Red Dead Online

Red Dead Online is a multiplayer mode with a third-person view of the action-adventure game Red Dead Redemption 2. It offers story missions, cooperative and competitive modes, several variations of "battle royale" — all intertwined in new exciting ways. It periodically receives new content in the form of updates.

As in GTA 5, in Red Dead Online the player starts by creating a character in an advanced editor — you can choose gender, body type, set unique facial features, tattoos, and scars, as well as choose clothing from the wardrobe. Later, you can buy new clothes and change outfits.

Unlike GTAO, the events of RDR 2's multiplayer are not linked to the single-player game and occur before its events, and all content is available without completing the single-player campaign. However, both modes share some common NPC characters, although there are also new NPC quest givers.

After creating the character, the player finds them shackled in a wagon with three criminals being escorted to execution from prison. The character has been framed for the murder of an important person, whose wife, Mrs. LeClerk, wants to avenge the real killers and needs the player's help to do so.

The story then unfolds into a standard action-packed multi-hour plot about the protagonist's terrible revenge, with quests that, unlike the single-player game, seem like a silly parody of the western genre. Although there are also well-crafted ones.

As for the story missions, there is a strict division: some can only be completed solo, while others must be done in a group. The story in RDO serves more as a tutorial guide explaining the gameplay features.

In RDO, of course, you can play alone, but teaming up with other players in a posse opens up new opportunities for all squad members: boss fights, competitions in open-world challenges, battles with other posses in spontaneous skirmishes, and other mind-blowing competitions designed for 16-32 players.

To encourage players to form posses, the penalty for unlawful killing has been reduced. Player squads are more likely to attack lone cowboys, while solo players are much less likely to take on a group.

If a conflict arises between players, they can resolve it in two ways:

A system of styles — aggressive and defensive — helps to avoid unnecessary conflicts in the free mode of the game. Activating the latter makes it easier to explore the world, avoid unnecessary skirmishes, and in case of an attack, the damage will be less. Notifications and auto-invitations are disabled.

Leveling up is implemented through a level system, as of 2019 there were 100 levels. The higher the level, the more content is available, for example:

For completing any tasks in the game, the character gains experience, which accumulates into character levels (there are also Role levels). Interestingly, for some levels, players are rewarded with a treasure map, which, when found, can yield money and valuable items.

As levels are gained, special ability cards are unlocked. Players can equip a limited number of cards, thereby creating a unique character. The higher the character's level, the more cards and slots are available, increasing the variety of builds.

For victories in online battles, the character receives gold, RDO$ (spent on weapons, ammunition, and gear), and experience, which unlocks access to abilities like "Dead Eye" (implemented through cards inserted into slots).

The level can continue to increase, but it will only affect the game if the player has a "Bandit Pass" — a battle pass that grants access to exclusive content: single-player and gang quests, camp upgrades, and various cosmetics like a companion dog.

In Red Dead Online, the "battle pass" has 100 levels, and the longer you play, the more content you unlock — meaning its contents must be unlocked. Like other live-service games, the battle pass is available for a limited time, after which a new one must be purchased. This can be done by farming gold in the game or purchasing it with real money.

The game starts with a novice character without reputation or money — all of this must be earned through shootouts, various events, heists, and other activities with other players.

Initially, the multiplayer gameplay was not much different from the single-player mode, especially since all familiar mechanics were present: (hunting, fishing, treasure hunting, heists, hero customization , and all weapons and ammunition, the same physical model). However, as the multiplayer mode evolved into an independent mode, changes were made with a greater emphasis on player interaction.

Multiplayer has a different item cost and economic model overall: RDO$ dollars earned in the game, and gold purchased with real money or through tedious grinding. Microtransactions affect gameplay — gold can be used to buy camp upgrades, horses, items above the character's level, as well as things (clothing and appearance elements like a holster).

Unlike RDR 2, honor does not affect anything except access to missions and status in free mode. With a high honor rating, you can get more missions to protect against criminals, and with low honor — more heists and criminal rescues. Honor can be increased or decreased for gold, switching sides, and completing all available content.

Another difference is the class or role system, as of the end of 2019, there are four:

Roles offer new abilities for the character, additional quests, unique items, and of course, reward efforts with gold and experience, which goes into the class level pool rather than general leveling. Each class has 20 levels with their own titles: novice, amateur, expert, and veteran.

Additionally, each player has their own personal camp, as well as a group camp if they are part of one. In the camp, you can rest, change your appearance, craft missing items, cook food, and so on. A tent system has been introduced – depending on the style, the player receives a certain bonus when entering free roam mode and when resting in the camp.

In one of the updates, the controls were reworked to reduce the number of button presses and speed up character actions, especially in combat (faster aiming, cocking, and reloading). Rockstar regularly adds content (weapons, clothing, masks and holsters, horse breeds, quests), but it is only available in multiplayer.

Let's list the main modes available at the beginning of 2019:

As part of the 2019 updates, Red Dead Online received the following permanent modes:

Также в игре появились временные события, например, выследить и убить легендарного преступника или выжить в противоборстве «Под покровом ночи» (отряд игроков, простых смертных, должен победить быстрых, сильных и выносливых игроков-хищников). Они доступны в очень ограниченный промежуток времени, после чего пропадают. Пока неизвестно, планирует ли Rockstar сделать из них ростер или они всегда будут уникальны.