Is the multiplayer of Red Dead Redemption 2, Red Dead Online, worth it now in 2020? We take a look at the changes and potential of RDO.
The beta of Red Dead Online started in late November 2018, about a month after the release of Red Dead Redemption 2. Initial criticism of the online mode focused on a lack of content, few objectives, and the absence of entertainment through mini-games like poker.
Now, at the end of February 2020, we look at whether the online mode has become more worthwhile. What has Rockstar Games changed?
These new contents are offered in Red Dead Online 2020
The most important update: One of the biggest and probably also the most significant updates for Red Dead Online, Frontier Pursuits, was released on September 10, 2019.
This update focused on the three roles that players can take on as bounty hunters, traders, or collectors. Once the roles are unlocked in the game, there is plenty to do.
- Bounty hunters track down criminals on the map of Red Dead Online. You find out the key details through wanted posters and then go on the hunt
- Traders produce valuable goods and then sell them. They obtain animal carcasses, pelts, or other parts from animals.
- Collectors keep an eye out for valuable treasures during their travels in the online world. Each week there is a new list of collectible items that can later be sold individually or as a set to Madam Nazar.
Players who had little to do in the online world received a lot of variability in gameplay through these three roles. Each role offers a ranking system that gradually unlocks cool features and items. So motivation is also provided.
More story in Red Dead Online: The lack of story was often criticized in the early days of Red Dead Online. In December 2019, Rockstar Games continued to introduce new roles with the moonshiners, simultaneously bringing more story into the game.
Maggie Fike is a notorious moonshiner with whom you play in story missions. This can be done solo or in co-op. After meeting a few prerequisites, you can open your own bar in Red Dead Online and sell your moonshine there.
With these four new roles, Red Dead Online now offers much more variety and objectives that make the online game more interesting. And thus, they also tackled the story content.
But smaller updates, such as the poker mini-game or new game modes help to make Red Dead Online more interesting.
“More loving” interactions
That was the problem: What bothered players at the beginning of the online mode of Red Dead Redemption 2, were mainly the griefers. They would scout you from kilometers away on the map, follow your path, and then gun you down. After they caught you once, particularly nasty players would take you out again and again.
What has changed: In several patches, developer Rockstar Games took action against these negative cowboys and gave those who didn’t want to deal with the troublemakers options to avoid them.
Since then, the situation with griefers has calmed down significantly. Even the announcement of anti-griefer measures was well received.
New Motivation – The Outlaw Pass
What is it? Nowadays, a battle pass is an essential part of live games. In Red Dead Online, this item is called “Outlaw Pass” and unlocks exciting things for you at various levels following the usual principle.
The Outlaw Pass #2 has 100 ranks and unlocks the following upon reaching:
- 40 gold bars (also the price of the pass)
- role XP boosts
- horse masks
- camp dog
- map
- free fast travel coupons
- horse care packages
- and more
Just by leveling up in the pass, you’re earning further content for your cowboy and your horse.
Conclusion – Will it be as good as GTA Online?
For whom is it worth it now? A lot has improved for the better since the release of Red Dead Online. You now have much more content to keep you engaged in online sessions. The role system has brought a fresh breeze to the Wild West, which was desperately needed.
If you stopped playing Red Dead Online early, you should definitely try the new content now.
Trying out Red Dead Online is worth it for you in 2020 if you like the role of bounty hunter, collector, trader, or moonshiner. Even if it was just the lack of content that frustrated you at the beginning of Red Dead Online.
For whom is it not worth it now? To make a lot of money with the new roles, you still have to put in a certain level of grind. If you don’t like the grinding concept at all, you won’t be happy in Red Dead Online either. However, grinding is now less monotonous than at the beginning. Red Dead Online is still far from perfect.
Will it be as good as GTA Online? The comparison with the online mode of Grand Theft Auto V is tough, as GTA 5 Online has been filled with content for much longer.
Nevertheless, Rockstar Games has created a good foundation that is important for future content. More new roles, weapons, businesses, and especially story should keep players entertained.
From GTA Online, we know that Rockstar listens to player feedback. In Los Santos, the big casino opened in the summer of 2019, and the matching heist followed the winter after.
That Red Dead Online has potential is also shown by player numbers. In January 2020 there was a record number of players. The foundation is now laid, and one can already have a lot of fun.
If Rockstar Games continues to listen to player feedback and regularly expands the online mode, RDO could connect to the success of GTAO. However, there is still a long way to go before it becomes as good as GTA Online.
A problem that chased players away from Red Dead Online was the lack of animals. But there is good news:
