Red Dead Redemption 2 is a critically-acclaimed game, with nearly every aspect of the game praised by reviewers. The characters, core narrative, combat, gameplay, open world, and more all make this game worth playing, and much like Grand Theft Auto 5, it came with an online counterpart. Red Dead Online is successful, but nearly as much as GTA Online.
As such, Rockstar hopefully recognizes that to get the most out of Red Dead Redemption 2, it needs to look at its single player content. Especially with the PS5 and Xbox Series X on the horizon, there's a chance for the game to make more revenue (even if it supports Xbox Series X's Smart Delivery). RDR2 hasn't confirmed a next-gen port yet, but there's enough evidence to suggest it is almost guaranteed.
Red Dead Redemption 1 vs. Red Dead Redemption 2
First, it's worth looking at the launches of both games and where Rockstar's head was at the time. The first game received a ton of characters and items for its multiplayer component through DLC, but it also released Undead Nightmare. At the time, this was not just one the best DLC for the game, but it was often hailed as one of the best additions to any game in some time. It was standalone, meaning players did not have to have the first game, but it also added more to the story albeit in a completely new direction.
Fans were thrilled and hoped for the same come Red Dead Redemption 2, yet the game has been out for almost 2 years, and there's been no Undead Nightmare 2. The developer confirmed it wasn't in the work some time back, but it had to think about it, if only due to the legacy of the first one. Yet, between the two games, Grand Theft Auto 5 happened. Many may recall that single-player DLC was originally planned for it, but then GTA Online became bigger than anyone thought possible. GTA 5 continues to top sales charts and blow nearly everything else out of the water, and while the popularity of the single player is one portion of that, its online component is even bigger.
It was this success Rockstar Games tried to replicate with RDO, and while the verdict is still out as GTA Online was a slow build as well, it doesn't seem likely to follow the same path. What this means is that forgoing the single-player DLC possibilities may not have been the wisest decision.
Red Dead Redemption 2 on PS5, Xbox Series X
However, it is a decision that can be corrected. Rockstar Games has already made its next-gen intentions clear by announced ports of GTA 5 and GTA Online to the PS5 and Xbox Series X, but it's unlikely it'll stop there. Red Dead Redemption 2 will likely come to the next-gen consoles, and while it'll like be enhanced some what, the question becomes: what could bring players back to it?
Doubling down on Red Dead Online may just work and introducing a ton of new content and more to it may help it finds its feet on next-gen platforms, but just as how some remasters comes with bonus content, cut content, and more, Rockstar Games announcing a RDR2 port with brand new single-player DLC is not outside of reason. Doing so, whether that's the fabled Undead Nightmare 2 or some other type of single-player content, will definitely help it land and not be a real gamble.
Time will only tell what Rockstar's intentions are for the future of RDR2, but with all of the major story components that can be developed upon, it seems fair to see that this isn't the last ride (even if it is, technically, for quite some time).
Red Dead Redemption 2 is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
