Rumors of aRed Dead Redemptionremaster have started circling in recent months after Rockstar Games' parent company Take-Two Interactive announced it has a multitude of remasters and ports currently in development. Following the success ofRed Dead Redemption 2and Rockstar’s apparent disinterest in releasing single-player DLC, many fans are hopeful a remaster ofRed Dead Redemptionwill be coming sometime soon.
Red Dead Redemptionquickly found a fanbase that enjoyed the game’s immersive world, engaging story, and deep characters. Its legacy was further solidified by the game’sUndead NightmareDLC and online multiplayer mode. Despite the success ofRed Dead Redemption 2there are large parts of the firstRed Dead Redemptionthat are unique, especially in its DLC. However, a recent report claims thatRed Dead Redemption Remasterwill only happenbased on the success of a leakedGrand Theft Auto Trilogy Remastered. If the remaster does release, it may very well not include the game’s multiplayer mode.
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Red Dead Redemption’s original multiplayer largely set the formula forGrand Theft Auto OnlineandRed Dead Online. The mode drops players into an online version of the game’s full map in free roam. While on the map, players can undertake missions, team up with other players, go hunting, gamble, or get in gunfights. While the online mode did not find a lasting fanbase likeRed Dead Online, the originalRed Dead Redemptiondid include some activities that are absentinRed Dead Redemption 2, including in the online mode.
While playing multiplayer inRed Dead Redemption,players rank up their characters to unlock new customization items, mounts, and weapons. This is very different from modern Rockstar online modes by being more focused on players participating in organized matches and game modes to level up rather than earning money and spending it on the new equipment. The game also received multiple DLC packs, some of which were free and some of which were only available to players who purchased them. The packs focused on giving players new equipment, mounts, and new activities for players to complete. The mode managed to capture the spirit of the base game, while also maintainingRed Dead Redemption’s impressive graphics.
IfRed Dead Redemption Remasterdoes end up releasing, it could include the original game’s multiplayer mode, but there are some good indicators that it won’t. One of these is that other remasters of games from the same time period in recent years have skipped including their associated multiplayer modes completely. This includes games that heavily relied on their multiplayer modes, likeCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which just remastered the game’s campaign.
A similar approach was also taken by theUnchartedseries, which did not include the multiplayer modes for itsNathan Drake Collectionthat remastered the first three games in the series. With theRed Dead Redemptionremaster making a lot of sense, it does seem likely to happen, but it could very well opt to focus its efforts on remastering the single-player content and leave multiplayer abandoned.
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Another reason Rockstar Games might opt for this approach is because of the ongoing success ofRed Dead Online. The studio’s games likeGrand Theft Auto OnlineandRed Dead Onlinehave been so popular that the studio supports them with frequent updates in lieu of single-player DLCs that add onto the base games.Red Dead Onlineupdates have slowed down recently, but the studio has made it very clear that it still aims to continue adding to the game for its players. With how popular the online mode is, releasing a remastered game with a competing online mode simply wouldn’t make sense for Rockstar Games, as it would very likely split the userbase and the two modes would cannibalize one another.
Even ifRed Dead Redemption Remasterdoesn’t include its own multiplayer mode, its release could still bring some new content for fans of the series. The easiest way for it to do this would be to bring some of the game’s content toRed Dead Online, even if it is only for players who purchase the new game. These additions could be huge, with new characters, equipment, and customization items all taken fromRed Dead Redemption Remaster. It could also present a perfect opportunity forRed Dead Onlineto introduce a Mexico DLCthat many of its players have been calling for.
The new content could also incorporateRed Dead Redemption’s classicUndead NightmareDLC by adding some more missions and content to the game revolving around players fending off armies of the undead.Red Dead Onlinedid feature a limited-time modethat included zombies, butUndead Nightmarecould bring significantly more permanent content to the online game. It could even act as a special long-term event that shapes the game’s entire world for a period of time, similar to the large-scale events found in live-service games likeDestiny 2orApex Legends. Doing so would help breathe some new life intoRed Dead Onlinewhile also giving players something exciting to talk about and interact with.
IfRed Dead Redemption Remasterdoes end up releasing there is no way of knowing whether or not the game’s multiplayer will be included. However, its inclusion inRed Dead Onlinewould present a massive opportunity for Rockstar Games to mix up the game and possibly attract some new players along the way. Hopefully, players will get some news about the remaster soon if it does exist.
Red Dead Redemption Remasteris rumored to be in development.
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