History of Red Dead Redemption 2 in Timeline
Red Dead Redemption 2, developed by Rockstar Games, is a prequel to Red Dead Redemption set in 1899. Players control Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang, navigating the decline of the Wild West. The open-world gameplay features shootouts, robberies, hunting, and interactions with NPCs, all within a moral choice system that affects Arthur's honor. The game emphasizes survival against government forces and rival gangs, with a bounty system impacting law enforcement response to the player's actions.
1907: John Marston's Life in 1907
In 1907, John Marston and his family are trying to lead honest lives, finding work at a ranch. After conflicts and a temporary separation from his family, John takes a loan to purchase a ranch, builds a new home, proposes to Abigail, and ultimately confronts and kills Micah with Dutch's help, securing the gang's Blackwater stash. He then marries Abigail and starts a new life on their ranch.
2010: Release of Red Dead Redemption
In 2010, Red Dead Redemption, the second game in the Red Dead series, was released.
2010: Initial Work on Red Dead Redemption 2 Begins
In 2010, preliminary work on Red Dead Redemption 2 started shortly after the release of the original game, Red Dead Redemption.
2011: Rough Outline of the Game by Rockstar San Diego
By mid-2011, Rockstar San Diego had a rough outline of the game Red Dead Redemption 2.
2012: Rough Scripts Completed
By late 2012, rough scripts for Red Dead Redemption 2 had been completed.
2013: Comparisons to The Last of Us
In 2013, GamesRadar compared Red Dead Redemption 2's epilogue to The Last of Us.
2013: Recording Sessions Begin
In 2013, recording sessions for Red Dead Redemption 2 began, with a focus on developing a diverse cast of characters and exploring their individual stories.
October 2016: Analyst Predictions After Announcement
In October 2016, after the announcement of Red Dead Redemption 2, analysts made predictions about its sales performance, with estimates ranging from 12 million to 15 million copies in its first quarter.
October 18, 2016: Official Announcement of Red Dead Redemption 2
On October 18, 2016, Rockstar Games officially announced Red Dead Redemption 2 after teasing it for two days prior.
August 2017: Leaked Document Obtained
In August 2017, a leaked document was obtained containing several features due to be included in Red Dead Redemption 2.
2017: Original Release Date
In 2017, Red Dead Redemption 2 was originally due for release in the second half of the year, but was delayed twice.
February 6, 2018: Apology Published
On February 6, 2018, an article was published sourced from a confidential corporate document. The article apologized to Take-Two Games and agreed to donate over £1 million to charities chosen by Take-Two Games.
February 2018: Article Leaks Features
In February 2018, Trusted Reviews published an article leaking features due to be included in Red Dead Redemption 2, including a first-person perspective and Red Dead Online's battle royale mode.
July 2018: Predicted Best-Selling Game of 2018
In July 2018, industry analysts predicted that Red Dead Redemption 2 would be the best-selling game of 2018, potentially outselling other major releases like Battlefield V and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.
October 2018: Red Dead Redemption 2 Release on Consoles
In October 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 was released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It achieved the second-biggest launch in entertainment history, generating $725 million in its opening weekend and surpassing the lifetime sales of its predecessor within eight days.
October 2018: Sales Expectations Before Release
In October 2018, shortly before the release of Red Dead Redemption 2, analysts estimated the game would sell 15 million copies in its first quarter, with revenue projections between $400 million and $600 million in the first three days.
October 26, 2018: Red Dead Redemption 2 Release Date
On October 26, 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 was released after being delayed twice. Special edition versions were available to spur pre-order sales, and a companion app was released for Android and iOS.
November 2018: Referenced in South Park Episodes
In November 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 was referenced several times in the South Park episodes "Time to Get Cereal" and "Nobody Got Cereal?".
November 2018: Controversy Over Violence Against Suffragette NPC
In November 2018, a YouTube channel was briefly suspended after posting videos of violence against a female suffragette NPC in Red Dead Redemption 2, sparking debate about the game's portrayal of the Progressive Era and player responsibility.
November 2018: Apology Published
In November 2018, the article that leaked features was replaced with an apology, noting the "information was confidential" and should not have been published.
November 27, 2018: Red Dead Online Public Beta Release
On November 27, 2018, Red Dead Online, the multiplayer component of Red Dead Redemption 2, was released as a public beta to players who owned a special edition of the base game.
December 13, 2018: Cease and Desist Notice Issued
On December 13, 2018, Securitas AB, the parent company of the modern-day Pinkerton agency, issued a cease and desist notice to Take-Two Interactive, asserting Red Dead Redemption 2's use of the Pinkerton name and badge imagery was against their trademark and demanded royalties for each copy of the game sold or they would take legal action.
December 2018: Analysts Predict Profitability
In December 2018, VentureBeat's Dean Takahashi predicted that Red Dead Redemption 2 would likely begin to earn a profit based on analyst estimates.
