivating soundtrack and you have yourself a very strong contender for Game of the Year. 2. Nier Automata Nier Automata is the newest installment in the Nier franchise, which itself is part of the Drakensang franchise, but don’t let that put you off if you haven’t played any of the other games. Automata is perfectly enjoyable without previous knowledge of the other titles. Praised almost universally as an early GOTY, Nier Automata wraps a surprisingly deep and philosophical (of the non-pretentious variety) narrative that is guaranteed to make you sad into the guise of a fast-paced fluid action RPG. While the way combat flows will elevate the gameplay experience of Automata over many other titles released this year, the storyline is what will ensure that it is remembered – and saying anything about it would already spoil too much. 3. Grand Theft Auto Online Yes, GTA Online wasn’t released this year, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t one of the best bets for passing free gaming time with. Why not play the game everyone is playing? Rockstar Games poured an immense amount of effort into the single player portion of the game, but it is Online that has been expanding with constant free DLC ever since it launched over three years ago. Incidentally, the game just recently received a massive update called Gunrunning which added a ton of content, for free, as always. Then again, seeing as over 80 million people have bought this game, chances are most of you are playing this already. 4. Mass Effect: Andromeda The gaming press and community have unfortunately been perpetuating the idea that if a sequel doesn’t surpass the quality of its predecessor, it’s automatically trash. Andromeda got a rather lukewarm reception simply because it didn’t eclipse the original trilogy, however when looked at alone, it’s still one of the best games of this year. While the tale of the Ryder siblings isn’t the same grand epic as the saga of Commander Shepard, Andromeda was never aiming for that. The goal was to show us a new galaxy, and how the species from our own adapt to this new and dangerous environment. Andromeda’s many alien planets hold countless hours of entertainment, and this is a perfect example of a game that you shouldn’t overlook just because of the vocal haters. 5. Torment: Tides of Numenera If you’re even remotely interested in RPGs, then there is no way you haven’t heard of Planescape: Torment, lauded by many as the best RPG of all time. Well, the kinda-sequel kinda-spiritual successor game was released this year after a very successful crowdfunding effort. While Tides of Numenera didn’t quite manage to eclipse the legendary predecessor, it’s still one of the best RPGs out there. It also introduces players to one of the most unique and unusual game worlds in the industry. If you’re hurting for a true RPG, prepare to whisk yourself away to a billion years into the future. Out Later This Year 1. Assassin’s Creed: Origins Yes, it’s Assassin’s Creed again – but after a two year hiatus. While the industry kinda got burned out on Ubisoft’s stab happy open world stealth’em’up franchise after a long string of annual (or even more frequent) releases, the gaming community is ready for Assassin’s Creed to return, and Origins seems like the best way the franchise can do just that. Instead of inching closer to present day on the timeline, Origins catapults fans into an age that predates that of Altair from the first game. Taking place in ancient Egypt, Origins will show us the events leading to the foundation of the titular secret society with an insatiable hood and knife fetish. Coupled with this triuphant return will be a wide array of fundamental gameplay changes. It will still be Assassin’s Creed at its core, but there won’t be a minimap, for example, and deeper RPG elements like a levelling system and loot will be added as well. 2. Destiny 2 If you’re among the millions of hyped up players who were let down by Bungie’s first non-Halo game, then Destiny 2 is here to restore your faith in the franchise. Featuring improvements that, if we’re being honest, should have simply been present in the first game and wouldn’t be considered “improvements” in other games, such as a map and, you know, an actual story, Destiny 2 will be the game Destiny always should have been. The crushing hopelessness of the first game’s setting, where humanity’s vast prosperous civilization that spanned the solar system was reduced to a single struggling city, is made even more crushing when said city is burned down. We’re interested to see where the sequel’s story goes, since from a point of view this is the actual narrative debut of the IP. 3. Call of Duty: WWII We’re fairly certain that the past few years of the lackluster generic sci-fi nonsense that Call of Duty had become was merely a long-reaching several year market manipulation campaign intended to ensure that merely reading that title will trigger fans into buying the game, sort of like a conditioned muscle reaction. Yes, finally, Call of Duty is returning to WWII and you’re probably not even reading this anymore since you’re pre-ordering the game right now. It’s okay, we’ll wait. Back? Good. While the change of setting to something better established and more familiar might seem like a massive selling point, the highly adaptive multiplayer improvements the developers implemented are what make the hype for this game justified. All sides can use the weapons of all sides, you personal avatar will be highly customizable and factions will vary match-to-match. Yes, you can be a black Nazi woman in this. Thank you, Sledgehammer Games. 4. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus Joining the long list of games determined to utterly ruin your filing system, Wolfenstein 2 is the fourth game in the franchise’s current continuity, and eleventh entry in the entire franchise. Following the alternate reality version of The New Order, The New Colossus depicts a technologically advanced steampunk Third Reich successfully occupy the USA. Returning hero B.J. Blazkowicz is somehow healed from low body paralysis between the tutorial and the rest of the game, but you can bet that this over-the-top Nazi killing adventure will provide one of the tightest shooting mechanics of this year. 5. Super Mario: Odyssey Joining Breath of the Wild as another game made to make the Switch worth buying, Odyssey represents the trend of Mario games adding a new gimmick for their new console debuts. This time around, Mario’s iconic hat will be missing the small white “M” symbol, which will be replaced by two eyes. The gimmick this time around is that when Mario throws his hat on something, he can possess it and control its movements. Oh, and for the first time in the franchise, Mario will visit kinda-Earth and will meet actual humans. It’s about as creepy as you’re imagining right now. Between all these games and upcoming releases, you’ll have plenty with which to take your mind off the nigh unbearable desire to play Red Dead Redemption 2, as we wait for its early 2018 release date. The post Top 5 Games To Play In 2017 Now That Red Dead Redemption 2 Is Delayed appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

Rockstar Games has a lot riding on Red Dead Redemption 2, far more than just the success of this one title. The future of the franchise is at stake, but the game will also be the “debut” of the company Rockstar has become in the years since 2013. Much has changed in the four years since the release of Grand Theft Auto 5, and it’s up to Red Dead Redemption 2 to show what direction that change took the hyper-popular developer. The gap between the release of the two games will be longest in Rockstar’s history, which is a symptom of the changing waters. GTA 5 was where the change started, and we’ll only see the results come the launch of Red Dead Redemption 2. The focus has shifted from story driven single player experiences to multiplayer, one of the leading figures of the company left amid turbulence, and the massive success of GTA Online’s business model has altered the direction in which the company will likely want their games to evolve. Let’s break down the major influencers of the “new” Rockstar Games. First of all, there is GTA 5 itself, the prodigal son, if you will. There is the absence of Leslie Benzies, whose influence shaped the games that he worked on significantly. Finally, there is the general change in directive within Rockstar from singleplayer focused titles to persistent, long-term multiplayer “services.” But how do all of these affect Red Dead Redemption 2? The Grand Theft Auto 5 Effect Volumes have been written about the potential influence GTA 5 might have on Red Dead Redemption 2, but the main beats are usually the same. We saw a new precedent set with Rockstar wherein the multiplayer component got more attention post-launch. So much so to the point of there not being any new single player content at all. GTA has been a singleplayer franchise first and foremost throughout its history, but the most recent title threw this tradition, and to great monetary success. Many fans fear that this will result in Rockstar banking on a similar effect and developing Red Dead Redemption 2 with this in mind. GTA Online wasn’t expected to be so successful, and Rockstar even announced single player DLC at one point. But the unprecedented amount of popularity that Online received seemingly changed their plans, with more budget allocated to Online DLC until any hope for new single player content was quietly killed off. In light of GTA Online’s success, it’s possible that Rockstar will develop Red Dead Redemption 2 with more focus invested in the multiplayer component from the get-go. While they know that there is still massive expectations for the campaign mode, as Red Dead Redemption’s story was what gained it fame in 2010, we should expect a more consistent ratio in polish than in the case of GTA 5, where the single player obviously got more love during initial development. The Benz Then there’s the departure of Leslie Benzies. We covered this a bit in the past, noting how the Housers themselves described him as the savior of Red Dead Redemption. When development was way off track and unorganized, Benzies dropped in and whacked things into shape, resulting in the legendary classic that has enthralled fans since 2010. Benzies’ influence is also a major element of GTA. He acted as producer on the franchise since Grand Theft Auto III, and many credit him as being the “mastermind” behind the franchise. With GTA 5 it was him that convinced the Housers there was a future in Online since the brothers reportedly dismissed the idea at first. Then, after the concept was given weight, Benzies openly opposed the microtransaction business model, which the Housers were pushing onto the multiplayer aspect. Not long after this Benzies left for an extended holiday, only to return to the news that he’d been fired. Since it was Benzies whose influence saw Red Dead Redemption become what it is, his absence could be cause for worry. Story Mode Versus Online Finally, there is the general shift in tone and direction that Rockstar seems to be pursuing. GTA Online’s massive success has given them a taste of what it’s like being a truly mainstream developer with a mainstream product, and with audiences this big, the rules change. The single player focused Rockstar we knew and loved could be turning into a company more focused on producing a multiplayer experience that facilitates expansion – such expansion allowing for long-term content support and a consistent player base open to recurrent spending. It’s up to Red Dead Redemption 2 to either prove or disprove these predictions and suspicions. The DLC being released for GTA Online is hardly enough to get a good profile on where Rockstar’s future is heading, but the upcoming Western title will be emblematic of what kind of a developer they want to be from this point on. We’re not saying that the single player component of Red Dead Redemption 2 will be unpolished, completely neglected or half-baked. There is a reputation to uphold and a legacy to honor here, and Rockstar won’t be prepared to abandon its roots. We’re certain Red Dead Redemption 2 will deliver a compelling and fantastic storyline with plenty of single player content to entertain us for a good hundred hours or more. However, at the same time, more focus will be given to multiplayer. Man hours and money will be invested in Red Dead Online that might have otherwise been invested into the single player. All that remains to be seen is whether Rockstar can pull it off and make both game modes amazing. We’re guessing they can. The post Red Dead Redemption 2 Will Be What Defines The “New” Rockstar appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

