Rockstar Games is currently plowing ahead withGTA 6, which will presumably occupy the legendary developer for the foreseeable future, but that doesn’t mean thatRed Dead Redemption 3is totally out of the realm of possibility. In fact, a threequel seems fairly plausible, considering how immensely popular and prestigioustheRed Dead RedemptionIPhas become.
But what exactly this theoreticalRed Dead Redemption 3will look like is another matter entirely, and a complex one at that. The firstRed Dead Redemptionfollowed John Marston as he fought to right the wrongs of his past and provide a better future for his family, whileRed Dead Redemption 2is a prequel that illuminates the past that’s only referenced inRDR1. This narrative structure works for the duology, making it feel like a cohesive and satisfying whole, but it puts the series in a rough spot when it comes to future releases. Specifically, it will be tricky to decide whetherRed Dead Redemption 3, if it is ever released, should be another prequel, or a sequel toRed Dead Redemption 1. There are positives and negatives to both approaches, but perhaps no clear answer.
Rockstar has yet to confirm whether there willactually be aRed Dead Redemption 3.
The Pros and Cons of RDR3 Being Another Prequel
One of the most common fantheories aboutRed Dead Redemption 3is that it will be yet another prequel, going further into the Van der Linde Gang’s past. This could provide some interesting narrative opportunities, as audiences could learn what Dutch was like before his descent into madness and paranoia, and characters like Arthur, Hosea, and John could be fleshed out as well. Overall, this approach could expand theRed Dead Redemptionworld, granting new, valuable insights into its primary characters.
But delving further into the Gang’s past could also rob the franchise of much of its mystery, allure, and subjectivity. One of the most captivating aspects of theGang’s dynamic inRed Dead Redemption 2is this ever-present notion of the “glory days,” viewed through rose-tinted glasses: were things ever good for the Gang, or was the writing on the wall from the start? It’s much more powerful if players consider questions like this themselves, rather than having all the answers handed to them. Plus, with so much of the future already determined, another prequel could struggle to establish real tension.
The Pros and Cons of RDR3 Being a Sequel to RDR1
The other most widely toutedRed Dead Redemption 3premiseis much more straightforward: the threequel could follow Jack Marston, picking up whereRDR1’s epilogue left off. Through this approach, players could continue to see the Wild West deteriorate, being replaced by more modern living. The game could also highlight Jack’s grief and personal journey, showing how he chooses to synthesize his outlaw upbringing with his desire to build a better future for himself.
But again, it might be more interesting to ponder this than to actually see it. The traditional outlaw lifestyle is all but eliminated bythe end ofRed Dead Redemption; Rockstar might not have much more to say on the subject. Sure, this version ofRed Dead Redemption 3could segue into the organized criminal world of the Roaring Twenties, but at a certain point, this would be too far removed from theRed Deadstyle and formula. If Rockstar really wanted to make an old-school, 1920s crime game, it might make more sense to separate it from theRed Deadcanon, not allowing it to be messied or stymied by the baggage of previous games.
Red Dead Redemption 2
WHERE TO PLAY
America, 1899. The end of the wild west era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed. After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him. From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age.
