If there's one thing that was made apparent by Rockstar's strategy of content releases and updates for GTA V, it's that the online component of the game was the big money spinner. That's likely to be the case with Red Dead Redemption 2. As much as the game has sold exceedingly well, we expect Rockstar to focus its content releases and updates on Red Dead Online, which is why its launch this week is such a big deal.
RDO officially debuts on Tuesday, November 27, with the owners of the Red Dead Redemption 2 Ultimate Edition invited to join in first. They will be followed by anyone who purchased the game on launch day (all editions) the following day on Wednesday 28. Anyone who bought the game on launch week will be able to join in on Thursday November 29, while everyone else will only be able to come on board on November 30.
That will give those who purchased the Ultimate and launch day versions of the game a significant advantage in terms of acquiring in-game loot, weapons, and forming gangs, but that's to be expected with most online games these days -- as much as we disagree with it.
What will Red Dead Online actually be like, though? It will effectively be a more open world than the single player sandbox, with less story components, but the ability to enjoy the game's activities with and against friends and enemies. Up to seven players can form a posse together, competing and working together in fishing, hunting, wrangling and of course, gunfighting. There will be hideouts to attack, your own fort to defend, banks to rob, towns to hold up, and more.
Red Dead Online will technically be in beta when it first launches, with plans for more expanded content and bug fixes in the very near future. The mode will have a general, official release sometime later.