With only a few days to go E3 is rapidly approaching, and hype around the biggest annual event in gaming is peaking. Predictions are running wild, game journalists are counting the days and pretty much every flat surface in Los Angeles has been plastered with various promotional images related to upcoming games. But where does Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar Games and the recently delayed Red Dead Redemption 2 fit into all of this? Rockstar’s parent company won’t be that active at the massive expo, even though it has two major developers – the other being 2K – under its umbrella. 2K has been teasing all sorts of upcoming announcements, with Firaxis pushing something XCOM related on social media and an upcoming Borderlands game from Gearbox being pretty much an open secret. Between these, you’d expect that the company will have a strong presence at E3. However, the CEO of Take-Two Interactive, Strauss Zelnick, has stated that the company won’t make any big announcements at E3 this year. Other than showing off WWE 2K18 and NBA 2K18, two of 2K’s popular annual sports titles, the company will have a corporate presence and not much else. This means that even the unannounced games being teased will skip the show. It will be an interesting year for us. We’re not really showing products. We have a corporate presence at E3, and we’re excited to be there. We’ll be meeting with investors and meeting with the press naturally, and meeting with retail partners. I think it’s an important show and it’s important for the industry, and it’s very important for us as the number three company in the space to be there. On the one hand, this isn’t all too surprising. Take-Two’s subsidiaries, especially Rockstar Games, rarely show up at E3, or at any other major event for that matter. While 2K is a more frequent presenter, Rockstar has only appeared a few times, such as when they announced the Enhanced Editions of Grand Theft Auto 5. That said, this very well might be a smokescreen. Another thing Take-Two has a penchant for is secrecy, and once again this is more characteristic of Rockstar. They like to keep information under lock and key up until the last possible moment, so we see a surprise presentation a possibility. In recent years, much has changed around Rockstar Games, including studio reshuffling and the loss of one of the company’s pillars, Leslie Benzies. Red Dead Redemption 2 is in a whole different situation to what GTA 5 was, or other games before it. GTA 5 was destined for popularity and its success really wasn’t ever in question. Red Dead Redemption 2, on the other hand, is carrying the future of a franchise on its shoulders. Either it is successful but not exceptionally, meeting requirements and allowing the franchise to drift to the back of the gaming community’s collective mind for another 7 or more years. Or, it becomes a massive success, and elevates the Red Dead franchise to the tier of GTA, ensuring a longer future and more titles on the horizon. Rockstar is using Red Dead Redemption 2 to test whether the IP can become a heavy hitter, rivalling their flagship franchise. The massive hype around Red Dead Redemption 2 lends good chances for the second possibility, but for it to become reality, Rockstar will need to grab every opportunity they can, including E3. And of course, it’s not just the publishers who can show off new games at E3. Oftentimes new footage from previously announced games getz the spotlight at the presentations of one of the two major console manufacturers. Even when not announcing a new console, Sony and Microsoft frequently use major AAA titles to push the marketing of their systems, even if the title isn’t an exclusive or the developers of said game have their own panel. The console wars are often decided – or undecided, as they have been for several generations – by virtue of games above all else. Fans can compare the specs of the PS4 Pro and the Xbox One project Scorpio all they want, but at the end of the day, games are the deciding factor. And advertising your console with the most anticipated games is how battles are fought. We already know about Rockstar’s deal with Sony regarding special cross promotion between the PlayStation 4 and Red Dead Redemption 2, and we also know that PS4 players will get access to Red Dead Online post-launch DLC sooner than Xbox One players will. However, a seemingly throwaway comment from Sony Europe boss Jim Ryan might suggest that Red Dead Redemption 2 will also be waving PlayStation colors on the show floor at E3. When speaking about the Sony lineup for E3, after highlighting a host of exclusives, Ryan mentioned special deals they have with games, all in the context of the company’s show schedule. We have a Call of Duty partnership, a Destiny 2 partnership, Red Dead partnership with Take-Two and Star Wars with EA Of course, this is hardly an outright confirmation. If Take-Two is keeping radio silence regarding this matter, then a comment like this might have been a slip of the tongue since Sony is more than likely in on this sort of thing, what with the deal and all that. Red Dead Redemption 2 popping up at E3 is still highly unlikely, but the possibility is there. Following the announcement that the game would be delayed until 2018, Rockstar promised more information about Red Dead Redemption 2 would arrive during the summer, so E3 would fit that profile. We sure hope we’ll finally get a glimpse of the game in motion, since the announcement trailer was mostly cinematic. In a few days we’ll see whether Take-Two truly intends to keep this year’s E3 uneventful, or if they’re hiding a bombshell behind smoke and mirrors. The post What To Expect From Take-Two At E3 appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

While this isn’t a confirmation since no specific games were named, it’s become increasingly certain that Red Dead Redemption 2 will be getting its own multiplayer microtransactions when the game is released next year. Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive which is the parent company of Rockstar Games, recently spoke about a number of topics pertinent to AAA gaming, with microtransactions being a major focus. Zelnick represented Take-Two Interactive at the Cowen and Company 45th Annual Technology, Media & Telecom Conference held on the 31st of May, two days ago. One of the key topics was monetization and Zelnick’s take on the matter not only exemplifies why people complaining about GTA Online’s business model should not be doing so, but also strongly indicates that Red Dead Online will have a similar system. You can’t give stuff away for free in perpetuity; there’s no business model in that. But we’re not trying to optimise the monetisiation of everything we do to the nth degree. My concern is, if you do that, the consumer knows. They might not even know that they know, but they feel it. Gamespot reported Zelnick’s comments from the conference and it’s evident from what was said that he doesn’t turn a deaf ear to the community, even if he’s not a gamer himself, and at the same time acknowledged the criticisms of GTA Online’s microtransaction model. Many players accuse the game of having abnormally high in-game prices while money is relatively hard to earn through missions, thus “forcing” them to buy so-called Shark Cards. Fans who play GTA Online and are looking forward to Red Dead Redemption 2 have expressed hopes that the multiplayer mode of the upcoming Wild West title (likely called Red Dead Online) will omit these microtransactions. Players, however, often fail to make the connection between the revenue gained from these microtransactions and the stream of free DLC that GTA Online has been getting. It’s a pretty clear connection, since, as Zelnick put it, there is no business model in giving away that much free content. Since Rockstar already has a timed exclusivity deal worked out with Sony, we know that Red Dead Online will be getting similar free updates after launch. If you ask us, three years worth of major DLC additions in exchange for microtransactions you don’t have to buy is a great tradeoff. Think about it anecdotally – when you paid a little too much for something, even if it was something really good, it really irks you. Paying too much for something bad is even worse. Paying too much for something really good, even if you can afford it, just leaves you with a bad feeling. We don’t want our consumers to ever feel that way. Zelnick also points out how other companies in the industry milk monetization vehemently and openly. While he didn’t name any names, we sure can: any publisher, with Blizzard at the bow, which sells blind-box microtransactions for games that you need to buy in the first place. Not only did you pay for the game itself, and then the microtransaction, but you don’t even know what is in said microtransaction. You’re gambling your money whether what you get is actually what you want. On the flipside, Take-Two’s microtransactions are completely upfront about what you’re going to get. We are convinced that we are probably from an industry view undermonetising on a per-user basis. There is wood to chop because I think we can do more, and we can do more without interfering with our strategy of being the most creative and our ethical approach, which is delighting consumers. We’re not going to grab the last nickel. All this allows us to deduce some aspects of Red Dead Online. The Sony deal is indication enough that RDO will feature post-launch DLC and Zelnick’s comments add weight to there being a microtransaction model present similar to the one seen in GTA Online. In terms of purchasable content in Red Dead Online, Rockstar will be taking one of two roads. Due to the setting of the game, the pool of historically accurate items to buy is significantly smaller than in GTA Online. There were fewer weapons and no cars, no yachts, no planes and no helicopters. Horses might be kept at a stable as stand-ins for cars, but there are only so many different species and type of horse. Clothing options are also more limited than in the modern era, though a greater measure of creative license is available here. In order for in-game currency based microtransactions to make sense, that currency will need to be given value by virtue of the things it can buy. With a limited number of horses, weapons and clothes, it’s very likely that property will be the main commodity. It’s possible that players will tend to a ranch that will require constant expansion and upgrading, as well as consumable supplies. Another route is to engineer the value of currency so that even the few items available would promote recurrent spending, however this is a tougher model to pull off. Things in this model would either be so extremely expensive, or money would be so hard to earn, that the lesser number of available items would still be difficult to acquire through gameplay alone. Of course, the main driving force behind GTA Online’s economy are the constant DLCs. If Rockstar “uses up” all the items from their limited pool on launch, the DLCs would need to focus on other kinds of content, mainly gameplay additions. However these do not present players with new goods to spend money on. The previously mentioned homestead might be expanded on to such an extent that the DLCs keep adding to that particular mechanic, but the lasting appeal of it will need be accounted for and ensured. Rockstar Games recently delayed Red Dead Redemption 2 until the Spring of 2018 in order to further polish the title, so we’ll still have to wait a while until we learn just what to expect from the microtransactions in this game… Especially if it follows GTA V’s suit and the multiplayer component is launched a month after the initial release. The post All Signs Point To Microtransactions In Red Dead Redemption 2 appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

