Thanks to its fully realized world and emotive single-player story, it’s safe to say Red Dead Redemption 2 will be remembered as one of the PS4 and Xbox One-era’s finest experiences. Rockstar Games has once again proven why it's held in such high regard by the gaming industry, and why millions of fans are now clamoring for Grand Theft Auto 6. Aside from Arthur Morgan’s story, however, the publisher’s Red Dead Online hasn’t concluded quite so well.
In contrast to GTA: Online, which has received new content regularly since 2013, Red Dead Redemption 2’s multiplayer is already ceasing updates. Some players have aleady held funerals to commemorate Red Dead Online and its premature passing. With so many hanging up their cowboy boots and jodhpurs, now is the perfect time to look back at what Rockstar Games has added into the experience over the years.
The Gun Rush Update
When Red Dead Online launched in beta form in late 2018, its multiplayer modes fared better performance-wise compared to games like Grand Theft Online. Thanks to Rockstar’s decision to stagger its launch over several days, most players got the sense that the publisher had a clear roadmap in mind. While it should be pointed out that it’s often released patches that contain small activities, and has promoted bonus events, most would argue that substantial updates have been few and far between.
To Rockstar Games’ credit, Red Dead Online’s first major update landed shortly after the beta had finished rolling out. The Gun Rush update released on January 10, 2019. Despite being heavily geared towards bug fixes and tweaks, one brand-new mode was thrown into the mix, inspired by battle royales like Apex Legends. Groups of 32 players had to survive in a constantly shrinking corner of the open-world. Whichever outlaw endured until the end was declared the winner.
Red Dead Online Beta Update
Just over a month after the Gun Rush update was released, Rockstar Games treated Red Dead Online’s player-base to another major content drop. Referred to simply as the Beta Update, on February 26 several enhancements were made to the game’s open-world sandbox. While the update lacked quantity, it did feature some impressive variety. New weapons, clothing, and emotes were all thrown into the mix alongside new Daily Challenges and Target Races.
The May 2019 Update
When Red Dead Online’s Beta era ended, it got one of its more substantial updates. New clothes, weapons, and challenges were all welcomed by fans, alongside the ability to play Poker in cities like Blackwater and Saint Denis. Its new Overrun Showdown Mode, which tasked players with capturing land, also proved to be a fun distraction from the other modes. Being able to explore Red Dead Online’s open-world in an offensive or defensive stance, has also allowed players to express themselves more freely ever since. By far the most celebrated addition was the new story content, which saw players rub shoulders with characters like Jessica LeClerk and Samson Finch.
Frontier Pursuits Update
Released on September 10, 2019, the Frontier Pursuits patch and accompanying content drop introduced a raft of tweaks and revisions, in addition to three new horse breeds. More importantly though, it also brought some fundamental changes to the title’s gameplay loops. For the first time, Red Dead Online players could build their outlaw around three distinct Roles. Referred to as the Bounty Hunter, Collector, and Trader, each allowed fans to participate in unique challenges, activities, and progression paths. Provided they were willing to part with a substantial amount of in-game Gold, they could then work towards unlocking special class-based rewards.
It should be pointed out that alongside the Frontier Pursuits update, Red Dead Online also received two other curious additions. It’s no coincidence that the game’s first Outlaw Pass, and The Wheeler, Rawson & Co. Club, were introduced at that time too. Both enabled players to progressively unlock extra rewards, while completing specific tasks and challenges.
The Moonshiners Update
December 2019's Moonshiners update embodied most of the trends that players had experienced throughout the year. Players unlocked access to an assortment of weapons, challenges, and outfit options, and a new Outlaw Pass. Taking a page out of its Grand Theft Auto playbook, Rockstar Games gave players the ability to purchase property within the multiplayer crime-simulator as well. As the headline of the patch suggested, the Moonshiner Role was also thrown into the mix when the update went live. Provided players had progressed far enough down the Trader class’ unique story, they were given the option to turn their outlaw into a specialist. From the purchasable Moonshining Shack, they could manage their illegal operation throughout the Wild West while undertaking special story missions.
The Naturalist Update
Rockstar Games’ recent decision to end its support for Red Dead Online won’t have come as a surprise to some fans. Thanks to updates like The Naturalist, which landed in July 2020, the writing has arguably been on the wall for quite some time. Aside from the usual cavalcade of weapon and cosmetic debutantes, the titular class Role was the only major addition to the cowboy-themed party.
As far as Red Dead Online’s outlaw Roles go though, Rockstar deserves credit for making the Naturalist exciting to play. Even though the Naturalist's missions took inspiration from the single-player mode’s hunting mechanics and features, including Legendary Animals, it did receive access to some unique abilities. Through the Naturalist's Vitalism Studies for example, players could assume control of the game’s animals, similarly to GTA 5.
The Bounty Hunter Update
In contrast to the updates that defined Red Dead Online’s 2019, there were only two major content refreshes during its third year on the market. After introducing the aforementioned Naturalist, Rockstar Games rounded out 2020 with another patch in December, known as the Bounty Hunter update. Beyond kicking off Outlaw Pass number 4, this small update added 10 prestigious bounty levels to the Bounty Hunter Role’s progression, alongside several new missions.
The Blood Money Update
After making the community wait a year for confirmation, it’s been announced that the Blood Money update that launched in July 2021 is the last major new content the game will receive. To Rockstar’s credit, Red Dead Online’s final major update added the type of content most fans had been hoping to see years earlier. New missions centered around Guido Martelli, one of Lemoyne’s under-bosses, subsequently introduced new Crimes and Opportunities to the game’s Free Roam mode, sating long-standing fan demand.
Beyond giving Red Dead Online’s open-world a much-needed content injection, the Blood Money update was also rounded out with the kind of features fans had come to expect. The Quick Draw Club specifically introduced four season passes, which were filled with new and returning items. Most of these, such as an outfit inspired by Dutch, were heavily inspired by Red Dead Redemption 2 more successful single-player mode.
Red Dead Online is available on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
