History of Red Dead Redemption 2 in Timeline

Red Dead Redemption 2, a 2018 action-adventure game by Rockstar Games and a prequel to Red Dead Redemption, is set in 1899 within a fictionalized United States. Players control Arthur Morgan, an outlaw in the Van der Linde gang, navigating the decline of the Wild West. The game features first- and third-person perspectives in an open world. Key gameplay aspects include shootouts, robberies, hunting, horseback riding, and interactions with NPCs. The player's honor rating, determined by moral choices, influences interactions. A bounty system affects law enforcement and bounty hunter responses to the player's criminal actions, adding depth to the game's immersive world.

1907: John Marston Starts a New Life

In 1907, John Marston and his family attempt to lead honest lives, working at a ranch, buying their own ranch, and eventually marrying Abigail to start a new life.

2010: Red Dead Redemption Release

In 2010, Red Dead Redemption was released. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel to this game.

2010: Preliminary Work on Red Dead Redemption 2 Begins

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

2011: Initial Game Outline

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

2012: Rough Scripts Completed

By late 2012, rough scripts of Red Dead Redemption 2 had been completed.

2013: The Last of Us Release

In 2013, The Last of Us was released. Meikleham of GamesRadar praised the unpredictability of Red Dead Redemption 2's narrative and comparing its epilogue to The Last of Us.

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2013: Recording Sessions Begin

In 2013, recording sessions for Red Dead Redemption 2 began, focusing on diverse characters within the Van der Linde gang.

October 2016: Analyst Predictions After Announcement

In October 2016, after the announcement of Red Dead Redemption 2, analysts estimated significant sales for the game 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.

August 2017: Leaked Document

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

2017: Original Release Target

In 2017, the game was originally due for release in the second half of the year but was delayed.

February 2018: Trusted Reviews Leaks Features

In February 2018, Trusted Reviews published an article leaking several unconfirmed features of Red Dead Redemption 2 including a first-person perspective and battle royale mode. This information was sourced from a leaked document from August 2017.

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

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

October 2018: Red Dead Redemption 2 Release on Consoles

In October 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 was released for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Sony PlayStation 4 500GB Console (Renewed)

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October 2018: Second Best-Selling Game 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: Sales Estimates Before Release

Shortly before release in October 2018, analysts provided further sales estimates for Red Dead Redemption 2, with expectations ranging from 15 million to 25 million copies in its first quarter and revenue between US$400 and US$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 two delays.

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?".

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November 2018: Trusted Reviews Apology and Settlement

In November 2018, Trusted Reviews replaced their leaked article with an apology and reached a settlement with Take-Two Interactive, donating £1 million to charities chosen by Take-Two. The funds were directed to the American Indian College Fund, the American Prairie Reserve, and the First Nations Development Institute.

November 2018: Shirrako's Controversial Videos

In November 2018, YouTuber Shirrako posted controversial videos of his player character murdering a female suffragette NPC, leading to suspension and restoration of his channel with age restrictions.

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.

December 13, 2018: Cease and Desist Notice from Securitas AB

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.

December 2018: Predicted 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: 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 award shows.

2018: Red Dead Redemption 2 Release

In 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2, an action-adventure game, was released. It was developed and published by Rockstar Games and is the third entry in the Red Dead series, serving as a prequel to the 2010 game.

2018: Rockstar's Crunch Time Controversy

In 2018, controversy arose over claims of 100-hour work weeks at Rockstar during Red Dead Redemption 2's development. The company clarified that only senior writing staff worked those hours for three weeks and that employees were not forced to work long hours.

January 11, 2019: Take-Two Files Complaint Against Securitas

On January 11, 2019, Take-Two Interactive filed a complaint against Securitas, maintaining the Pinkerton name was strongly associated with the Wild West and its use in Red Dead Redemption 2 did not infringe on the Pinkerton trademark.

March 2019: Ranked 24th Greatest Game by Popular Mechanics

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 Interactive regarding the use of the Pinkerton name in Red Dead Redemption 2, 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, with player progression carrying over.

November 5, 2019: Red Dead Redemption 2 Release on Windows

On November 5, 2019, Red Dead Redemption 2 was released for Windows, featuring 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.

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 as Stadia Launch Title

On November 19, 2019, Red Dead Redemption 2 was released as a launch title for Stadia.

April 2020: Improvements in Working Conditions at Rockstar

By April 2020, several employees reported significant changes in working conditions at Rockstar, expressing cautious optimism about the company's future.

July 2020: Second Favorite Game

In July 2020, Dylan Haas of Mashable considered Red Dead Redemption 2 his second favorite game of all time, citing its realism, world, characters, and narrative.

November 2020: Listed Among Greatest Games

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

December 1, 2020: Standalone Red Dead Online Client Release

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

Sony PlayStation 4 500GB Console (Renewed)

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2020: Maintained Top Chart Placement in the US

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

July 2021: Study on Ecological Understanding

In July 2021, a study published by the University of Exeter and Truro and Penwith College found that Red Dead Redemption 2 players had an increased understanding of ecology and animal behavior, identifying three more animals on average than other gamers.

November 2021: Ranked 28th Top Game by GamesRadar+

In November 2021, GamesRadar+ ranked Red Dead Redemption 2 28th on its list of top 50 games, describing it as one of the best sandbox games ever made.

2021: Sixth Best-Selling Game in the UK

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

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, citing its characters, narrative, attention to detail, and visual fidelity.

April 2022: Virtual Photographer of the Year 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: Red Dead Online Update Announcement

In July 2022, Rockstar announced that Red Dead Online would not receive more major updates, focusing on smaller missions instead.

2022: Sales Reach 50 Million

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

2022: Ninth Best-Selling Game in the UK

In 2022, Red Dead Redemption 2 was the ninth best-selling game in the United Kingdom.

May 2023: Ranked 15th-Best Game by GQ Survey

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, Eiji Aonuma, the producer of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, cited open-world games like Red Dead Redemption 2 as inspiration for the developers.

2023: Tombstone Redemption Fan Event

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

August 2024: Publication of "Red Dead's History"

In August 2024, Tore Olsson's book, titled "Red Dead's History", was published; the audiobook is narrated by Roger Clark, who portrayed Arthur in Red Dead Redemption 2.

January 2025: Ranked 16th-Best Game by Rolling Stone

In January 2025, Rolling Stone ranked Red Dead Redemption 2 the 16th-best game, praising its environment as one of the most lavishly designed open worlds in existence.