'Red Dead Redemption 2' Release Date, Features: Multiplayer Getting the 'GTA' Treatment?

“Red Dead Redemption 2,” the upcoming western-flavored prequel to Rockstar Games' title that was released back in 2010, is finally set to release on Oct. 26. The game's release was already twice delayed prior, with one of "Red Dead Redemption 2's" early trailers announcing a fall 2017 release, before it was pushed back again to spring of 2018.

While the delays have been stated by Rockstar Games as due to polishing issues, it looks like “Red Dead Redemption 2” is finally on track to get released by its third target release date. People are no longer talking about the game's delays as much as they are talking about what its multiplayer component will bring.

The first “Red Dead Redemption” also featured a multiplayer mode which allowed 16 players to take part in a Mexican Standoff and other team-versus-team game modes, as well as an eight-player free-roam game mode that focused on a posse of online players attacking computer-controlled opponents. Ideas from “Red Dead Redemption's” multiplayer mode have been taken into account upon the development of the multiplayer component for “GTA V,” which has now developed into “GTA Online”

Throughout the discussions anticipating the game's release this year, questions on how “Red Dead Redemption 2” will implement its multiplayer component have been on fans' minds.

Confirmed multiplayer features based on what has been released regarding “Red Dead Redemption 2's” Ultimate Edition have confirmed character customization, and a potential gang management system for multiplayer through the availability of a personal camp theme for those who pre-order. The gang system also seems to be more tied to “GTA Online” mechanics, which took cues originally from the original “Red Dead Redemption” game.

In an interview with GameDaily, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick said there is also confirmation that while “Red Dead Redemption 2” is not positioned to be a games-as-a-service title, there will be some form of recurrent monetization of the game through its online multiplayer.

Zelnick also stated that a battle royale multiplayer mode may be available but the availability of such a mode is not because of the recent publicity that games like “PUBG” and “Fortnite” have had. Zelnick stated that “GTA Online” has already had mechanics which emphasized battle royale-esque multiplayer gameplay and that this, or an improved version of it, will be what players see upon “Red Dead Redemption 2's” release.

“Red Dead Redemption 2 “is planned for release on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.