Rockstar Games recently announced that the highly anticipated Red Dead Redemption 2 will be delayed until Spring 2018, thus completely ruining the plans eager fans had made for the latter months of this year. Originally slated for Fall 2017, Red Dead Redemption 2 has made some immense waves in the media since its announcement, even though barely any game details have been shared. So, how are we going survive the wait? Even though at the same time they announced its delay, Rockstar also released the very first screenshots of the game, that’s no consolation. 7 years have gone by since the launch of Red Dead Redemption which catapulted the franchise into the spotlight. Remembered as a true classic, RDR had fans clamoring for a sequel – or even just a PC port – ever since it launched. And now, when we were so close to jumping back into Rockstar’s fictional Wild West world for another adventure, the wait has been extended. We’ve already covered a few games you might want to play in anticipation of Red Dead Redemption 2, but there are plenty of things to do beyond the realm of the virtual in order to pass the time between now and next Spring. That said, the first entry on this list might ring more than just a little familiar. Replay Red Dead Redemption Not only will you brush up on the events of the previous game right before jumping into the sequel (or prequel), but you’ll be spending your time with one of the most fantastic open-world games of the last console generation. Red Dead Redemption has aged well and looks great even today, and thanks to Backwards Compatibility on Xbox and the PS Now stream service for PlayStation, you can enjoy the title on your current gen consoles as well. Waiting for Red Dead Redemption 2 has undoubtedly put fans in a mood for Western games, and while this list has a few nice entries, no game is quite like Red Dead Redemption, thus they can’t really scratch the same itch. Plus, with all the time between Spring 2018 and now, you’ll have the chance to comfortably explore every nook and cranny in the game, achieve 100% completion and hunt down every achievement. What better way to jump into Red Dead Redemption 2 than with the knowledge that you completely maxed out the predecessor? Manically Analyze The Screenshots Have you put the images through retouch analyzers? Have you magnified them several times in an attempt to discern new details? Have you pored over every individual pixel in each shot? If the answer to any of those questions is “no”, then what are you waiting for? The key to the entire plot of Red Dead Redemption 2 could be hidden in those screenshots. What if there are secret messages? What if they need to be looked at upside down on a CRT monitor with the menu screen of Red Dead Revolver burned into the film layer while playing José González’s “Far Away” at half-speed backwards? On a serious note, it has been proven time and again that approaching pre-release screenshots with a meticulous eye can reveal details the developers haven’t officially let slip yet. Of course, there are tons of other people doing it, most likely better than you, and posting YouTube videos about it, so you can always just watch those instead. But nothing quite compares to making the groundbreaking discovery that, yes, Red Dead Redemption 2 will have dual wielding, yourself. Make Art Reddit user Larryblaw has already taken this piece of advice to heart and turned one of the recently revealed screenshots into a stunning acrylic painting with surprisingly little red in it. Not only is this a fantastic piece of art, but the time taken to make it is time not spent chewing your nails off while intently staring at the promotional images of Red Dead Redemption 2. Between the previous game, the trailer and now the screenshots, there is plenty of material to take inspiration from, and it’s not like painting is the only way to go. Carving, drawing, modelling or any other visual art form is a great way satisfy your creative urges and make the wait more bearable. And if you have about as much artistic talent or skill as a fish suffering from carpal tunnel’s syndrome (much like myself), you can always try your hand at pixel art. Write Fan Fiction Actually, please don’t. LARP Live action role playing is one of the best ways to get arrested without actually doing anything wrong, provided your neighbors don’t fancy a reenactment of the battle at Helm’s Deep in your back yard where your mates show off their much too realistic Uruk-Hai costumes – or in this case, cowboy bandit outfits. Seriously though, LARPing has become fairly widespread in most countries, and while the majority of the groups dealing with this pastime are fantasy oriented, getting together a Wild West LARP group shouldn’t be all too difficult in this age of social media connectivity. Chances are there are plenty of people in your area secretly wishing to play out their Wild West fantasies in a community that wouldn’t shun them for it. Discuss Theories Whether you engage in Red Dead Redemption 2 oriented discussion via the dedicated Subreddit or our own forums, brainstorming with fellow fans about what the game might be like is one of the best ways to get your Red Dead fix without actually playing the game. Of course, getting emotionally invested in really cool ideas has some drawbacks, as it might make the wait even worse, not to mention that you’ll be setting yourself up for disappointment when it turns out that the designers omitted (with good reason most likely) your big idea from the actual game. The amount of mystery surrounding Red Dead Redemption 2 has lead to a lively discussion about a wide range of possibilities. Which characters will return? Is it a sequel, a prequel, or both? Where will the map be located compared to the one in RDR? Will there be train robberies? Will the next-gen hardware allow for console players to experience the sight of freshly fallen rain dynamically glisten on the loins hair of the various NPCs you’ll encounter in the game world? Learn to ride a horse Seeing as equine transportation was more or less the only available method of traversing the rough terrain of the frontier back in the day, as trains only connected major settlements, characters inhabiting the Red Dead world had to learn this skill unless they wanted the coarse desert sand to chew through a pair of shoes every three months. Since you’re so hot on the topic of a Wild West game, how about you learn how to ride in real life? Of course, it’s a tad more complex than pressing 2 buttons on a controller, but it’s entirely doable. After all, at worst the horse will only trample you to death, right? But Really You could always just push Red Dead Redemption 2 to the back of your mind and follow whatever news pops up over the coming months while focusing on more important things… Actually, yeah, I’ll stop right there. Such nonsense. The post Red Dead Redemption 2 Delay Survival Guide appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

In the wake of Rockstar announcing that Red Dead Redemption 2 has been delayed, Take-Two Interactive just held its final quarterly earnings call for the 2017 financial year. Naturally, investors, along with the market in general, were interested in learning additional details regarding Red Dead Redemption 2’s delay. After all, the game was poised to be one of this year’s biggest hits and thankfully a few new, but minor, details were revealed. First up is the projected release of Red Dead Redemption 2. Rockstar’s announcement placed the new release date in Spring 2018, however thanks to the call we can now cross out March. It was confirmed that the game will be coming in Take-Two’s next financial year (which run from 1 April to 31 March to each year) meaning no sooner than 1 April 2018. Interestingly enough, 2010’s Red Dead Redemption was pegged for an April release date, only to be delayed into May. We’re hoping the game won’t be hit by any more delays, but Rockstar has a history of pushing major titles back several times, not just once. Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, also provided some behind-the-scenes insight into the delay itself, and what effects it is expected to have. Zelnick assured investors that no major issues have been encountered during development and that the delay is just to allow for Rockstar to create the best game they can. So, in essence, it’s just a longer version of the official statement released alongside the announcement of the delay. I think the purpose of the delay for Red Dead Redemption 2 is to make sure that we deliver the most extraordinary experience that we’re capable of providing. We haven’t run into particular issues, we’re building a new game from the ground up for the first time for new-generation consoles, and the pressure that we put on ourselves to deliver excellence to the consumers is extraordinary. And we want to make sure that the appropriate time is taken to deliver the best game that we can, and I think that’s what consumers expect of Rockstar Games, and that’s what Rockstar Games typically delivers. So we support emphatically the label’s decision, and we’re utterly confident that it’ll prove in time to be wise, first and foremost creatively and artistically, and economically as well. Rockstar Games has a nigh spotless reputation to protect, and Red Dead Redemption 2 is – or, more correctly, was – one of the most anticipated games of the year, and now of 2018. While nowhere near as popular as the GTA franchise, Red Dead Redemption amassed a massive fanbase within the gaming community, even if the first game in the franchise, Red Dead Revolver, passed under most people’s radar. Fans of the franchise have been waiting for a sequel for over 7 years, and we’ll slip over into the 8th when it finally arrives. Since being revealed in October 2016, we’ve barely learned anything new about the game, and the announcement of the delay was actually the first official statement since (thankfully they included these screenshots). Zelnick is right about the pressure on the developers. The gaming media has been riding the Red Dead Redemption 2 wave since October and the expectations are incredibly high, being partially set by the huge success of Grand Theft Auto 5, which recently passed the 80 million copies sold mark. At this stage Red Dead Redemption 2 isn’t expected to reach similar numbers, but it will obviously be a massive hit nonetheless. While we’re as bummed by the delay as anyone else, at the end of the day, this just means that we’ll get a better game. Waiting longer for a great experience is preferable to getting a disappointment sooner. It’s going to be a long year though. The post Red Dead Redemption 2 Coming Fiscal 2019, Take-Two Confident appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

