You've got to give credit to Rockstar Games - they've got the entire gaming media worked up into a frenzy by releasing just two images in the space of a couple of days.

Speculation has been rife for some time that a sequel to 2010's Red Dead Redemption was on the horizon. As we reported, Rockstar Games released a singular image over the weekend that seemed to be pointing in that direction.

A further image - the one in the header - was released last night and now there's more evidence that an announcement is coming. enthusiast.gg has found a domain filing by Rockstar Games for Red Dead Online.

It's worth pointing out that companies regularly register domains so that nobody can take them on and use them against them. It's a common practice known as cyber-squatting and it's caused more than a few headaches for major companies - not just gaming ones - in the past.

However, this domain was updated earlier this year, which lends further credence to the idea that the next Red Dead game will be along the lines of GTA Online and be solely multiplayer. It's not a bad move, to be honest, as GTA Online has kept Grand Theft Auto V going long past its initial release.

That said, Red Dead Redemption's single-player campaign was easily one of the best we've ever played, so it's hard to know if jettisoning that for the sake of a sprawling multiplayer sandbox adventure is worth it.

We'll be keeping our eyes peeled on Rockstar's social media channels in the meantime as an announcement is expected in the next day or two. For what it's worth, Take Two Games' stock has skyrocketed in the past five days, thanks to two simple images.

 

UPDATE: 3.08PM

 

Well, it's official - Red Dead Redemption 2 is happening. Per Rockstar's official website - "Developed by the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic tale of life in America’s unforgiving heartland. The game’s vast and atmospheric world will also provide the foundation for a brand new online multiplayer experience."

So far, it's Xbox One and PlayStation 4 only - so, thoughts? YOU'RE GONNA DIE, FRIEND. Sorry, that's a John Marston quote. We're excited. Really excited.

 

Via enthusiast.gg / Twitter