History of Red Dead Redemption 2 in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 13, 2026

Set in 1899, Red Dead Redemption 2 follows Arthur Morgan, an outlaw and member of the Van der Linde gang. As the Wild West era draws to a close, the gang struggles to survive against government forces, rival outlaws, and internal conflict. The narrative focuses on Arthur’s complex journey of redemption, loyalty, and morality as his mentor, Dutch van der Linde, descends into madness and obsession. As the gang’s criminal lifestyle becomes increasingly untenable, Arthur must grapple with his own impending death and his desire to secure a better future for those he cares about. Ultimately, the story serves as a tragic meditation on the death of the American frontier and the struggle to change one's nature in the face of inevitable progress.

1907: The Settlement and Redemption of John Marston

In 1907, John Marston attempts to leave his criminal past behind by establishing a ranch and family life, eventually tracking down and killing the traitorous Micah Bell with the help of former gang members to settle his debts and secure a future for his family.

2010: Preliminary development begins

Following the release of the original Red Dead Redemption in 2010, the development team officially began preliminary work on its sequel.

2010: Release of Red Dead Redemption

The year 2010 marked the debut of the game Red Dead Redemption, which serves as the predecessor to the prequel released in 2018.

2011: Completion of project outline

By mid-2011, Rockstar San Diego had successfully finished a rough outline for the upcoming sequel to Red Dead Redemption.

2012: Completion of initial scripts

Development progressed significantly by late 2012, at which point the team had finalized the initial rough scripts for the game.

2013: Red Dead Redemption 2 Recording Sessions Begin and Grand Theft Auto V Release

In 2013, the development team initiated recording sessions for Red Dead Redemption 2, a process involving extensive character development for the Van der Linde gang. Also in 2013, the game Grand Theft Auto V was released, which the development team used as a narrative contrast when deciding to focus on a single protagonist for their Western title.

2013: Release of The Last of Us

In 2013, the video game The Last of Us was released, which later served as a benchmark for narrative comparison by critics like Meikleham of GamesRadar when evaluating the structure and epilogue of Red Dead Redemption 2.

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

On October 18, 2016, Rockstar Games officially announced the development of Red Dead Redemption 2, following initial teases earlier that week.

2017: Original Release Window

Red Dead Redemption 2 was originally scheduled for a release in the second half of 2017, but this deadline was later missed due to multiple development delays.

October 2018: Red Dead Redemption 2 Initial Console Launch

In October 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 was officially released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, achieving the second-biggest launch in entertainment history by generating $725 million in opening weekend sales.

October 26, 2018: Red Dead Redemption 2 Release Date

After being delayed twice from its original 2017 target, Red Dead Redemption 2 was officially released on October 26, 2018, having received extra development time for polish.

November 2018: Controversy over player violence against suffragette NPC

In November 2018, a YouTube channel faced a brief suspension after uploading videos depicting the murder of a female suffragette non-player character in Red Dead Redemption 2. The incident sparked a broader debate among critics and scholars regarding player behavior, the game's lack of restrictions on certain acts of violence, and the ethical implications of freedom of expression within open-world gaming environments.

November 27, 2018: Red Dead Online Public Beta Launch

On November 27, 2018, the online multiplayer component of Red Dead Redemption 2, titled Red Dead Online, officially launched as a public beta for players who owned the special edition of the base game before rolling out to other owners.

2018: Rockstar Games Development Controversy and Crunch Allegations

In 2018, Dan Houser commented that senior writing staff worked 100-hour weeks, leading to widespread public discourse regarding 'crunch' culture at Rockstar Games. While management claimed these hours were voluntary and limited, various employees disputed this account, citing mandatory overtime and systemic cultural issues surrounding their compensation and work-life balance during the development of Red Dead Redemption 2.

2018: Red Dead Redemption 2 Award Success and Ratings

In 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 achieved widespread critical acclaim, earning over 175 Game of the Year awards from various international festivals and media outlets. Additionally, it was recognized as the highest-rated game of 2018 on Metacritic, while securing four wins at The Game Awards 2018, including Best Narrative and Best Score/Music.

2018: Launch of Red Dead Redemption 2

In 2018, Rockstar Games released Red Dead Redemption 2, an action-adventure game that serves as a prequel to the original series entry and follows outlaw Arthur Morgan through a declining Wild West.

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

On May 15, 2019, the public beta phase for Red Dead Online concluded, with all player progress made during the beta period successfully carrying over to the full game.

November 5, 2019: Windows Version Release

On November 5, 2019, Rockstar Games released the Windows version of Red Dead Redemption 2, which included various visual and technical enhancements.

November 2019: Red Dead Redemption 2 Windows and Stadia Release

Red Dead Redemption 2 expanded its platform availability in November 2019 with a release on the Windows and Stadia platforms.

November 19, 2019: Stadia Launch Title

Red Dead Redemption 2 served as a launch title for the cloud gaming service Stadia when it officially launched on November 19, 2019.

April 2020: Reports of Workplace Improvements at Rockstar Games

By April 2020, reports emerged indicating that Rockstar Games had implemented significant internal changes to its workplace environment. Employees expressed cautious optimism regarding the company's future and the ongoing evolution of its corporate culture.

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

On December 1, 2020, a standalone version of Red Dead Online was officially released for players on PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One platforms.

July 2022: Shift in Red Dead Online Development Strategy

In July 2022, Rockstar announced that they would no longer provide major content updates for Red Dead Online, shifting development resources toward Grand Theft Auto VI while focusing on smaller existing game modes.