Summary
Red Dead Redemption 2is considered to be one of developer Rockstar’s opuses, with its gritty, heart-wrenching narrative and massive American Old West environments putting it in the upper echelons of gaming as an artistically rich medium.Red Dead Redemption 2’s epic yet tragic story is an unflinching look at the search for freedom, the dissolution of bonds of friendship when faced with its hardships, and the clashing of personalities that often come along with them, causing tough sacrifices to be made.
While the first title took the close of the 19th century as its backdrop, the second entry served as a prequel, showingRDR’s protagonist John Marston in his earlier days running with Arthur Morgan, Dutch Van Der Linde, and his gang as they struggled to find themselves and their place in a rapidly changing climate.Red Dead Redemption 2’s tale still resonates years laterfor many players, and its emotional weight and stunningly realized setting continue to enthrall fans. If a third entry materializes down the line and forms the last chapter of a trilogy, there’s a well-known event from around the mid-1800s that could provide the next title with the perfect historical setup.
Though Rockstar has not yet commented officially on any plans or information regarding anotherRed Deadtitle, as it iscurrently developingGrand Theft Auto 6now, it is widely believed that a third will eventually be announced.
Historically agreed to have lasted from around 1848 to 1855, the California gold rush saw sweeping changes impact the region and the country at large with many unforeseen consequences. As the news spread, hundreds of thousands of hopeful prospectors from various cultures aiming to strike it rich created a massive influx of population, and altered the society of the time in major ways.
There were also very few regulations and guidelines, which sometimes made the entire effort a near-lawless free-for-all in terms of staking claims and property disputes. These and other factors could provide an excellentnarrative angle forRed Dead Redemption 3to explore and comment upon in its story and gameplay.
As one of the core themes ofRed Dead Redemptionis about the constantly changing times and circumstances that force the characters to ask themselves what they are willing to do to adapt (or not) with them to survive, the gold rush seems full of opportunities to meaningfully comment on the upheaval that was occurring as well as upon the nature of humanity’s greed and its consequences. Former friends and family falling out of favor and betraying each other for material gain, along with the mental/spiritual toll this may take, were already deeply ingrained inthe essence ofRed Dead Redemption 2’s identityand would fit seamlessly into a game framed around the onset of the rush.
If it’s another prequel,Red Dead Redemption 3could also further explore the pasts of other gang members, perhaps showing that the rush sparked Dutch’s ideology and dream of freedom from governmental and other oversight. Alternatively, the nextRed Dead Redemptioncould feature a completely new protagonist, but one who keeps closely with established themes and possibly has ties to the latter games.
If a thirdRDRentry seeks to blaze a new trail, it has a chance to do so by heading into the California gold rush era. This would leave it rich with possibilities for Rockstar to put its signature spin on the realistic/historical elements via characters and plot to deliver another emotionally and mechanically engaging effort in the acclaimed Western series.
