Rockstar Games has produced several successful franchises throughout its storied history, but not all of them have managed to endure. Many gamers have fond memories of franchises likeMidnight Club, and for years there have been cries for a sequel to the cult hitBully. However, in recent years, it seems Rockstar has decided to focus its sights onRed Dead RedemptionandGrand Theft Auto, and according to the company,Grand Theft Auto 6is in the works.
The confirmation thatGrand Theft Auto 6will be released at some point has been comforting to fans of the franchise, but there is also a vocal crowd clamoring for a newRed Dead Redemptiontitle. Serving up a follow-up toRed Dead Redemption 2may be a lot harder than doing the same forGrand Theft Auto 5, however, asRDR 2redefined open-world gaming and provided a story that many gamers forged an emotional connection with.
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Many things makeRed Dead Redemption 2one of the most iconic games of the eighth generation. Its open world is one of the most impressive ever presented in gaming, and it is richly populated with enough plant species and animals to make it feel like a living place. Gamers can easily spend countless hours inRDR 2’s world thanks to the dynamic NPCs that can engage in conversations and react differently depending on whetherArthur Morganis kind or antagonizes them. Perhaps what has made the game resonate for so long, however, is a narrative that contains countless tear-jerking moments amongst the gunfights.
Most of the sentimental moments come from the anti-hero, Arthur Morgan, who is a deceptively complex character. Like the rest of his gang, he values the life of an outlaw, and he is comfortable living by the gun. However, he does have a conscience, and he sees the benefits of living a good life. He spirals into an existential crisis when theVan der Linde gangbegins to disintegrate, and he faces his own mortality, forcing him to reflect on what he has done with his life. Seeing Arthur struggle with morality, attempt to become a better person, and grapple with big questions of life and death have made him a character that many gamers share a sentimental connection with.
TheRed Dead Redemptionfranchise also follows the story ofJohn Marston, who spends many years as a member of the Van der Linde gang before he leaves it and attempts to live a normal life. To ensure the safety of his family after they are held hostage by the government, he is forced to hunt down previous members of his gang. Though it is questionable whether he ever finds true redemption, his quest to right the wrongs of his past has made him a sympathetic character who resonates with many gamers.
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Red Dead Redemption 3has a huge task ahead of it, as it would have to delicately handle characters that gamers have grown very attached to. While Arthur may not be a factor for obvious reasons, there are many members of the Van der Linde gang whose stories could be further explored in a futureRed Dead Redemptiongame, includingSadie Adlerwho morphs into a ruthless cowgirl after her husband’s death. Rockstar will have to carefully navigate the various storylines laid down to ensure there are no plot holes and that all returning characters that gamers have grown to adore feel authentic.
There is no denying thatGrand Theft Auto 5represents a landmark in gaming. It was developed by Rockstar North, which received assistance from other Rockstar studios, resulting in over 1000 employees working on the game.Los Santosis inspired by California, and for research purposes, thousands of photos and hundreds of video footage were taken of Los Angeles to ensure that the setting is immersive. According to analysts, over $265 million was spent in total on development and marketing to bring the colossal project to life.
Despite the immense amount of resources poured intoGTA 5, it is dwarfed byRDR 2. During the game’s development, every Rockstar studio worldwide came together under the banner Rockstar Studios, roping in around 2000 employees to work on the game. It is estimated thatRed Dead Redemption 2is one of themost expensive games ever developed, with some analysts claiming the game costs upward of half a billion dollars to make and market. Development began shortly after the release ofRed Dead Redemptionin 2010, but there were still reports of employees being subjected to crunch time to ensure the game was released on time.
It will take monumental greatness for Rockstar to top the effort put intoRDR2, which still stands tall as one of the most technically impressive open-world games of all time. The game forever redefined what gamers expect from Rockstar when it comes to open-world gaming, and if Rockstar wishes to prove that it is indeed the leader in the genre, it will have to somehow surpassRDR2’s feats. WhileGTA 5is also an awe-inspiring game, after over 8 years on the market, it has begun to show its age, and it no longer stands as the finest example of urbanopen-world gaming.
For a long time, Rockstar has dominated the open-world gaming genre, andRed Dead RedemptionandGrand Theft Autoare perhaps the two franchises that have had the biggest impact. Both franchises have a large crowd of gamers hoping for Rockstar to release new games that top their predecessors. While it is likely that Rockstar would be happy to release bothRed Dead Redemption 3andGrand Theft Auto 6, the former may be a taller task, mostly because of how difficult it is to follow up a masterpiece.
The nextGrand Theft Autotitle is currently in development.
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