As the digital dust settles on the vast plains of Red Dead Redemption 2, whispers of what comes next echo across the gaming landscape. With the second installment shipping an astounding 61 million units as of February 2024, the franchise has cemented itself as one of gaming's most beloved sagas. A third entry seems inevitable—not a question of if, but when. And while Rockstar Games remains characteristically tight-lipped, the gaming community can't help but speculate about what awaits beyond the horizon.

The Weight of Legacy

The Van der Linde gang's story has been told—beautifully, painfully, and thoroughly. Through John Marston's desperate mission to protect his family in the first game and Arthur Morgan's journey of redemption in the prequel, players have witnessed the complete rise and fall of Dutch's infamous outlaws. The narrative thread connecting these characters has been woven tight, leaving little room for further exploration without risking the integrity of what came before.

"They've milked that cow dry as a bone in summer," as old-timers might say. The Van der Linde saga has reached its natural conclusion, spanning the twilight years of the Wild West from the gang's heyday to its ultimate dissolution.

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A Fresh Trail to Blaze

Rockstar now stands at a crossroads that many successful franchises face: continue with familiar elements or venture into uncharted territory. The latter option, while riskier, offers the most tantalizing possibilities.

Imagine a Red Dead Redemption 3 set in an entirely different corner of the American frontier—perhaps the gold rush of California, the lawless territories of Arizona, or even venturing north into the Canadian wilderness. A clean slate would free the developers from the chronological constraints of the existing narrative, allowing them to explore different eras of the Wild West's colorful history.

People Also Ask

Would Red Dead Redemption 3 work without the Van der Linde gang?

While the Van der Linde gang has become synonymous with the franchise, the true heart of Red Dead Redemption has always been its exploration of the dying Wild West and the complex morality of those living through its final days. A new cast of characters could carry this thematic torch just as effectively, offering fresh perspectives on familiar themes.

Could Red Dead Redemption 3 be set in an earlier time period?

Setting a new game earlier in the Wild West era would open up gameplay possibilities that the previous games couldn't offer due to their timing at the frontier's end. Players could experience a truly untamed West, with vast territories yet unclaimed by civilization.

The Narrative Possibilities

A fresh start would allow Rockstar to craft an entirely new protagonist—perhaps a character with a background we haven't seen before. Instead of another outlaw seeking redemption, what about:

  • A Pinkerton detective with a complicated moral compass

  • A Native American navigating the encroachment of settlers

  • A Mexican revolutionary crossing the border to escape persecution

  • A woman carving out her place in a male-dominated frontier

The beauty of the Red Dead series has always been its nuanced portrayal of complex characters caught in the grinding gears of history. As one NPC in RDR2 put it: "Ain't none of us clean, mister. We're all just trying not to drown in the mud." That sentiment could carry through to new characters in new circumstances, maintaining the series' thematic consistency while exploring fresh narrative ground.

Technical Horizons

By the time Red Dead Redemption 3 likely releases—probably well into the PlayStation 6 era around 2028-2029—the technical capabilities will have evolved dramatically. Rockstar has always pushed the boundaries of what's possible in open-world design, and a clean slate would allow them to build something truly next-generation without the constraints of maintaining continuity.

The level of detail in RDR2's world was staggering in 2018, with systems for wildlife, weather, and NPC behavior that felt genuinely alive. Imagine what might be possible with several more years of technological advancement—perhaps truly dynamic settlements that grow or decline based on player actions, or ecological systems that respond realistically to hunting patterns and environmental changes.

The Double-Edged Revolver

Of course, starting fresh comes with risks. The Van der Linde gang has earned players' emotional investment over hundreds of hours of gameplay. Dutch, Arthur, John, Sadie, Charles—these characters have become gaming icons. Walking away from that established connection means building new relationships from scratch.

"It's like leaving a warm campfire to start a new one elsewhere," you might say. There's no guarantee the new flame will burn as bright.

But perhaps that's exactly the kind of risk Rockstar should take. After all, before Arthur Morgan stole players' hearts in RDR2, many couldn't imagine anyone replacing John Marston as the series protagonist.

The Horizon Beckons

Whatever direction Rockstar chooses for Red Dead Redemption 3, the decision between continuation and fresh start will fundamentally shape what the game becomes. The safer path leads back to familiar territory—perhaps following another Van der Linde associate or exploring Dutch's earlier years. The bolder choice opens a new chapter entirely.

As we wait for any official word—likely years away still—the possibilities remain as wide open as the frontier itself. And maybe that's fitting for a series that has always been about the tension between freedom and civilization, between holding onto the past and embracing an uncertain future.

The trail ahead is long, and the horizon distant. But one thing seems certain—wherever Red Dead Redemption 3 takes us, it'll be a journey worth saddling up for.