Yesterday, Rockstar Games announced that Red Dead Redemption 2 will now launch in Spring 2018. The news wasn’t exactly a surprise, but it hit with the weight of one nonetheless. Ever since the game’s official announcement last October, fans have been on the edge of their seats waiting for official news, but this isn’t what they had in mind. While responses from fans have been mixed – some praising the delay since it will result in a better product, others saying they were already struggling to wait until the original release date in Fall – one question occupies all equally: why? Rockstar Games is no stranger to delays since every AAA-budget title they’ve ever released was delayed save for Rockstar Games Presents: Table Tennis. The very first footage of the previous game in the Red Dead franchise was shown off in 2005, just one year after the release of Revolver, however the game wouldn’t launch until 2010, and even then it was hit with another one-month delay. Grand Theft Auto 5 was also pushed from Spring 2013 to September that year, Grand Theft Auto 4 from October 2007 to April 2008, and the list goes on. Rockstar almost always pushes back release dates from the initially announced windows for a handful of reasons. Firstly, the initial release date estimate for their games often appears too optimistic. Sure, for all we know they’ve been in development for a long enough time beforehand and simply planned the reveal close to launch. However, it’s turned out in most cases that the game is not all that close to being finished upon announcement, but for whatever reason, Rockstar has only given themselves a year, or less, to wrap up development. In their official announcement, which was accompanied by a number of new screenshots, Rockstar Games stated that they require more time to work on and polish Red Dead Redemption 2 in order to deliver the best possible product. Of course it’s true, but is there other reasons for the delay too? This outlaw epic set across the vast and unforgiving American heartland will be the first Rockstar game created from the ground up for the latest generation of console hardware, and some extra time is necessary to ensure that we can deliver the best experience possible for our fans. We are very sorry for any disappointment this delay causes, but we are firm believers in delivering a game only when it is ready. An early warning sign of Red Dead Redemption 2’s impending delay was the radio silence we’ve had since the official announcement of the game back in October. Really, this announcement of the delay half a year later is the first official statement since. Leaving half a year, maybe less, to market what is supposed to be one of the biggest games of 2017 really wouldn’t do either the developers or gamers justice. Sure, the game would have been a blockbuster any way, just not as bigger blockbuster as it could be. If the date was holding we’d have seen more of it by now. And then there is Rockstar’s reputation. Almost every game they’ve ever released has highly positive to outstanding critical scores and enjoys the overwhelming adoration of fans. And one of the most universally known truths in the industry is that a game rushed will surely disappoint, as proven by a bevy of titles across the AAA and lower-budget markets. Spending ample time polishing a game is often what separates the Game of the Year nominees from those scorned. Rockstar knows this and opts for delays in favor of releasing the consistently high-quality titles that they do. Really, this only ever benefits fans, since we’re treated to games held to a superior standard. GTA 5 benefitted much from the extra polish, as evidenced by the insanely vivid open world, which still leaves all others, even newer ones, behind. Rarely do delays damage the sales of a game, and yet certain publishers, such as Electronic Arts, would rather rush a game to stick to deadlines. Another factor is the one that Rockstar themselves have cited. This is the first game the developers are creating for the current generation of consoles. GTA 5 was developed for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 then ported to the current generation, which is a wholly different process. There, the developers had to stay within the bounds and limitations imposed by the game’s original version. Working directly with the new Xbox One and PlayStation 4 hardware offers Rockstar greater freedom to craft a game that wouldn’t be possible on the previous gen. This goes beyond mere graphics, too. The stronger hardware makes a vast array of improvements possible: more complex AI, more NPCs on-screen at any given time, dynamic effects in more contexts, greater mission and side-activity variety, foliage density, the magnitude of level-of-detail phases, draw distance and much more. This is about more than just the looks of the game, but the way it feels and plays as well. While the delay itself is unfortunate since this means we’ll have to wait roughly 10-12 months from now until the game hits store shelves, the effect it will have on the end result is immeasurable. We agree with many fans who say that they would rather wait patiently only to receive an amazing game as opposed to having it rushed out in an unpolished state. We’ve seen what Rockstar can do when given the time, and we can’t wait to delve into Red Dead Redemption 2’s world, polished to a blinding shine. The post Why Was Red Dead Redemption 2 Delayed? appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

The silver lining to today’s announcement that Red Dead Redemption 2 will be released in the Spring of 2018, as opposed to this Fall, is that Rockstar gave us a handful of screenshots alongside it. While players will undoubtedly spend the next few weeks analyzing every pixel of every image, it’s pretty clear from a first sweep that no major reveals are hidden within them. We’ve done our best to try and bring you a few interesting highlights and tidbits though. Firstly, some characters can be seen in several images, but their faces are always obscured save for a single screenshot. For all we know, the characters could be Red Dead Online player avatars wearing various outfits. The single screen showing the faces of characters shows them in a distance around a caravan, but upon magnification it becomes clear that at least two of them are duplicates, meaning either placeholders or NPCs. Though the shots are clearly staged, they’re also in-engine giving us a good idea of what kind of graphical quality to expect, and it’s the kind that would have cowboys tipping their hats in respect and awe. The graphics are a marked improvement upon Grand Theft Auto V – an advantage of having new hardware to work with. The varied landscapes of the game are on full display, from lush forests to barren deserts, as well as busy towns and cityscapes. Something about the forest screenshot is really striking, and if you can’t put your finger on it, we’ll help: video games rarely depict trees to be so massive. Most likely we’re looking at redwoods here, which would fit the setting of the game. An exciting game mechanic, which wasn’t present in the previous title, is also confirmed by the screenshots. Dual wielding pistols, as ineffective and inaccurate as it may be, has been a staple of Wild West fiction and it’s appearing in Red Dead Redemption 2 as well if the screenshots are anything to go by. If we’re to assume that another image, which is a close up of two pistols being dual-wielded, is from the multiplayer version Red Dead Online, then it seems that weapon customization through engravings (and maybe more) will be possible. The various outfits on show also indicate that players will be able to mix and match different articles of clothing, as opposed to selecting full outfits like in the original Red Dead Redemption. Images showing off the busy town street have sent the community into overdrive, with everyone trying to figure out its exact location. However, doing so would only be possible if this is a city we’ve already seen in Red Dead Redemption. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite line up with any of them, but then keeping in mind the massive changes Los Santos underwent between its two outings means that maybe Armadillo or one of the other towns simply received a redesign. On display, however, are what seem to be dynamic foot-and-wheel prints in the mud, as well as some beautiful lighting effects. The shot of the train crossing the bridge, other than being incredibly epic, further shows off how great the graphics look with what may just be the best-looking smoke effects ever seen. The area the train is leaving looks like the one seen in the forest screenshot, indicating that locomotives may be a method of fast-travel in the world, not unlike the trains in GTA V. A single train can also be seen in the screenshot with the man wearing a blue bandana, indicating that train robberies or heists could be a feature. Finally, the shot of the stagecoach and duplicate NPCs shows would could be a mechanic involving guarded convoy raids, evoking some GTA-like side missions no longer available in Online. As time goes on, further analysis will no doubt bring with it new revelations which we will cover as they appear. We’ve also collected the screenshots in a gallery which you can access here. The post First Red Dead Redemption 2 Screenshots Released appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

In an announcement that is probably not altogether that surprising, Rockstar Games has officially confirmed that Red Dead Redemption 2 has been delayed until the Spring of 2018. The game was originally slated to be released this Fall after an initial announcement that it was in production in October last year. The news comes in the wake of two separate rumors (that have now been disproven) concerning the game. One concerned an allegedly leaked screenshot that was later revealed to be from a different game altogether. Second was a rumor about a live action trailer being shot in Montana for an upcoming Western. But then that turned out to be for Far Cry 5, as confirmed by the recent teaser for the game welcoming players to “Hope County”. This outlaw epic set across the vast and unforgiving American heartland will be the first Rockstar game created from the ground up for the latest generation of console hardware, and some extra time is necessary to ensure that we can deliver the best experience possible for our fans. Rockstar’s official statement indicates that the delay is due to Red Dead Redemption 2 being the first game developed by the company entirely for the current-generation of consoles. This is as opposed to Grand Theft Auto V, which was merely ported to the new systems. Instead, Red Dead Redemption 2 will be developed entirely for the new hardware, allowing Rockstar to take advantage of the greater resources in ways GTA V could never have. To display just how much advantage they are taking of that new hardware, Rockstar showed off a couple of screenshots from the game too (check out the full gallery here). As for new information about the game itself, Rockstar hasn’t revealed anything just yet. But we do finally know when to expect some kind of press release, and we won’t need to wait long. New information, and hopefully gameplay footage, will be shown off sometime this Summer, which makes us hopeful for a possible E3 appearance. While E3’s have usually been skipped by Rockstar in the past, they have shown off games there a few times and we feel that Red Dead Redemption 2 is a big enough deal to warrant a change in tradition. Many players who have been hotly anticipating the sequel to Red Dead Redemption are likely disappointed. However, at the same time many have expressed, in advance of today’s news, that a delay wouldn’t sadden them, since it merely means the developers are taking the time to create the best game they possibly can – something Rockstar Games has done before with GTA V, and the results speak for themselves. Alas, our wait continues. The post Red Dead Redemption 2 Delayed To Spring 2018 appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

