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Red Dead Online support slowing as Rockstar shifts to GTA 6

By Matthew Liebl

PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 09: In this photo illustration a gamer plays the video game 'Red Dead Redemption 2' (RDR 2) on January 9, 2019 in Paris, France. Red Dead Redemption 2, typographed Red Dead Redemption II is an action-adventure and multi-platform western video game developed by Rockstar Studios and published by Rockstar Games released on October 26, 2018. In the UK, 'Red Dead Redemption 2' has been number 1 in sales for the past two weeks and has been designated the 2018 Christmas Game. (Photo Illustration by Chesnot/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 09: In this photo illustration a gamer plays the video game 'Red Dead Redemption 2' (RDR 2) on January 9, 2019 in Paris, France. Red Dead Redemption 2, typographed Red Dead Redemption II is an action-adventure and multi-platform western video game developed by Rockstar Studios and published by Rockstar Games released on October 26, 2018. In the UK, 'Red Dead Redemption 2' has been number 1 in sales for the past two weeks and has been designated the 2018 Christmas Game. (Photo Illustration by Chesnot/Getty Images) /
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Earlier this year, Rockstar Games confirmed that development on the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto franchise is underway. While it will likely be some time until we see anything substantial regarding the highly anticipated game, the developer is starting to shift more and more resources towards the project. Unfortunately, this has come with a bit of a cost, and that cost is support for Red Dead Online, the online multiplayer component of Red Dead Redemption 2.

While many players have noticed a lack of major updates for Red Dead Online in recent months, Rockstar officially confirmed that the development of GTA 6 has resulted in changes to how they support Red Dead Online. In a recent blog post, Rockstar wrote:

"Over the past few years, we have been steadily moving more development resources towards the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series — understanding more than ever the need to exceed players’ expectations and for this next entry to be the best it can possibly be — and as a result, we are in the process of making some changes to how we support Red Dead Online."

Rockstar will continue to deliver monthly events as well as special seasonal events. But players should not expect any more major themed content updates. Rather, Rockstar will build on existing modes and add new Telegram Missions this year.

Red Dead Online launched in 2019 as a free to play online component of Red Dead Redemptions 2. The standalone game, set a year before the events of Red Dead Redemption 2’s story, sees players create their own protagonist and explore the open wilderness. Although there is an overarching revenge story with missions that drive the narrative, the fun in Red Dead Online is teaming up with a posse and interacting with the open world, whether it be through organized activities or your own freedom to explore.

Rockstar likely envisioned Red Dead Online to be RDR2’s version of GTA Online, the multiplayer component of Grand Theft Auto 5. I don’t think it ever quite lived up to that same success Rockstar found with GTA Online, as evidenced by its resources being pulled to focus on GTA 6. Meanwhile, GTA Online will continue to see new gameplay updates, community-requested improvements, expansions to the Criminal Careers of Executive, Biker, Gunrunner and Nightclub Owner, and more.

It’s unclear how much longer GTA Online will receive this kind of substantial support, but with focus shifting to GTA 6, it’s only a matter of time until it joins Red Dead Online. We don’t know much about Grand Theft Auto 6 right now, but I suspect it will deliver its own online multiplayer component.

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