Red Dead Online Adds New Battle Royale Mode, Plus Details What’s Next
A wonderfully dense cowboy adventure awaited players upon the release of Red Dead Redemption 2, an experience that became even bigger with the beta launch of the title’s long awaited online mode. Red Dead Online, fresh from addressing a number of launch issues, is now gearing up for another new update, this one introducing the game’s previously-rumored battle royale mode.
In a recent press release, Rockstar revealed Gun Rush, a new multiplayer mode where rival players put their gun-toting skills to the test in Old West arena combat. Gathering up to 32 contestants per match, players have the familiar goal of gathering weapons, navigating a shrinking map, and strategically surviving to be the last person standing. In a similar format to PUBG or Fortnite, Gun Rush also includes varied free-for-all and team-based modes.
As part of the update, a number of other changes were laid out pertaining to the base experience. New Races and Showdown Modes were revealed to be on the way, as were a collection of fresh emotes and cosmetic items. A new batch of player-suggested changes for aspects such as Daily Challenges and Law and Bounty systems were also given details:
- Daily Challenges: Tackle new challenges each day covering every aspect of the game, from sharpshooting to evading the law.
- Law and Bounty Upgrades: Some changes are coming to the way the Law and Bounty systems work in Red Dead Online to reduce the enticements for griefing. Soon, players will get a bounty for committing crimes and will be incentivized to pay them off within an allotted time. Wait too long and bounty hunters from each of the states will track the player forcing them to either pay up or escape.
- Parley Changes: We’re making the Parley system easier to trigger so that you can avoid aggressive players more quickly. In addition, it will be easier to trigger Feuds, Posse Feuds and Leader Feuds to take on attacking players in structured competition.
- Proximity-Based Player Blips: Player location blips will soon appear only over short distances, reducing the range at which you are visible to others, decreasing the likelihood of being targeted by another player across large areas. Down the line, we’re also looking to introduce the ability to identify players who grief and kill indiscriminately with a progressively darkening blip that becomes more visible and at a longer range, so everyone in a session can identify potentially dangerous opponents at a glance and from a safe distance.
As this is the beginning of a new year, Rockstar also took the opportunity to showcase their plans for 2019, revealing several big additions scheduled to be rolled out sometime in the next 12 months. New story elements, a myriad of competitive modes, as well as a few surprises were all given teases for later in the year:
- All-new missions to build on your Story in A Land Of Opportunities – from previously established characters like Horley and Jessica LeClerk, and some new ones as well.
- A range of Dynamic Events throughout the world
- Lots of new competitive modes including new Showdown Modes and Races
- Plus new weapons and clothing, and lots more that we’re not quite ready to announce just yet…
Lastly, it was announced that the online mode’s PlayStation 4 timed-exclusive offerings have now been unlocked for Xbox One users. This gives players on the Microsoft console access to goodies like the Grizzlies Outlaw Outfit, a Red Chestnut Arabian horse, a nifty Alligator Skin Ranch Cutter Saddle, and a special High Roller Double-Action Revolver. For those interested in some rootin-tootin battle royale, Gun Rush is available now in the Red Dead Online beta for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
What do you think? Are you inclined to play Gun Rush in Red Dead Online? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter and Facebook to be informed of the latest gaming and entertainment news 24 hours a day! For more headlines recently featured on DFTG, check out these next few news stories:
Eric Hall2712 Posts
Phone-browsing Wikipedia in one hand and clutching his trusty controller in the other, the legendary Eric Hall spreads his wealth of knowledge as a writer for Don't Feed the Gamers. Be sure to catch his biweekly "Throwback Thursday" segment for a nostalgic look at trivia from the past.