The last place we expected to hear about a possible Red Dead Redemption 2 release date is in a video about Destiny 2. During a reveal impressions video for the sequel to Bungie’s first new IP since Halo was taken from them, a prominent figure in the gaming press let slip a hint about when we should expect to see Red Dead Redemption 2 in stores. Some of you might be asking why we’d give any credit to “some random YouTuber”. Thing is, Brandon Jones isn’t just some guy making videos, but the founder of GameTrailers and Editor in Chief of EasyAllies. More importantly, he’s one of the pre-show judges of the E3 Game Critics Awards for 2017, meaning he already knows much of what will be revealed at the show but is still embargoed. So there is a very real chance that the man knows when Red Dead Redemption 2 will hit store shelves. The hint itself concerns the release date of Destiny 2, which is September 8 this year. In the video, Jones states that the game “comes out the week before Red Dead, September 8th”, meaning that this would put Red Dead Redemption 2’s launch between September 11th and 17th. The best estimate based on that range would be the 15th of September. After a few viewers caught this tidbit and discussion mounted over the weekend, Jones took to Twitter for some damage control, however what he had to say wasn’t 100% convincing. He basically claims to associate Red Dead Redemption 2 with September in his mind, which lead to the slip. Jones says that what he said in the video has no truth to it and is unrelated to his activity as a judge – it’s just a guess. Of course, players anxiously waiting for any new information on Red Dead Redemption 2 might just be hearing what they want to hear, but many say that Jones’ body language and subsequent reaction to the slip make it seem real, as does the follow up on Twitter. What’s more, this puts that live action trailer back into question. Ubisoft recently announced a load of new games including another Far Cry title, however it isn’t slated for this year. That makes Red Dead Redemption 2 the only game to still fit the producer’s description and the September release date also lines up with our current Fall release window. This could mean Rockstar will take a deviant approach to marketing Red Dead Redemption 2. They rarely appear at E3 – though they’ve been known to do so – and make live-action trailers even less frequently. The coming months will decide whether these rumors turn out to be true or hollow. We’ll be sure to update you as we hear more. The post Red Dead Redemption 2 Release Date Possibly Let Slip appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar Games’ open-world Wild West action-adventure title, turns 7-years-old today. The game was first released on May 18, 2010 in the United States, gracing the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Seven years ago we first took control of John Marston, seven years ago we first set foot in this fictional snippet of the Old West. It’s been seven years, and we’re waiting for the sequel, it’s also been seven years without a PC port. Many remember Red Dead Redemption as the first Red Dead game, however Revolver came before it in 2004. Nonetheless, it was Redemption that truly captured the minds and hearts of gamers, and catapulted the IP into the spotlight. Now, Rockstar will soon have us return to the Red Dead world this Fall with a sequel or prequel to 2010’s hit. Incidentally, it’s also been seven months since the official announcement of Red Dead Redemption 2. This coincidence has spawned countless claims that today would surely mean some kind of major announcement about the upcoming game would be made. It would have been the perfect date to reveal the next trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2. Even some kind of Red Dead commemoration would have been nice – this is one of their most popular titles we’re talking about after all. However, Rockstar has been quiet with little social media activity of any kind. All is not lost however, the next Take-Two investor call is coming up on May 23, and having nothing to show for a game scheduled to be launched in roughly four months time probably won’t impress any analysts covering Take-Two. Back to Red Dead Redemption though. It’s as good a time as any to fire up the seven-year-old title, which has been made available on Xbox One via the backwards compatibility program, and on PlayStation 4 and PC through Sony’s PS Now streaming service. It probably wouldn’t hurt brushing up on the events of the series before jumping into Red Red Dead Redemption 2 and marking this day with a new playthrough is a great way to honor John Marston’s journey. Interestingly enough, Red Dead Redemption’s multiplayer is still fairly populated; although this can be attributed, at least in part, to the publicity surrounding by the upcoming sequel. If you’ve got a few mates who own the game, you should get them to hop online for old time’s sake. Let’s just hope the wait between the previous game and the next won’t get any longer than this! The post Red Dead Redemption Turns Seven Today appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

Some time ago, we wrote a piece about how the popularity and success of Red Dead Redemption 2 might result in there being a resurgence in games with a Western setting. After the recent reveal of a new crowdfunded project called Wild West Online, as well as rumors that the next Far Cry might be a spaghetti Western, it seems that our prediction was correct – so much so, that Red Dead Redemption 2 didn’t even need to be released for this effect. Promotional screenshot for Wild West OnlineAt the time we posted the first piece, many commenters claimed that it wouldn’t happen since Rockstar would “scare” off any other developer trying to take on the setting, since they would have no hope of topping Red Dead Redemption 2. Incidentally, the minds behind Wild West Online were actually inspired by Red Dead Redemption, and the project was kicked off back when the sequel wasn’t announced yet. The team’s motivation was that they got tired of waiting for a follow-up to the original RDR, so they decided to make their own Western video game, and turn it into an MMO. In recent years, the Western setting has mostly been relegated to indie productions and download-only titles that weren’t destined to achieve far-reaching popularity. Even looking back throughout all of gaming history, Westerns are few and far between. Red Dead Redemption was well enough received in 2010, but it didn’t really grab the mainstream crowds, being more of a core gamer product. Riding the wave of Grand Theft Auto 5’s popularity, however, has catapulted Red Dead Redemption 2 into the spotlight already, with the hype alone already spreading into casual gamer spheres. The title is getting extensive marketing already via banners and other merch on display in retail stores and pre-orders are being bought up like candy. We’ve barely seen a glimpse of the game through the cinematic trailer, but it has already amassed an audience greater than some other AAA titles do throughout their entire shelf life. With such a heavy hitter representing the Western genre, copycats are guaranteed to follow. Over the years the Grand Theft Auto franchise has spawned many an IP that took significant inspiration from games in that series, and with Red Dead about to explode into the mainstream consciousness, we see a similar future ahead for Westerns. While movies have explored the setting extensively, the few games that do offer players a trip to the Wild West are proof enough that the locale works, and works well. Even if the rumored Far Cry title isn’t a Western, we might get an Assassin’s Creed game with a Wild West setting – after all, we’ve had pirates, and the setting would fit the series well. The Call of Juarez series could make a triumphant comeback, and a number of original properties could be created. We’d also love to see some spliced genres where Western is mixed with other themes, like Sci-Fi or Fantasy. The former worked out well for Westworld and Firefly. Red Dead Redemption 2 doesn’t even have a concrete release date, and it already serves as inspiration for other titles. We guess it’s safe to assume that once the game is released, several other Westerns will follow. The post Red Dead Redemption Is Reviving Western Games appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

The image “leaked” yesterday was real. The only problem? It was not taken from Red Dead Redemption 2. Wild West Online is an upcoming PVP MMO that its creators, DJ2, say will launch later this year exclusively on PC. They are currently planning a Kickstarter campaign which is set to go live later this month, however, the team told PCGamer in an exclusive interview that regardless of the $250,000 Kickstarter campaign’s success, the launch of the “core game” is set for this year. The additional fundraising is only meant to cover expansions scheduled for a later time. The timing couldn’t be better for Wild West Online and its developers, 612 Games. Fans of Red Dead Redemption are starving for more information about the much anticipated sequel (prequel?) to the 2010 hit and speculation is rife. Then when a very legitimate looking off-screen image popped up yesterday it looked like their prayers had been partially answered, at least. Sadly, that wasn’t to be the case. 612 Games, however, got their screenshot featured in hundreds of media outlets across the web and no doubt there will be many more follow up pieces, just like this one, spreading the news that the image wasn’t actually from Red Dead Redemption 2. In his chat with PCGamer, Creative VP at DJ2, Stephan Bugaj, said that they got tired of waiting for Red Dead Redemption to properly arrive on PC and so decided to “take matters into their own hands” – and not in a build a Red Dead Redemption mod for Grand Theft Auto V on PC kinda way. They’ve built a Western game for PC only instead. There’s an audience for this that just wasn’t being served on PC. So we wanted to make this big, open Wild West world with a bit of a twist that, like the best MMOs, is a place where people can really live in. Bugaj also dropped additional information on the game, revealing that there will be a recipe finding and learning aspect to the crafting system (much like another well-known MMO – World of Warcraft), but that unlike the aforementioned game, there probably won’t be a big progression system. We assume this means that any grinding will be kept to a minimum. It’s something that we’re still kicking around. There’s going to be story, character, and gameplay-driven motives to keep playing, but we haven’t yet fully worked out what the progression system is going to be for that. One big immediate difference between Red Dead Redemption and Wild West Online too – there will be no PVE aspect in the latter. You’ll only be able to fight other players and if you become wanted, NPCs won’t chase you. It’s more like a reputation system than anything. The wanted system in something like Grand Theft Auto is really about PVE combat, whereas in Wild West Online it’s more about pitting lawmen against bandits against working class people caught in between. Some details about the stretch goals for Wild West Online’s Kickstarter campaign were also revealed: $400,000: Women will be playable as characters. Rockstar already introduced this with Grand Theft Auto Online and it’s been incredibly well-received by the GTA community. $1.75 million: Train robberies will be included as part of an update post-launch (something that’s been discussed as a potential Red Dead Redemption 2 feature in our forums several times). With both Red Dead Redemption 2 and Wild West Online now both scheduled to launch later this year (admittedly on different platforms) it’s going to be very interesting to comparing the two. Being a Red Dead Redemption 2 fan-site we’re extremely confident (if not a little biased) that Rockstar Game will come out with something special, however being a PC only Western, Wild West Online has definitely created an exclusive niche and player base for itself from the get go. The post “Leaked” Red Dead Redemption 2 Image Actually For New Game, Wild West Online appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

