'Red Dead Redemption 2' sold well over 30 million copies since launch in 2018, but its online mode has been barely updated since July 2021 - and fans aren't happy.
Fans have taken to Twitter to voice their frustration with Rockstar Games with the hashtag #SaveRedDeadOnline trending on Twitter over the last few days in an attempt to get the developers attention.
Fans have pointed out that 'Grand Theft Auto Online' has received 2 substantial updates in the last 6 months, while 'Red Dead Redemption Online' has received just one in the same time period.
Tensions and fan discontent had been building over the course of 2021, but Rockstar's January 6th confirmation that there would be no major updates for the game as 2022 begins served as the impetus for the hashtag to go viral.
Prior to Christmas, 2013's 'Grand Theft Auto 5' received DLC with Dr. Dre lending his voice and likeness to the DLC, and naturally, fans of 'Red Dead Dead Redemption 2' wish their game got the same attention from Rockstar Games.
The last major update for 'Red Dead Online' came in July 2021, and the 'Blood Money' update.
The 'Blood Money' update was fairly substantial as it added homestead robberies and new crime-based missions to the game mode, but the game hasn't received an update since then while 'Grand Theft Auto Online' has received not one, but two major updates in that time period.
In comparison to 'Grand Theft Auto Online' which has become a radically different game since its initial broken launch in October 2013 and is a major source of revenue for Rockstar Games, 'Red Dead Online' has not received the same level of updates, much to the chagrin of fans.
The lack of updates for 'Red Dead Online' may be a purely monetary decision: 'Grand Theft Auto Online' has a bigger player base than 'Red Dead Online' and Rockstar Games would rather invest time and money into a DLC that is guaranteed to see a return on investment.
Judging by Rockstar Games' parent company Take-Two Interactive completing a buyout of mobile game developer Zynga Games for $12.7 billion dollars, this is a clear indication of where Take-Two's interests lay; the company are not interested in catering to the established and dedicated fanbase, and would rather chase the more financially lucrative mobile gaming market.
This new approach can be reflected in their treatment of 'Red Dead Redemption 2'.
In comparison to the 2010 original which received brilliant DLC such as the fantastic 'Undead Nightmare', Rockstar's DLC offerings for 'Red Dead Redemption 2' has been thin on the ground, with the game following the same path as 'Grand Theft Auto 5' of having substantial single-player DLC promised and quietly abandoned by the developers once the online mode started generating major revenue for the company.
A common refrain on the hashtag is fans of the game is fans requesting Rockstar Games be more transparent with fans surrounding the future of the game mode and for them to give a solid roadmap about planned content.
Time will tell if Rockstar Games will listen to fan demand and change their tact with their cowboy epic.
Rockstar Games have come under substantial pressure from fans and games press alike in recent months following the botched release of the remastered 'Grand Theft Auto trilogy' and criticism of the developers making a second next-gen port of 'Grand Theft Auto 5' instead of catering to the existing player base.
