Why are sessions empty? (XBOX ONE)

[FaTaL]

Um, since the patch,  any session i join only has 5 - 10 players tops.   Even if i turn off social matchmaking in Online options.....

 

[Kean_1]

Seems to me most would be happy with that but I don't know. This is the first I've heard of it.  

Which patch are you talking about?  There have been a couple since the last content drop.

[Enoch]

I’m on PS4 and I’ve noticed it as well. I kept finding random events being spawned and I was like, “Whoa! This is awesome!” I checked the player count on my session and there were only three other people. This started last week for me. Since then I haven’t had more than 5 players in a session. And I love it lol

[Kean_1]

.......btw @FaTaL.  Please don't post multiple threads on the same topic.  I'm closing your other thread. 

[Vendetta]

2 hours ago, FaTaL said:

Um, since the patch,  any session i join only has 5 - 10 players tops.   Even if i turn off social matchmaking in Online options.....

 

I've noticed this on PC as well. I'm not complaining. With me grinding to get my character established, I prefer to not deal with griefers.

[James Hickok_1837]

Hah ! 

The problem began a week ago (im on XBOX) and i was amazed that there was no posts about it on the forum. Yes sessions are almost "solo lobby". Sometimes 10 ppl, sometimes 5 ppl and mostly 1-3 ppl. Seems like the community likes it this way bcoz i havent heard the whining. I wanted to make a post about that but i was away from work and enjoying myself. Besides i dont like to post stuff using phone. 

Personally i dont like it. Sure there are a lot of events now and i managed to kill 7 or more legendary animals but there are no players to interact with. It may be cool for a few hours but no longer. 

I dont have any words left to describe the incompetence of R* regarding RDR Online. Its a total mess from the start without any logic and vision of a good online game. I wonder how they even made the Story Mode - its like somebody else created the game and gave it for them to run. 

PLEASE FIX UR SHIET R* !!!!!!!!

[Enoch]

3 hours ago, James Hickok_1837 said:

I dont have any words left to describe the incompetence of R* regarding RDR Online. Its a total mess from the start without any logic and vision of a good online game. I wonder how they even made the Story Mode - its like somebody else created the game and gave it for them to run. 

PLEASE FIX UR SHIET R* !!!!!!!!

If I was a betting man, I’d say most of R* development time was spent on the single player and most of RDO was put on the back burner until after release. There’s a part of me that wishes they had waited another year so RDO could have released on more solid ground. The only consolation I take from it is that I’ve only ever dropped $5 of real world money on the game and I’ve experienced everything the game has to offer. 

[FaTaL]

21 hours ago, Kean_1 said:

Seems to me most would be happy with that but I don't know. This is the first I've heard of it.  

Which patch are you talking about?  There have been a couple since the last content drop.

 

I started playing RDR2 online again after the last content update in August.    I don’t like empty sessions.  It’s a story mode with continuous new content.  If I wanted that,  I’d play Story Mode.    Free roam with full sessions makes game more alive (and no, I’m not a douche bag free roam PVPer).

[Kean_1]

2 hours ago, Enoch said:

If I was a betting man, I’d say most of R* development time was spent on the single player and most of RDO was put on the back burner until after release. There’s a part of me that wishes they had waited another year so RDO could have released on more solid ground. The only consolation I take from it is that I’ve only ever dropped $5 of real world money on the game and I’ve experienced everything the game has to offer. 

No need to bet as they made that pretty clear when RDR2 released.  Personal complaints/opinions aside, when RDO was rolled out it was done so as a beta and it was clear from the beginning that it would be a work in progress for a while.  It was months after that the beta label was finally dropped albeit without any fanfare.  

 

[Enoch]

Hopefully our recent seven month lull in content has allowed them to catch up and we’ll start seeing more regular drops of content. If the leaks turn out to be true, that looks like it’s the case. 

[Kean_1]

1 minute ago, Enoch said:

Hopefully our recent seven month lull in content has allowed them to catch up and we’ll start seeing more regular drops of content. If the leaks turn out to be true, that looks like it’s the case. 

Actually, I haven't played in many months myself but if this limited player count is really a widespread "issue", I might just consider getting back into it this week.

[Enoch]

Try it out. I was on my way to Nazar just north of Saint Denis yesterday and I had two moonshine events and a poachers event spawn before I ever got to her lol

Edited September 2, 2020 by Enoch

[Enoch]

2 hours ago, FaTaL said:

 

I started playing RDR2 online again after the last content update in August.    I don’t like empty sessions.  It’s a story mode with continuous new content.  If I wanted that,  I’d play Story Mode.    Free roam with full sessions makes game more alive (and no, I’m not a douche bag free roam PVPer).

