Answering 10 common Red Dead Redemption 2 questions with NO spoilers

Ask any gamer about the latest hottest game, and Red Dead Redemption 2 will now be top of their list (that and Fortnite….)

If the name sounds familiar it is because it’s a prequel to Red Dead Redemptions a 2010 game and the third entry to Red Dead.

Red Dead 2 earned $725 million in sales in its first three days. With each game sold at roughly $60, therefore, I estimate that there are roughly 12 million copies of the game out there on the PlayStation 4 and XboxOne.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is the most preordered full game on the PlayStation Network and the biggest day one full game sales on the PlayStation Network but it doesn’t take the number 1 spot for the highest-grossing entertainment launch of all time. That coveted spot is being held by Grand Theft Auto V which earned $1 billion in sales during the first three days. Rockstar, which is the Red Dead Redemption’s game developer and publisher is not too upset as they also developed Grand Theft Auto V. Clearly onto a good thing.

Since posting my Instagram story about the game, I have been inundated with questions. So let’s answer some of the common Red Dead Redemption 2 questions with NO spoilers.

1. What is Red Dead Redemption 2 about?

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a Western-themed action-adventure video game which is developed and published by Rockstar Games. It is set in in 1899 and you play Arthur Morgan, an outlaw and a member of the Van der Linde gang.

The game is played across an open world environment where you constantly make choices the affect characters and missions in the game. There are various ways to approach different situations, side quests, and missions and you get to chose how you want to interact while completing the main story.

For example, you can greet someone or antagonize them. You can run in first to a situation or send one of the gang members in first.  You decide.

2. Where is the Red Dead Redemption 2 trailer?

3. Is Red Dead Redemption 2 coming to a pc?

Red Dead Redemption 2 was released officially for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One only. There is currently no PC version of the game. HOWEVER… several leaks/ indicators lead me to believe that there will be a PC game in the future.

One of the strongest indicators was revealed by Rockstar Intel who said that “BlackScout” discovered some  PC specific parameters inside the companion app.

So it seems its just a matter of time. Maybe.

 4. Is Red Dead Redemption 2 coming to Nintendo Switch?

Rockstar has not published anything about being able to have a Red Dead Redemption 2  on the Nintendo Switch.

As VGR points out, Rockstar did port LA Noire (a previous games) to the Nintendo Switch but does also state that “This is pretty much just wishful thinking out of the blue on our part”.

So I guess for now, the answer is no.

5. Will there be or does Red Dead Redemption 2 have multiplayer option?

Yes. Soon. “Red Dead Online” is set to become available for “public beta” in mid-November. Being labeled as “beta” means that it’s not going to be perfect – ie expect bugs or “growing pains” as Rockstar warns its fans.

Business Insider reports that Rockstar developers have said they consider “Red Dead Online” and “Red Dead Redemption 2” to be two different games. Players will be able to explore the open-world environment of “Red Dead Online” alone or with friends, and the online mode will have its own narrative storyline.

6. What is Red Dead Redemption 2 rated? Is Red Dead Redemption 2 safe for my child to play?

Officially, Red Dead Redemption 2 is rated at “Mature 17+ ” as it contains scenes with Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol.

Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) reports that “Players use bows, pistols, shotguns, rifles, and explosives to kill enemies in frenetic combat; shooting enemies occasionally triggers a close-up, slow-motion view of enemies getting shot and killed.

“Players can also use tomahawks and knives to perform stealth kills to eliminate enemies discreetly. Large blood-splatter effects occur during battle, and some weapon attacks result in decapitation and/or dismemberment, leaving bloodstains and body parts on the ground.

“Campsites and cabin environments sometimes depict severed body parts and corpses with exposed viscera. Players may also engage in various criminal activities (e.g., robbing banks, shooting civilians), though this will negatively impact players’ progress (e.g., wanted status, pursuit by lawmen and/or bounty hunters).

“Cutscenes also depict intense acts of violence: a man executed from the gallows; a character shooting himself in the head; a man repeatedly electrocuted; a bound man set on fire. The game contains instances of nudity and brief sexual content: a woman (breasts exposed) straddling a man inside a brothel; a spanking scene that is depicted from a distance and includes a fleeting depiction of male genitalia; sexual moaning sounds inside a tent; male characters with exposed genitalia in non-sexual settings (e.g., a man swimming in a river, corpses on the ground).

“During the course of the game, players’ character can engage in a drinking mini-game in which alcohol is poured for drunken bar patrons; players’ character is also depicted drinking alcohol, sometimes resulting in screen-distortion effects and impaired controls.

“One of the stimulant power-ups is known as Cocaine Gum, which players’ character can chew; in one scene, characters can briefly be seen smoking from an opium pipe. The words “f**k,” “n**ger,” and “sh*t” can be heard in the dialogue.”

7. Can Red Dead Redemption 2 Be Played Offline? Do you need an internet connection to play Red Dead Redemption 2?

You can buy a physical copy of Red Dead Redemption 2.  So technically, yes, you should be able to play Red Dead Redemption 2 offline or without internet access and play the main story. I could not test as I have the digital download.

However, as with every game that is available in the real world, there will be updates which contain bug fixes and therefore an internet access would be required to install that.

Looking online, some has reported that you run the risk of having your saved games overwritten when you do eventually install the game’s updates so it’s a risk you are taking.

8. Are there any special Red Dead Redemption 2 Editions?

Yes.  There is a Special Edition and an Ultimate Edition of Red Dead Redemption 2.

All the info is here

9. What is Red Dead Redemption 2 Social Club? When you start the game there is an option to see Social Club. What is that?

Social Club is Rockstar’s network that gives players “an enhanced gaming experience” with exclusive in-game bonuses, community content such as the ability to share in-game photos and videos and stat tracking.

It is free and you can sign up here: https://socialclub.rockstargames.com/

10. What is the Red Dead 2 companion App? Do you need to download Red Dead 2 app? Is the Red Dead Redemption 2 app available on IOS and Android?

The Red Dead Redemption 2 app is a “companion app” which allows you to connect your iOS or Android device to your PlayStation4 or Xbox One to get information while playing the game.

The information on the app appears in real-time and allows you to view the map, pan and zoom around, set waypoint and points of interest. During the game, Arhur keeps a journal which is readable on the companion app.

More info about the Red Dead Redemption 2 companion app here.

Do you NEED the app? Nope.