2018: Best Selling Game in the US and Australia
In 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 was the best-selling game in the United States and Australia.
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, including accolades from various gaming publications and award shows. It was also named the highest-rated game of 2018 on Metacritic.
2018: Release of Red Dead Redemption 2
In 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2, a prequel to the 2010 game Red Dead Redemption, was released as an action-adventure game. The game follows Arthur Morgan, an outlaw navigating the decline of the Wild West.
2018: Controversy Over Development Crunch Time
In 2018, prior to the game's release, controversy arose over reported 100-hour work weeks by the development team, which was clarified to apply only to senior writing staff for a limited time. Concerns were raised about mandatory overtime and compensation.
January 11, 2019: Complaint Filed
On January 11, 2019, Take-Two filed a complaint against Securitas, maintaining the Pinkerton name was strongly associated with the Wild West, and its use of the term did not infringe on the Pinkerton trademark.
March 2019: Ranked 24th Greatest Game
In March 2019, Popular Mechanics ranked Red Dead Redemption 2 24th on its list of greatest games.
April 2019: Claims Withdrawn
By April 2019, Securitas withdrew its claims and Take-Two moved to withdraw its complaint.
May 15, 2019: End of Red Dead Online Beta
On May 15, 2019, the public beta for Red Dead Online ended, and player progression carried over.
November 5, 2019: Windows Release
On November 5, 2019, Red Dead Redemption 2 was released for Windows with visual and technical improvements.
November 2019: Red Dead Redemption 2 Release on Windows and Stadia
In November 2019, Red Dead Redemption 2 was released for Windows and Stadia platforms.
November 2019: Windows Version Launch
In November 2019, the Windows version of Red Dead Redemption 2 sold 406,000 copies upon launch.
November 19, 2019: Stadia Launch Title
On November 19, 2019, Red Dead Redemption 2 was a launch title for Stadia.
April 2020: Improvements in Working Conditions at Rockstar
By April 2020, several employees reported that Rockstar had made significant changes to improve working conditions, leading to cautious optimism about the company's future.
July 2020: Cited as Second Favorite Game
In July 2020, Dylan Haas of Mashable considered Red Dead Redemption 2 his second favorite game of all time.
November 2020: Ranked Among Greatest Games
In November 2020, TechRadar listed Red Dead Redemption 2 among the greatest games of the eighth generation.
December 1, 2020: Standalone Client for Red Dead Online Release
On December 1, 2020, a standalone client for Red Dead Online was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One.
2020: Maintained Top Charts Placement
Throughout 2019 and into early 2020, Red Dead Redemption 2 maintained its placement in the top charts.
July 2021: Increased Understanding of Ecology
In July 2021, a study published by the University of Exeter and Truro and Penwith College found Red Dead Redemption 2 players had an increased understanding of ecology and animal behavior; players were able to identify three more animals on average than other gamers.
November 2021: Ranked Among Top 50 Games
In November 2021, GamesRadar+ ranked Red Dead Redemption 2 28th on its list of top 50 games.
April 2022: Ranked Second-Best Game of All Time
In April 2022, GamingBolt's Ravi Sinha ranked Red Dead Redemption 2 the second-best game of all time.
April 2022: Virtual Photographer of the Year
Joe Meizies won Virtual Photographer of the Year at the London Games Festival in April 2022 for his virtual photography in Red Dead Redemption 2.
July 2022: Rockstar Announces Reduced Support for Red Dead Online
In July 2022, Rockstar announced that Red Dead Online would not receive more major updates, as development resources were being shifted to focus on Grand Theft Auto VI.
2022: Sales Reach 50 Million
In 2022, Red Dead Redemption 2 reached 50 million in sales, with yearly increases of six to twelve million.
May 2023: Ranked 15th-Best Game
In May 2023, over 200 developers, journalists, and content creators surveyed by GQ ranked Red Dead Redemption 2 the 15th-best game.
2023: Inspiration for Zelda Game
In 2023, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom producer Eiji Aonuma said open world games like Red Dead Redemption 2 inspired the developers.
2023: Tombstone Redemption Event
In 2023, Tombstone Redemption, a fan event organized by Kenney Palkow, was held in Tombstone, Arizona, on July 29–30, with an estimated 10,000 attendees, including fourteen cast members from the series. Tombstone was redressed to resemble the in-game Blackwater.
August 2024: Book Published
In August 2024, Tore Olsson published a book about the topic titled Red Dead's History; the audiobook is narrated by Roger Clark, who portrayed Arthur.
January 2025: Ranked 16th-Best Game
In January 2025, Rolling Stone ranked Red Dead Redemption 2 the 16th-best game.
December 2025: Sales Reach 82 Million
By December 2025, Red Dead Redemption 2 had sold over 82 million copies, solidifying its position as the fourth-best-selling video game.
Mentioned in this timeline
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