How many of you remember that time last year when in the space of a few weeks, Battlefield 1, Titanfall 2 and Call of Duty: Advance Warfare were all launched, in that order? We might be looking at a repeat of that situation later this year if the rumors are to be believed. After several stories of a promotional film being shot in Montana for a 2017 game, a pair of popular assumptions on what that game could be arose: Red Dead Redemption 2 or a new Far Cry game. For some reason though, the second rumor has taken off in spite of what we believe to be a lack of evidence. www.greatfallstribune.comWhat kicked all this off was a group of filmmakers traveling to a remote location in Montana to shoot a scene with two men fighting near a historic early 1900’s church (which they actually renovated for the folk still using the church!). The producer didn’t divulge the name of the game they were shooting for but did say that it’s a new installment of an existing franchise, that it would take place partially in the fictional Hope County and that it would be released this September. All of these characteristics fit the bill for Red Dead Redemption 2. However, concurrently with this story, rumors of a new western Far Cry game being in the works also popped up and spread like wildfire, leading some to assume that the team was actually shooting for that title. Evidence in favor of it being a Far Cry game includes the producer having previously worked on Far Cry Primal’s live action trailer. That said, it isn’t even certain there is a new FC title coming this year – nothing in respect of the Far Cry series has been announced while of course Red Dead Redemption 2 has been confirmed by Rockstar. Actually, part of the whole Far Cry rumor was fuelled by an alleged meeting between a gaming journalist who just happened to encounter two drunk Frenchmen in a bar somewhere and coax them into spilling the beans on a supposed new Far Cry game, though even they didn’t name any names. Thing is, these slew of rumors about a western Far Cry might be entirely wrong at the concept level. Far Cry Primal – Promotional screenshot (Ubisoft)Jason Schreier, a writer at Kotaku – a site known for often getting wind of leaks ahead of any other publication – indicated that there is no reason to assume the next Far Cry game will be a Western, simply that it will take place in Montana. Reporting about the rumored Far Cry title has been divided too, with as many sources saying it will be a modern day title as there are ones claiming it will be a Western. At the same time, Schreier alluded that tips saying that this is for Red Dead Redemption 2 are incorrect, and people looking for another answer are on the right track. Thing is, a modern day Far Cry game set in a fictional version of Montana, focusing on some whacko militia, better fits the franchise’s style than a full on Western does. Previous installments were heavily focused on vehicles – aside from Primal, of course – which would be difficult to implement in a Western setting. On the flip-side, it’s true that in the past Ubisoft ran a poll to gauge players’ preferences regarding future settings for the franchise, and “Western” was fairly popular. Even so, with no announcement about a new Far Cry title of any kind, the time between now and September is fairly tight to release an as-yet unannounced game, especially one as high profile as Far Cry. The existence of Red Dead Redemption 2 has been public for over half a year now, making it a much more likely candidate, not even considering what a poor financial decision it would be to launch a Western Far Cry so close to the projected release date of RDR2. We brought up the situation of the three shooters from last year, because that release schedule left Titanfall 2 with some really poor sales figures, even though fans and critics loved the game alike. Since Battlefield and Call of Duty had more publicity and brand recognition, those games attracted significantly more players. A similar situation could arise here as well, with Red Dead Redemption 2 stealing sales from a western Far Cry. While Far Cry may be a major franchise in its own right, and one of Ubisoft’s leading IPs, it just doesn’t have the kind of pull that Red Dead Redemption 2 does. Between the two franchises, Red Dead has a larger mainstream audience and based on the massive amount of hype around it now, it is going to blow anything else out of the water come Fall. There wouldn’t be much sense in launching a rival to RDR2 from a franchise like Far Cry – even if there is a western FC in the works, Ubisoft would likely schedule it a year after RDR2 at least. On the flipside, if they actually come out with a Western Far Cry this September (following a really rushed marketing campaign), a double-down on AAA Westerns so close to one another might kick the genre a few notches higher on the popularity scale, leading to more Western games. We’ve written in the past how RDR2 might end up “reviving” Western games per-se, but being reinforced by Far Cry would make it almost certain. Of course, we’re by no means saying we’d mind a Western Far Cry game being released this year – Far Cry is a popular franchise for a reason, and getting more Western titles could only be a good thing. It’s just that the signs aren’t really pointing at that outcome, nor would it be an astute move on Ubisoft’s part. In any case, if, in the end, it does turn out that the live-action shoot was for a game other than Red Dead Redemption 2, the developers and publishers of said title should get ready for some mediocre sales figures. 2017 has room for two Westerns, definitely, but not two successful Westerns. The post Far Cry 5 To Compete With Red Dead Redemption 2 This Year? appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

An image making the rounds after being posted on GTAForums is alleged to be the very first screenshot from Red Dead Redemption 2. However it’s instantly drawn skepticism and fans have been analyzing the hell out of every pixel since. It still isn’t clear whether the image is fake or real, and the fact that the original poster then shared a random collage of Red Dead Redemption images under different branding surely didn’t help things. The first “leaked” image, seen above, is a shot seemingly taken from first person as the player looks out from a door to a Western town. Fans will likely recognize that the town itself looks a lot like Armadillo did in 2010’s Red Dead Redemption. It has all the trappings of what Red Dead Redemption 2 should be like though – horses, typical Wild West architecture and outfits, rolling hills in the distance and a church tower rising above the roofs. Those players thinking this is an elaborate fake noted that the layout of the town is almost identical to that of the previous rendition of Armadillo, that the graphical fidelity isn’t on par with the trailer, the church tower itself looks photoshopped and that theoretically, it could have been set up in Grand Theft Auto 5 using mods. Nonetheless, even those who believe it’s fake admit that it’s a really good fake. On the other side of the debate, advocates of the theory that this image is real point out how the leaning man in the center of the image uses the same pose as seen in the trailer, and that the details on the horse model are also identical to the ones seen in the trailer. In response to the arguments of those claiming it is a fake, they argue that almost all AAA games, including GTA 5, took noticeable graphical downgrades compared to trailers – not to mention that the reveal trailer only contained traces of in-engine footage, mostly being cinematic. Similarly, screenshots are often used a “bullshots”, thus explaining the lack of a HUD and the possibly altered church tower. What complicates matters is an odd image posted by the “leaker” who shared the original. Four screenshots from the previous installment in the franchise appear together as a collage, laid over a piece of what looks like fan-art with “Wild West Online” written above it. This second image is quite obviously a fake, further strengthening the argument of those who claim the original is too. However, the whole situation doesn’t add up: the second image if obviously a fake, so why would the original poster discredit their otherwise very believable post? A quick search will show anyone that “Wild West Online” is an actual game – an MMO with a Wild West setting. It’s also been more or less confirmed that the multiplayer online component of Red Dead Redemption 2 will be called Red Dead Online. If the “actual” leaked shot is a fake, it’s an extremely elaborate fake that someone clearly put a lot of effort into. If it’s a real leak, it’s the first look at actual Red Dead Redemption 2 gameplay we’ve seen so far. We’ll be posting our own full analysis of the image shortly. In the meantime, join the debate raging in our forums about whether this is real or not. The post Red Dead Redemption 2 Screenshot Possibly Leaked appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

While most signs in our recent story about a film crew shooting a live-action trailer for an upcoming video game point to that game being Red Dead Redemption 2, some alternate theories and views have since been put forward. Being a fan-site dedicated to all things Red Dead Redemption 2, it’s only fair we that run through them too and try to make better sense of it all. To recap, the crew was filming a scene where two cowboys fight in front of a 1900’s era church in rural Montana as part of a promotional trailer for an upcoming title that they could not name. They did, however, say that the game is a sequel to a well-established franchise, that it would take place in a fictional location called Hope County, and that it will be launching later this year – September, to be exact. It would make sense for the game concerned to be Red Dead Redemption 2. It’s a sequel, a Western, and slated to launch this Fall. However, several fans have put forward some theories that show it could be another game altogether. The most common prevailing alternative view is that the title in question is actually an unannounced Far Cry spin-off from Ubisoft, taking the franchise into a new direction with a “modern Western” setting. The rumors around a Western Far Cry game come from a single source. Someone allegedly met two people (with French accents no less) in a bar who claimed to work for a “major game company”. Said people then proceeded to reveal details about an upcoming game for which they were scouting locations. That’s essentially it. Hardly solid evidence… www.greatfallstribune.comThing is, while Red Dead Redemption 2 is an officially announced title, this alleged Western Far Cry game is nothing more than a rumor right now, coming from unverified sources. For all intents and purposes, it may not even exist. Red Dead Redemption 2, on the other hand, has been announced and even though there isn’t a lot of promotional material out in the wild, it’s already present in the collective consciousness. A game that’s unannounced right now is also unlikely to launch in September as that would leave woefully little time for marketing. This might be conceivable in the Indie industry, but in AAA? Impossible. If the next alleged Far Cry title was a major installment, it would have already been announced with much fanfare. If it is a minor title, it would still already be announced, and it wouldn’t get a live-action trailer. The tight window between now and September is far too short for the subject of this trailer shoot to be an unannounced title. If this is a game we already know about, and it has to be, then there really aren’t any choices other than Red Dead Redemption 2. Some have suggested that a new Call of Juarez game might be in the works, for which the trailer is being made. But again, if Ubisoft goes the smaller download-only title route, we’d still already have heard something by now, and such a game wouldn’t warrant a live-action trailer. Others still have said that live-action trailers just aren’t Rockstar’s style and that we should therefore disregard this Western promo shoot. While it may be true, companies change their profiles time and again. Five years have passed since the announcement of Grand Theft Auto 5, three since its launch. In that time, Rockstar might have adopted new marketing strategies, with live-action trailers among them. Versus the other indicators pointing towards Red Dead Redemption 2, it’s hard to write off the live-action trailer on this point alone. Either way this story has been pretty divisive. But from where we stand, Red Dead Redemption 2 still seems to be the most likely candidate. The post Rumored Live Action Shoot Could Be Other Games appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

