After long windows of time with little support, Red Dead Online has seen some noteworthy updates as of late. One of the latest features added to the game allows players to transform into adorable rabbits, but this Red Dead Online transformation comes with a steep price tag attached.
Using the new rabbit transformation in Red Dead Online costs players 8 gold, or around $2 USD if buying a pack of 25 gold. This price would not be too outrageous if it allowed for unlimited rabbit transformations, but as players quickly discovered, that is anything but the case. In a post discussing the issue, reddit user cmd_1211 vented his frustration regarding the costly system, and many players clearly agree based on the post’s comment section.
While some players are reaching impressive 500-day streaks in Red Dead Online, others are put off by the game’s microtransactions. In the post, cmd_1221 asks if Rockstar really “needs to nickel and dime you for everything,” with cmd going on to say that they are surprised that Rockstar does not “charge gold for the air you breathe” within Red Dead Online. The reddit user fears this is just the tip of the iceberg for the charges to use Online's features, stating that many more animals will likely come to the game with the same price tag.
With Rockstar recently removing a glitchy new feature that players loved, more player frustration is not a good thing for the developer to be dealing with. One user responded to cmd_1221’s post, both agreeing with the cost being too high and shedding light on why exactly the purchase is so bad. The user, named OilyDee, states that “if the rabbit transformation had an unlimited area I’d pay,” which is a clear indication of the real problem with the microtransaction.
OilyDee continues, sharing how the rabbit transformation only comes with “5 plants, a timer, and a restricted area”. Players only get a few uses of the transformation, and those uses are wildly limited. With a rabbit transformation only leading to five minutes of fun and only being usable in certain areas, it is hard not to be disappointed with the current system that is in place. With an Undead Nightmare expansion possibly coming to Red Dead Online, and likely coming with paid access to its features, charging for something as small as an animal transformation seems to be a bit steep.
Players may be better off ignoring the transformation feature entirely if they find the limitations of the purchase off-putting. Though many players will not be able to afford the option to become a rabbit, at least they will be able to hunt some legendary bears in Red Dead Online.
Red Dead Online is available now on PC, PlayStation 4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
