History of Red Dead Redemption 2 in Timeline

Red Dead Redemption 2, a 2018 action-adventure game by Rockstar Games, is a prequel to Red Dead Redemption set in 1899. It follows Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang, as he navigates the decline of the Wild West. Players explore an open world, engaging in activities like shootouts, robberies, and hunting. The game features first- and third-person perspectives and an honor system that influences interactions. Survival against government forces, rival gangs, and maintaining moral choices are central to the gameplay, with a bounty system impacting law enforcement responses.

1907: John Marston's New Life in 1907

In 1907, John and his family tried to lead an honest life, eventually building a ranch and starting anew after settling debts and confronting Micah Bell.

2010: Release of Red Dead Redemption

In 2010, Red Dead Redemption was released, later to be followed by Red Dead Redemption 2, which is a prequel to the 2010 game.

2010: Preliminary Work on Red Dead Redemption 2 Begins

In 2010, preliminary work commenced on Red Dead Redemption 2 following the release of the original game.

2011: Rockstar San Diego Outlines Red Dead Redemption 2

By mid-2011, Rockstar San Diego had established a rough outline for Red Dead Redemption 2.

2012: Rough Scripts Completed for Red Dead Redemption 2

By late 2012, rough scripts for Red Dead Redemption 2 were completed.

2013: Recording Sessions Begin for Red Dead Redemption 2

In 2013, recording sessions began for Red Dead Redemption 2, focusing on developing a diverse cast of characters and their individual stories.

2013: The Last of Us

In 2013, the epilogue of Red Dead Redemption 2 was compared to The Last of Us.

October 2016: Analyst Predictions After Game Announcement in October 2016

In October 2016, following the announcement of Red Dead Redemption 2, analysts predicted strong sales, estimating 12-15 million copies sold in the first quarter.

October 18, 2016: Official Announcement of Red Dead Redemption 2

On October 18, 2016, Rockstar Games officially announced Red Dead Redemption 2.

August 2017: Leaked Document

In August 2017, a document containing information about Red Dead Redemption 2 features was leaked and sent to several sites.

2017: Red Dead Redemption 2 Initial Delay

Originally due for release in the second half of 2017, Red Dead Redemption 2 faced its initial delay.

February 2018: Trusted Reviews Leaks Article

In February 2018, Trusted Reviews published an article leaking features of Red Dead Redemption 2, which included a first-person perspective and a battle royale mode in Red Dead Online.

July 2018: Predictions of Red Dead Redemption 2 as Best-Selling Game of 2018

In July 2018, industry analyst Mat Piscatella predicted that Red Dead Redemption 2 would be the best-selling game of 2018, surpassing other major titles.

October 2018: Release of Red Dead Redemption 2 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

In October 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 was released for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The game generated US$725 million in sales from its opening weekend.

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October 2018: Sales Ranking in the US

In October 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 was the second-best-selling game in the United States, only behind Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.

October 2018: Analysts Estimate Red Dead Redemption 2 Sales Before Release

Shortly before its release in October 2018, analysts estimated Red Dead Redemption 2 would sell around 15 million copies in its first quarter, with projected revenue between US$400 and US$600 million in the first three days.

October 26, 2018: Red Dead Redemption 2 Released After Delays

On October 26, 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 was released after being delayed twice for "polish".

November 2018: South Park Reference

In November 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 was referenced in the South Park episodes "Time to Get Cereal" and "Nobody Got Cereal?".

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November 2018: Trusted Reviews Apology and Settlement

In November 2018, Trusted Reviews replaced the article about the leaked information with an apology and agreed to donate £1 million (US$1.3 million) to charities chosen by Take-Two Interactive as part of a settlement.

November 2018: Controversy Surrounding Misogynistic Videos

In November 2018, YouTuber Shirrako posted videos of violence against a female suffragette NPC in Red Dead Redemption 2, sparking a controversy over misogynistic content and YouTube's response.

November 27, 2018: Red Dead Online Public Beta Release

On November 27, 2018, the online multiplayer component, Red Dead Online, was released as a public beta for special edition owners, eventually opening to all players.

December 13, 2018: Cease and Desist Notice

On December 13, 2018, Securitas AB, the parent company of the Pinkerton agency, issued a cease and desist notice to Take-Two Interactive over the use of the Pinkerton name and badge imagery in Red Dead Redemption 2.

December 2018: Potential Profitability

In December 2018, VentureBeat estimated that Red Dead Redemption 2 would likely begin to earn a profit based on analyst estimates.