To me, other random players don’t make the game feel more alive. It’s the NPCs and random events. Most players I come across are either killing every NPC in town or are killing each other. I ran across a trio of players the other day and I tried to set up a boxing match in the mud in the Valentine pig pins. These players were instead content with throwing dynamite at each other outside the post office 😕

Edited September 2, 2020 by Enoch

[Enoch]

My session today 😂

[LOFTYKAY]

My take on this FWIW. After completing storyline many moons ago myself and friends got addicted to the magnificent Gun Rush, no other feature comes close! They then took it off and it resurfaced sporadically and mostly as free aim which I dont like. I contented myself to what u my term Griefing. I disrupt supply journeys, attack any random  player or posse and test my skills against them. If they want to fight, great. If they don't they parley and move on. The scraps I get involved in can last over an hour and are brilliant fun for all who participate. This is a SKILL element! Chasing a lame croc to get a sample is BORING! Now that the sessions are seriously undermanned I cant find any players to interact with! I keep firing up my PS4 in the hope that it's been resolved but alas still no players. Ready to quit to be honest and this game is the only one I play and 6 he non stop sessions were normal for me I.e. it's a big part of my life! Thanks for listening 

[HuDawg]

On 9/2/2020 at 4:39 AM, James Hickok_1837 said:

Hah ! 

The problem began a week ago (im on XBOX) and i was amazed that there was no posts about it on the forum. Yes sessions are almost "solo lobby". Sometimes 10 ppl, sometimes 5 ppl and mostly 1-3 ppl. Seems like the community likes it this way bcoz i havent heard the whining.

Ya.. the reason people are not complaining is because they like it.  The game does work better with less players.

 

[Vendetta]

On 9/1/2020 at 10:13 AM, FaTaL said:

Um, since the patch,  any session i join only has 5 - 10 players tops.   Even if i turn off social matchmaking in Online options.....

 

Yep, the game runs so much better and I don't have to worry about griefers. RockStar, leave it alone. 

Edited September 3, 2020 by Vendetta

[LOFTYKAY]

Yawn!!!

[James Hickok_1837]

22 hours ago, HuDawg said:

Ya.. the reason people are not complaining is because they like it.  The game does work better with less players.

 

I agree that the game works better hands down. It should work that way with full lobby but somehow R* can't deliver. 

ATM we are about 3 months before next gen consoles are out and maybe, i repeat, maybe after remaking of RDR2 (im almost sure they will release "Remastered for XBOX X series") the game will work better. Similar to GTA transition for next gen consoles. 

Time will tell. 

[Kean_1]

On 9/2/2020 at 10:06 PM, LOFTYKAY said:

I contented myself to what u my term Griefing. I disrupt supply journeys, attack any random  player or posse and test my skills against them. 

Even R* considers the latter part of that statement "griefing".   If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, well...... 

....but yeah, I will admit that it brings me some joy if griefers are discouraged by any part of this game including this new population change/issue.   I have no problem with interaction but not when it involves random folks running around disrupting and killing other players for no reason other than for their own amusement.   

....so when you say you are are bored now because it makes it more difficult for you to grief others, yeah......  

 

4 hours ago, James Hickok_1837 said:

I agree that the game works better hands down. It should work that way with full lobby but somehow R* can't deliver. 

ATM we are about 3 months before next gen consoles are out and maybe, i repeat, maybe after remaking of RDR2 (im almost sure they will release "Remastered for XBOX X series") the game will work better. Similar to GTA transition for next gen consoles. 

Time will tell. 

It may not even require a remake.  Many games will be playable on the next gen consoles when they come out regardless.  A remaster may be in the cards but these games may already be able to take advantage of simply running on the next gen hardware.  

Either way, I have a feeling the drastic population change may be short lived.  If this is intentional, they could be testing some things out.  Unfortunately, R* isn't one of those developers who communicates well regarding such things so who knows.

[LOFTYKAY]

LMAO let's have a game where you dont see a single online player and merrily sedate cumbersome buffalo, hogs and crocs or calmly drive a wagon unchallenged for 15 bucks. God forbid you get ambushed and try to retaliate to get the juices flowing. Have you played Donkey Kong? It's a lovely game

[Kean_1]

......you completely missed all of my points but I expected that.  It's obvious you have a narrow view of RDO's content, activities and what others are talking about. 

The only reason I even mentioned any of that was because of your offhand "yawn" remark.  You thanked folks for listening to you and then "yawned" when they shared their opinions.  

Anyhow, glad you love old games like DK.  I appreciate the suggestion but I had my fill of the game from my frequent visits to the local arcades back in the 80s.  

[Enoch]

@Kean_1, don’t you get it? RDO isn’t about the Wild West. It’s about pissing off as many people as you can! The only reason to play is because there’s a massive world that exists solely to harass other people who are actually enjoying the side activities. Owning noobs is the only worthwhile objective. And you thought that’s what PVP was for. Psh. 