Let’s start off by saying that even though pretty much everything is pointing towards the subject of this promotional filming being Red Dead Redemption 2, it hasn’t been officially revealed as such and therefore this is technically still a rumor. That said, the evidence is rather overwhelming, and we’d love to hear anyone contest the notion that Red Dead Redemption 2 isn’t the game being talked about below. www.greatfallstribune.comA film crew spotted in the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana earlier this week were interviewed about a particular promotional video shot near an iconic early 1900’s church. The producer answered a few questions about the project, but couldn’t name names. He did, however, drop enough hints to make it really likely that we’re looking at Rockstar’s upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2. The film being shot featured two actors in Wild West themed attire fighting near the church while a train chugged along in the background. The Producer, one Jeff Guillot, said that the footage will be used to promote an upcoming video game. In case “Wild West” and “upcoming video game” don’t set off enough bells, the rest of what he revealed will. Even then, what other Western game is releasing soon that has enough of a budget to secure a live-action trailer? This is a sequel to an existing global franchise Guillot went on to say that the game is a sequel to a popular series. Check. It will be open world. Check. The scene shot for the trailer takes place in an in-game location that is a fictional version of the United States, called Hope County. Check, as this adheres to Rockstar’s plausible-but-fictional location naming scheme. All the pieces are in place for this to be Red Dead Redemption 2, and taking the projected fall release date into account, it stands to reason for marketing to be ramped up soon. At least now we suspect that a live action trailer is in the pipeline, though unfortunately that still isn’t gameplay footage. Nonetheless, Guillot also dropped another interesting breadcrumb. The game for which they were shooting the trailer will be released in September. Again, check. While most educated guesses so far put the game into the latter half of October, September was never out of the question. Guillot didn’t drop an exact date, however, so all the armchair analysts will still have something to argue over. The shoot itself sounded like a rather wholesome affair. Guillot described that the church was in a rather poor condition, and outright dangerous when they arrived. The film crew actually arranged for it to be fixed up, for which the local community, which hasn’t used the church for a while, was overwhelming grateful. The area where the shoot took place has a rich history tied to the Native American population that call it home. Unfortunately, some of that history is rather bloody, however these days the community lives a peaceful and happy life. There is even a cryptic myth linked to the area, with reports of so-called “goat man” sightings near the church. This could be the next Grand Theft Auto 5 sasquatch in the making! Of course, there is always room for skepticism until such a time that Rockstar actually publishes a live-action trailer, however too many of the signs point to Red Dead Redemption 2 for this to turn out a dud. We’re certainly anticipating the time when promotion for the game picks up steam and we get more story and gameplay details, and now we even have a live-action trailer to look forward to also. The post Red Dead Redemption 2 Live Action Trailer In The Works? appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

Not too long ago we reported that Amazon had temporarily made Red Dead Redemption 2 pre-orders unavailable on the PlayStation 4. This was due to Amazon exhausting their allocation of physical game discs. Earlier this week however, the pre-orders were made available again on both platforms, meaning Amazon got another batch of allotments. This rapid rate of pre-orders proves that Red Dead Redemption 2 not only appears to be selling extremely well, but that Rockstar and Sony’s partnership seems to be working. The original story caused a bit of confusion among people who did not understand the process of pre-selling physical copies of games via 3rd party retailers like Amazon. Very few amongst the sea of commenters asking “How could an unfinished game sell out? The publishers will simply order enough copies to be printed for distribution…” had a proper grasp of allotment sales. Amazon itself “pre-ordered” a given quantity (allocation) of copies to be put up for pre-order, and excited gamers bought them all up, hence the PS4 version “going out of stock”. All it meant was that Amazon had already sold all the copies of Red Dead Redemption 2 it had on manifest and needed to secure another batch. What it really means though is that a ton of people are buying Red Dead Redemption 2. Of course, a story like this sparked a new battle in the on-going console war, as fans took this as a “win” for the PlayStation 4 somehow. Truthfully, we don’t know whether the allotments were equal for the two consoles – maybe Amazon had a larger pool of Xbox One copies to pre-sell and they’ve just not run out yet. It’s also important to remember that Amazon isn’t typically the go-to site for video games, so who knows if more Xbox One players just bought the game somewhere else. The only possible reason to get irritated about this situation relates to the pre-order culture that has grabbed hold of the AAA industry. Pre-selling games has nothing to do with stock – digital copies never run out, obviously, and physicals can just be restocked. Pre-selling is first and foremost a financial decision, a way for publishers to break out of the three-red-one-black loop. The aforementioned “loop” refers to the cycle wherein consumer product companies end three of their four financial quarters with a loss, with the final (fourth) quarter expected to make up for it all. Pre-orders are a way to spread out revenue intake across the months preceding release, instead of having everything come in at launch. Thing is, this gives developers some leeway in terms of quality. If you pre-order a game and they slap a review embargo on it lasting until launch, no-one will know what the actual product is like until it’s too late to cancel. Unfortunately, many games have turned out to be let-downs, getting panned by critics, while still being profitable due to pre-order. With no Collector’s Edition or pre-order bonuses announced for Red Dead Redemption 2 just yet (heck, all we have is the announcement trailer!), you definitely can’t say they Rockstar has been fuelling this type of behavior at all. And in any event, many players opposed to pre-orders still consider RDR2 a day-one buy. In other news related to Amazon, an odd, albeit thin rumor cropped up recently regarding the widespread worry that Red Dead Redemption 2 may be delayed. Several people who have pre-ordered were recently notified that their order has been delayed to the first of January, 2018. Amazon previously listed the release date of the game as December 31st, which was clearly a placeholder. Now, this could be just a random placeholder change, however the placeholders usually conform to the projected year of release provided by the publishers, even if an exact date isn’t public yet. And why bother moving the placeholder just one day back? Then again, placeholder dates have been known to act strangely within inventory and sales systems and move around wildly, so it’s hardly concrete evidence of anything. Only time, and some official information from Rockstar Games, will tell. The post Red Dead Redemption 2 PS4 Pre-Orders Available Once More On Amazon appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

Rockstar remains adamantly tight-lipped about the upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2 in spite of the hype surrounding it, having released no new information for half a year now. In defiance, fans are similarly adamant about fuelling discussion regarding the game by picking apart any tiny tidbit or clue. While this latest rumor that has been making the rounds might seem like grasping at straws to some, it also has merit. One fan with a particularly sharp ear might have discovered who the composer for Red Dead Redemption 2 will be, based on the music heard in the reveal trailer and comparing it to another piece from the composer in question. Gustavo Santaolalla’s Apertura, originally from the original score of the Motorcycle Diaries, sounds eerily similar to the music that plays in the background of the teaser trailer that Rockstar released when they officially announced the game. Like we said, this is reaching pretty far, however it isn’t entirely outside the realm of possibility. It is hardly uncommon for composers to move around from franchise to franchise, studio to studio, and it’s actually quite rare for a sequel to have the same composer as the entry before it. Santaolalla (we can’t get over how perfect the “olalla” part is for a music composer) has previously worked on the fantastic The Last Of Us, creating the game’s timeless soundtrack and getting himself nominated for the best soundtrack award at the 10th British Academy Video Games Awards. Then again, this may just be the case of two otherwise unrelated tracks sounding similar. In any case, it’s not like the name of the composer will be the blockbuster news that Rockstar will rush to reveal when they finally announce further details about Red Dead Redemption 2, so we’ll likely have to wait a good long time until this rumor is confirmed or disproven. The post Red Dead Redemption 2’s Composer Possibly Revealed appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

It’s proving very difficult for gamers to keep their minds off the topic of Red Dead Redemption 2 even with so little information presently available go on. Of course, one of the side-effects of said lack of information is that discussion about the game becomes circular, with the same topics being discussed and analysed over and over again. Something we’re probably guilty of here too, but heck, we’re excited fans just like the rest of you! “When will we get new info?“, “how will GTA 5 influence it?“, “what features do you want to see?” and finally, “will it come to PC?” are common questions. That last topic seems to be the most controversial and divisive, however even if the answer is yes, we won’t know until after the game is first released. Grand Theft Auto 5 taught Rockstar a great many things, and some of the lessons are bound to rub off on Red Dead Redemption 2 in the right way. However, GTA 5 also taught Rockstar how to sell a game to maximum effect and the staggered release schedule really worked out for them. While a common outcome was players buying the title twice, some even bought it three times across all three waves. First, the game launched on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, then a year later it arrived on the current-gen consoles and finally, yet another year later, it was released on PC. And when GTA 5 eventually arrived for the PC it turned out to be the game’s definitive edition. While Online has some troubles with hackers, from a technical standpoint the PC version is a vast improvement over the console editions. If Red Dead Redemption 2 ever gets a PC port, a similar situation is likely to arise, but hopefully without the hackers (Rockstar, please have dedicated servers). But if fans knew today that they were guaranteed to get a PC version of the game at some stage in the future, there would be a good chunk of them that wait it out and only buy that edition. Right now, it’s not known whether Red Dead Redemption 2 will come to PC at all since it would be the first Red Dead game to do so (PS Now streaming doesn’t technically count). Because of this ambiguity, players who own both a console and PC will buy it on console. However if the PC version is eventually announced and released, chances are they’ll grab that version as well for the better experience. Based on this, not getting a PC version announcement prior to Red Dead Redemption 2’s release on the PS4 and Xbox One (hopefully later this year) is by no means an indication that the game isn’t coming to PC. However players should keep in mind that the chance of a PC confirmation before said release is practically zero. So hang in there PC gamers. And if you really want to show your support for a PC version of the game, check out this petition. The post Don’t Expect A Red Dead Redemption 2 PC Announcement Any Time Soon appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

