While nothing has been officially announced yet, Rockstar likely has plans for the next chapter of the Red Dead Redemption series. Just like with the first one, Red Dead Redemption 2 was a massive success for the studio, even if the multiplayer was cut short. And although the studio has put all its focus on delivering GTA 6, Wild West fans are eagerly anticipating what comes next for the Van Der Linde gang. But, even if it might be fun to continue exploring those characters, Red Dead Redemption may want to break away from Rockstar tradition a bit.
Like almost every single franchise before it, the Red Dead Redemption duology has numbered each entry. There is really nothing wrong with doing that, as it tells players the order they released and how the studio wanted the story to be told. However, in this next chapter, Rockstar might want to do things a bit differently. Instead of following standard naming conventions, it may want to consider naming them after years instead, and possibly abandon the Marston-centric adventures in the process.
One Possible Red Dead Redemption 3 Protagonist Could Double Down on a John and Arthur Feature
Red Dead Redemption 3 may not be officially revealed, but if it does happen, the Van Der Linde Gang’s father figure could carry the story.
The Red Dead Redemption Series May Be Due for a Naming Convention Change
Red Dead Redemption Needs to Go Back to Go Forward
Exploring the Wild West of Red Dead Redemption has been thrilling so far, but the franchise may be running out of time to do so. No one quite knows the exact date that the era ended, however, many believe that it was somewhere between 1900 and 1916. And since Red Dead Redemption is set in 1911, the series does not have much further to go.
Because of that, if Red Dead Redemption wants to continue exploring the Wild West, then it needs to go back in time. Red Dead Redemption 2 may have done just that, but it too still happens at the tail-end of the era. Plus, it explored one of the more interesting times for RDR‘s Van der Linde gang, with there not seemingly being a perfect follow-up story to tell. So, instead of forging ahead with the current series trajectory, it may be time to shake things up a bit.
The Red Dead Series is No Stranger to Blazing Its Own Trail
There seem to be two great ways for Red Dead Redemption to continue past the second one. For starters, it might be time for it to move on from the popular John Marston-centric tales it has been telling. Players have now gotten to see the Van der Linde gang at two pivotal moments in their story, which means it feels like the perfect time to give it a rest. The Wild West is far greater than that gang and Rockstar should show players that. If GTA can follow new characters with each entry, there is seemingly no reason this series cannot do the same.
Along with that, the next chapter should not follow the classic naming conventions that franchises have used for years. If the studio is moving on from Marston, then it needs to make that pretty apparent in the name. Because it feels like it is committed to the Red Dead Redemption banner, the best way to do that would be by replacing the number with the year.
Players could fight their way through the beginning of the era in
Red Dead Redemption
1870
, witness a Billy the Kid-inspired adventure in
Red Dead Redemption
1881
, or simply explore the wild open plains in
Red Dead Redemption
1890
, for example.
This would not be the first time that this series did not follow Rockstar’s traditional model, as the very first game was under a similar yet distinct name—Red Dead Revolver. There is a chance that it will just replace “Redemption” with a new word, not unlike the Matrix movies. But if it does not, then it should definitely consider naming it after the years it takes place. And if it moved on from Marston in the process, it could give the studio virtually limitless flexibility to tell whatever Wild West story it wishes.
Red Dead Redemption 2
RDR2 is a Western-themed action/adventure game by Rockstar. It’s a prequel to Red Dead Redemption and stars Arthur Morgan, an outlaw who adventures across the land avoiding and fighting other outlaws, the government, and anyone else looking to cause trouble.
- Released
- October 26, 2018
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Engine
- RAGE
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- How Long To Beat
- 50 Hours
- Metascore
- 97