The online mode for Red Dead Redemption 2 has been around for several months but in Rockstar terms, it’s still in its infancy. Things haven’t quite gone as planned for Red Dead Online so far with less interest from players than many might have expected. The biggest gripe has been there just isn’t enough to do in the Wild West map.
Grand Theft Auto V suffered a similar problem in its early days but went onto become the most profitable video game ever released. It would be a shock to see Red Dead live up to those heights but there is still a lot which can be done to improve the game.
Rockstar has started to regularly update the online mode but some features have proven more popular with fans than others. The Showdown Mode has potential but there has been less enthusiasm in the community for the competitive fishing game type. There are still so many possibilities so let’s take a look at some of the most popular suggestions for new in-game features.
Heists & Robberies
This is something which will almost certainly become an in-game feature. Heists were a major part of the Red Dead Redemption 2 single player mode so it would be a surprise if they don’t eventually show up in the online mode. It was a major turning point for GTA V Online when the heists were first included in the game. There was a joy to planning and staging a major robbery and that can certainly be translated to the Wild West with small-town banks and wagons aplenty.
Red Dead Online is also yet to include any form of robbery into the game. From simple “stick ‘em-ups” to more complicated acts like wagon and train robberies, many players want more of an opportunity to rob, steal, and cheat their way to the top.
Character Customisation
Much like horses, the characters need more customisation. Short of deleting your character and starting again, Rockstar doesn’t allow you to change your character’s physical appearance. Sure, a haircut and beard can go some way to do this but base level customisation is still not available.
Gambling
The Wild West was known for a lot of things but gambling was certainly near the top of the list. Whether it was faro, poker, or blackjack, cowboys loved their card games. Red Dead Redemption 2 acknowledges this with players able to take part in games across the in-game world. However, so far, things haven’t extended to Red Dead Online.
There is certainly an appetite for it. It’s a hugely popular pastime with online blackjack sites like Betway attracting players from across the world. Online gaming like this is hugely popular and Red Dead Online would do well to introduce it from the single-player game.
Horse Customisation
There aren’t quite as many customisation options for a horse as there are for a car but Red Dead Online can still learn a thing or two from GTA V in that regard. Horse colour and saddle options are one thing but there are so many other options which should exist. Allowing users to upgrade and improve on their horse’s in-game stats would go some way to doing this. Rather than just selling stronger and faster horses at stables, allow users to upgrade theirs and save purchases for other uses.
This could also be a good way to introduce carts. Horse-drawn carriages would add a whole new element to Red Dead Online, opening so many new realms of possibility. Whether it’s for robberies, smuggling, or even setting up a mobile base of operations for your posse, there are so many in-game features which could be introduced with carriages. Pimp my horse, Rockstar.
Properties
This is one of the biggest features currently missing from Red Dead Online. The current system of camps just doesn’t allow for enough options for players. The choice and possibilities of properties have been introduced into GTA Online gradually over the years and perhaps a similar approach will be taken to Red Dead. But this needs to happen sooner rather than later. Whether it’s something as small as a cabin in the woods or even a large ranch complete with livestock, there is so much opportunity for new gameplay. Players could start rearing animals to sell on a ranch or set up some sort of a main base for their fixed posse. The possibilities are endless.