Some of you might have noticed that Red Dead Redemption 2 on Amazon is now listed as “currently unavailable” for PlayStation 4. While there are other venues where you can pre-order both digital and physical copies of the title for both platforms, seeing the largest online retailer run out of stock is pretty telling. This appears to be due to the game being out of stock, although it must be said there are numerous other reasons why it may be unavailable. Fans have reportedly contacted Amazon about the situation, and the official response was that they’ve “already sold all the copies they’ve been given”. Obviously it’s only a matter of time before they restock the game, but wow, we don’t even have a release date and this thing is out of stock. The Xbox One version of the game is still available for pre-order, potentially indicating that the PlayStation 4 crowd is more excited to jump in on Red Dead Redemption 2 ahead of release. It seems that the deal Sony and Rockstar have going between them is working out just fine for all involved. Under the partnership, PlayStation 4 players will be given access to post-launch content sooner than Xbox One players. On the one hand, this rate of pre-orders might mean that some analysts have underestimated the popularity and potential success of the game, while also going to show how engrained pre-order culture has become. This is also, above all else, a sign of Rockstar’s pull. This game has no release date, no collector’s edition, no pre-order bonuses and no information aside from a cinematic trailer, and it’s already sold out. Think about that. A pre-rendered trailer, on its own, sold who knows how many hundreds of thousands of copies of this game already. Of course, many early-adopters say that they’re already jumped on the pre-order because they know they will buy it anyway, and they can always cancel it should any of the info revealed leading up to launch turn out to be a dealbreaker for them. As far as anyone knows Red Dead Redemption 2 is still slated for a fall 2017 release on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

When Grand Theft Auto IV came out fans were pleasantly surprised that Rockstar Games had tucked a deep combat system into the fold. Niko could target enemies, counter punches, and make strong, medium or kick attacks. Input the right combo and players could disarm knives from opponents or unlock a special “fatality” move under the right circumstance. Melee relied on skill, and the impact of each punch felt meaty and realistic. Then came Grand Theft Auto V. A return to Los Santos meant hitting the gym and learning new fighting moves just like CJ did, right? Not quite. If anything, GTA V’s melee was a lackluster mix of blocking and jabbing, and not much more. Red Dead Redemption’s melee wasn’t as in-depth as fans were expecting, either. The crazy saloon fights and drunken boxing matches were no where to be found (although the ability to tackle someone to the ground and get a couple pot shots in was pretty cool.) For replicating such a scrappy era of American history, it’s too bad hand-to-hand combat felt tame and underwhelming. It shouldn’t be that big of a surprise. For the most part, Rockstar’s library consists of gun-oriented games: Max Payne, Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption. There are melee-centric titles such as Bully and the Warriors, though these were more brawl type beat ‘em ups than Rockstar’s flagship titles. With Rockstar’s most ambitious, and possibly most mature title yet looming on the horizon, the studio needs to implement a rich melee combat system. Yes, the Wild West of our collective imagination was filled with honorable duels and gunslinging bandits, but they couldn’t have possibly resolved every fight with a gun, could they? Rockstar has set a standard for realism in its games, and RDR2 will likely be brutal in its depiction of 19th century America. Fans are hoping Rockstar goes full Blood Meridian in it’s portrayal of outlaws, scalpers, prospectors and bounty hunters. Along with a refined combat and shooting system, we think an overhauled melee system would help RDR2 stand out among its videogame peers. The post Why Red Dead Redemption 2 Needs to Have Rockstar’s Best Melee Combat appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

When the PC version of Grand Theft Auto 5 was released, Rockstar introduced a new feature which allowed players to record gameplay footage, edit it, and export the video without having to use third-party programs. The so-called Rockstar Editor was fully integrated with the game, easy to use and highly accessible. Eventually, the Editor was made available on the current-gen consoles as well, meaning there really shouldn’t be anything preventing its integration into Red Dead Redemption 2, right? When games attract large fan communities the creation of fan videos is more or less a given with or without integrated video editing tools. This is thanks to the wide availability of third-party programs which facilitate it. However, accessibility remains an issue as many fans are intimidated by video editing software and what they can sometimes misconstrue as a complicated process. The biggest advantage of the Rockstar Editor was that it opened up the realm of fan videos to players who would have never considered dallying with it in the first place. Red Dead Redemption already garnered a massive fanbase among gamers and has its share of fan videos. However provided that RDR2 reaches a wider audience, and comes with an integrated video editor to boot, the number of content creators will increase. GTA 5 fans have put together some truly fantastic works in the past, so much so that Rockstar quite frequently held Editor contests with given themes, and awarded the best videos exclusive merchandise. Beyond merely being an awesome feature to boost the game’s value, the spread of fan-made content would be a great way to increase the game’s reach. Word of mouth popularity is something that contributed greatly to the success of GTA 5, and fan videos count towards this. Red Dead Redemption 2’s Wild West setting, coupled with improved visuals, makes it a great game to use as the basis of fan-made works. The only downside is that lacking a PC release, we know for sure that the game won’t have any measure of mod support, thus limiting creators to what is presently available in the game. Many GTA 5 fan videos rely on mods to add all kinds of wacky props, effects and more to the game for the recording, however this opportunity won’t be present in RDR2. It wouldn’t even be difficult to implement either. There isn’t much that needs to be changed with the current iteration of the Editor, and it’s already present on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, so Rockstar could even just port it over as it is. In the meantime, we can always enjoy some of the Red Dead themed Rockstar Editor videos GTA 5 players have put together (with mods). The post Red Dead Redemption 2 Should Bring Back The Rockstar Editor appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

There’s no doubt that when Grand Theft Auto V came out for PS3 and Xbox 360, it was a game that pushed both systems to their limits. But when Rockstar remastered GTA V roughly a year later for current gen consoles, it felt like we received the definitive version of GTA V, the one Rockstar set out to make all along. Nearly everything was improved, from enhanced graphics and smooth performance to new missions and the option to play the entire game from first person perspective. To many observers, this looked like a logical business maneuver, or “cash grab” if you will. By remastering GTA V, it gave Rockstar a way to attract new players while providing additional features that would entice last-gen GTA V players to consider upgrading (myself included). It was a smart way to capitalize on new hardware without launching an entirely new game. Now that the PS4 Pro is available and Microsoft’s impressive specs for its next console, Project Scorpio, have been announced, it begs the question: will Rockstar perform a similar move with Red Dead Redemption 2? Red Dead Redemption 2 is slated for a “Fall 2017” release for PS4 and Xbox One, with Project Scorpio likely following soon after. As we recently reported, Microsoft has tapped Rockstar to release Red Dead Redemption 2 on Project Scorpio, but we don’t know for certain whether Microsoft will show new footage of the game for an upcoming event (it doesn’t look likely.) Microsoft has made clear that Project Scorpio will be backwards compatible, playing both Xbox 360 and Xbox One games. What isn’t clear is whether the system will receive games that are unique to Project Scorpio, that is, not cross-platform like we’re used to. If that’s the case, then Red Dead Redemption 2 could have three iterations: Xbox One/S, PS4/Pro, and Project Scorpio. The Scorpio version may have features that are completely unique to that console. Microsoft could even strike a deal with Rockstar to develop Scorpio specific content for Red Dead Redemption 2—like special VR missions. After all, Microsoft hatched a similar deal with Rockstar when they helped fund two DLC add-ons for Grand Theft Auto IV. What’s more worrisome is if Rockstar cuts features and content from RDR2 in order to meet its Fall 2017 release window, only to include the content later on in a next-gen remaster. Sure, they could release the cut content as DLC (as most developers do in these cases), but why not use that content to attract people to buy the game again, when it’s inevitably released as a True 4K remaster for Project Scorpio? Based on Red Dead Redemption 2’s trailer, we’ll be getting one hell of a beautiful game by the end of the year. But will we be getting the best version of RDR2? We’ll just have to wait and see. The post Will Rockstar Deliberately Cut Features From RDR2 For A Next-Gen Rerelease? appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story

Even with DigitalFoundry’s special preview of the upcoming Project Scorpio being published, the gaming journalism rumor mill is still churning away at full speed. Some things, like exact hardware specs, have now been officially confirmed. However others, such as the design of the system and what upcoming games will be used to promote its capabilities, are still up for question. Obviously, as one of the most hyped titles of 2017, it was inevitable that rumors of Red Dead Redemption 2 appearing as part of the preview in some capacity would pop-up. True enough, we reported on these allegations recently. However we’re not holding our breaths for some big RDR2/Xbox Scorpio reveal at E3 in June. The primary reasoning here is that Rockstar very rarely appears at mainstream gaming events. They have been known to show up at E3 in the past, but those occasions are rare. Rockstar prefers to not worry about contenderspretenders. Instead of stealing the show, they want the show all for themselves in the first place and therefore they usually do reveal events in their own time, on their own terms. However, there is another snag in this particular rumor – Rockstar has a special deal with one of the two console manufacturers, but it isn’t with Microsoft. Sony announced, soon after the game’s initial reveal, that they have a partnership with Rockstar regarding post-launch content for Red Dead Redemption 2. PlayStation 4 players will get access to DLC in Red Dead Online sooner than Xbox One players, however there won’t be any kind of full content exclusivity, just a delay for those who choose to play on Microsoft’s console. Promotional materials also prominently feature PS4 branding in retail stores. Now, when you have this kind of deal set up with one of the two biggest players in the console industry, you don’t go and break months of media silence at the reveal event of the other. Project Scorpio is Microsoft’s answer to the PS4 Pro, Sony’s own mid-generation upgrade. Many fans ended up being a tad disappointed with the Pro, not considering the measure of improvements to be sufficient. The Scorpio has been the stuff of rumors (and dreams for some) for months now, and Microsoft’s reveal of further info about the upcoming console has already garnered massive media attention. If Rockstar breaks its own “rules” and appears at a major gaming event this year to boost Red Dead Redemption 2’s reach, you can bet that it will be E3. It’s just much more likely that they’ll skip that though, and do their own events. And until such a time comes, we’re still stuck with no new info on the game. The post Xbox Scorpio Specs Revealed, Just Don’t Expect RDR2 At Scorpio E3 Event appeared first on RDR2. Read the full story