[LOFTYKAY]

It's a game fella...its a GAME!! If I don't like the way it's gone from amazing to ******* boring then I'll sack it off. My incursion into this forum was to try and understand why its changed direction and whether people feel the same way I do. My 'yawn' is frustration vented against the boring gamers in this world. I'll say that again for effect...the BORING gamers in this world. It's my opinion, no-one gets hurt and pardon the pun no-one dies. Good luck with the Moonshine deliveries 😉

[Enoch]

People like you are the reason I stay in defensive even at rank 219. If you want to harass other players, go to PVP. But I don’t think RDO is your speed. Maybe you can find enjoyment in one of the innumerable twitch shooters out there. Mindlessly killing other players seems to be your calling. 
 

Me? I’ll keep being boring and enjoying my time in the Old West... wagon deliveries and all! 😎

[Kean_1]

4 minutes ago, Enoch said:

@Kean_1, don’t you get it? RDO isn’t about the Wild West. It’s about pissing off as many people as you can! The only reason to play is because there’s a massive world that exists solely to harass other people who are actually enjoying the side activities. Owning noobs is the only worthwhile objective. And you thought that’s what PVP was for. Psh. 

Yeah, I'll never get the allure to ruin others experiences and fun like that.  

Personally, I enjoy PvP games and play them with friends.  In fact, I have weekly sessions playing hardcore in MW with my PS4 buddies (for lack of better tactical shooters out right now on PS4).  .....but I like co-op games even more and sometimes, PvEvP (but only depending on how they are implemented).  The latter is essentially what RDO.  .....and you're talking to a guy that also enjoys games like DayZ which has no rules but there's also no targeting, ability enhancements, bullet sponge mechanics, etc.

RDO has plenty of opportunities to fight other players in the PvP mode like you mentioned but a big part of that are also cargo deliveries and various missions / activities.  I have absolutely no problem with that and even enjoy those interactions.  The player selecting the activity / mission is fully aware they can be targeted and their task is made public to everyone in the session.  There is also a reward for the effort.  With griefing, there is none other than some sort of odd gratification for pissing others off I guess, but I really have no interest in delving into their thought process so....

[HuDawg]

On 9/3/2020 at 1:06 AM, LOFTYKAY said:

My take on this FWIW. After completing storyline many moons ago myself and friends got addicted to the magnificent Gun Rush, no other feature comes close! They then took it off and it resurfaced sporadically and mostly as free aim which I dont like. I contented myself to what u my term Griefing. I disrupt supply journeys, attack any random  player or posse and test my skills against them. If they want to fight, great. If they don't they parley and move on.

It boggles my mind that you claim you want to test your 'skills' yet avoid 'free aim'.

Sounds more like you enjoy shooting friendlies with auto aim and then playing peg boy.

[LOFTYKAY]

Hey that post very nearly made sense from your band wagon boy lmao 

[Enoch]

12 minutes ago, Kean_1 said:

Yeah, I'll never get the allure to ruin others experiences and fun like that.  

Personally, I enjoy PvP games and play them with friends.  In fact, I have weekly sessions playing hardcore in MW with my PS4 buddies (for lack of better tactical shooters out right now on PS4).  .....but I like co-op games even more and sometimes, PvEvP (but only depending on how they are implemented).  The latter is essentially what RDO.  .....and you're talking to a guy that also enjoys games like DayZ which has no rules but there's also no targeting, ability enhancements, bullet sponge mechanics, etc.

RDO has plenty of opportunities to fight other players in the PvP mode like you mentioned but a big part of that are also cargo deliveries and various missions / activities.  I have absolutely no problem with that and even enjoy those interactions.  The player selecting the activity / mission is fully aware they can be targeted and their task is made public to everyone in the session.  There is also a reward for the effort.  With griefing, there is none other than some sort of odd gratification for pissing others off I guess, but I really have no interest in delving into their thought process so....

I enjoy PVP too. But there’s a clear line in the sand about when conflict is appropriate and when it isn’t. There’s also part of me that thinks explosive rounds should be removed and free aim against players should be the standard in free roam. 

[Kean_1]

2 minutes ago, Enoch said:

I enjoy PVP too. But there’s a clear line in the sand about when conflict is appropriate and when it isn’t. There’s also part of me that thinks explosive rounds should be removed and free aim against players should be the standard in free roam. 

I'd be ok with free aim as long as it's just against other players.  If folks also want that experience with NPC's it could be tied into the existing option(s) in the menu.  .....but you're alienating a lot of players out there who prefer auto aim.  

Personally, I find the combat in games like GTA and RDR kind of jenky.  It's one of the few that I leave AA on.  If it were more refined in this resepct I might have a different opinion on it.

I think FA lobbies would be the best bet like HuDawg has always wanted but R* is really against anything but Free Roam. 

Maybe they could implement FA like they do with the Defensive Mode.  ....perhaps create a new mode that isn't defensive but will flip on FA for anyone targeting you and if you try to target anyone else (or vice versa).