2018: Red Dead Redemption 2 Wins Game of the Year Awards

In 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 won over 175 Game of the Year awards from various outlets and awards shows, including Best Audio Design, Best Narrative, Best Score/Music, and Best Performance at The Game Awards 2018.

2018: Release of Red Dead Redemption 2

In 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2, an action-adventure game, was developed and published by Rockstar Games as the third entry in the Red Dead series, serving as a prequel to the 2010 game. The game follows Arthur Morgan in 1899 as he navigates the decline of the Wild West.

2018: Rockstar's Crunch Time Controversy

In 2018, statements regarding 100-hour work weeks at Rockstar Games led to controversy, sparking discussions about crunch time and working conditions during the development of Red Dead Redemption 2.

January 11, 2019: Take-Two Complaint

On January 11, 2019, Take-Two filed a complaint against Securitas, arguing the use of the Pinkerton name was fair use.

March 2019: Ranked Among Greatest Games

In March 2019, Popular Mechanics ranked Red Dead Redemption 2 24th on its list of greatest games.

April 2019: Securitas Withdraws Claims

By April 2019, Securitas withdrew its claims against Take-Two, and Take-Two moved to withdraw its complaint.

May 15, 2019: End of Red Dead Online Public Beta

On May 15, 2019, the public beta for Red Dead Online ended, with player progression carrying over.

November 5, 2019: Red Dead Redemption 2 Released for Windows

On November 5, 2019, Red Dead Redemption 2 was released for Windows with visual and technical improvements.

November 2019: Release of Red Dead Redemption 2 for Windows and Stadia

In November 2019, Red Dead Redemption 2 was released for Windows and Stadia.

November 2019: Windows Version Launch

In November 2019, the Windows version of Red Dead Redemption 2 sold 406,000 copies upon its launch.

November 19, 2019: Red Dead Redemption 2 Launch Title for Stadia

On November 19, 2019, Red Dead Redemption 2 was a launch title for Stadia when the service launched.

April 2020: Reported Improvements in Rockstar's Work Culture

By April 2020, several employees reported significant improvements in Rockstar's company culture, expressing cautious optimism about the company's future.

July 2020: Favorite Game

In July 2020, Dylan Haas of Mashable considered Red Dead Redemption 2 his second favorite game of all time.

November 2020: Listed Among Greatest Games

In November 2020, TechRadar listed Red Dead Redemption 2 among the greatest games of the eighth generation, with the editor noting it set the bar for believable open world games.

December 1, 2020: Standalone Client for Red Dead Online Released

On December 1, 2020, a standalone client for Red Dead Online was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One.

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2020: Sales Charts

In 2020, Red Dead Redemption 2 remained in the top charts for the first half of the year in the United States. In the United Kingdom, it was the eleventh best selling game. In Australia, it was the fifteenth best selling game.

July 2021: Ecology Study

In July 2021, a study published by the University of Exeter found that Red Dead Redemption 2 players had an increased understanding of ecology and animal behavior.

November 2021: GamesRadar+ Ranking

In November 2021, GamesRadar+ ranked Red Dead Redemption 2 28th on its list of top 50 games.

2021: Sales in the UK

In 2021, Red Dead Redemption 2 was the sixth best-selling game in the United Kingdom.

April 2022: GamingBolt Ranking

In April 2022, GamingBolt's Ravi Sinha ranked Red Dead Redemption 2 the second-best game of all time.

April 2022: Virtual Photographer Award

In April 2022, Joe Meizies won Virtual Photographer of the Year at the London Games Festival for his virtual photography in Red Dead Redemption 2.

July 2022: Rockstar Halts Major Updates for Red Dead Online

In July 2022, Rockstar announced that Red Dead Online would no longer receive major updates, shifting focus to smaller missions and existing modes as resources were directed to Grand Theft Auto VI.

2022: Sales Figures

In 2022, Red Dead Redemption 2 reached 50 million in sales.

May 2023: GQ Ranking

In May 2023, a survey by GQ ranked Red Dead Redemption 2 the 15th-best game.

2023: Inspiration for Zelda

In 2023, Eiji Aonuma, producer of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, mentioned that open world games like Red Dead Redemption 2 inspired the developers.

2023: Tombstone Redemption Event

In 2023, the Tombstone Redemption fan event, organized by Kenney Palkow, was held in Tombstone, Arizona, attracting an estimated 10,000 attendees and featuring cast members from the series. Tombstone was redressed to resemble Blackwater from the game.