Video game developer Rockstar Games has announced its upcoming game "Red Dead Redemption 2" will be released October 26, 2018. In a brief post on its company website yesterday (Feb. 1), Rockstar confirmed the release date for both Xbox One and PlayStation 4. At this time, there are still no plans for a PC release of the game.

After lengthy delays

While the Old West action-adventure title has been in development since at least 2016, yesterday’s post finally confirmed a concrete release date after two delays. While the game was initially scheduled for release in fall 2017, Rockstar pushed back the date first to Q1/Q2 2018 and now to October.

Rumors circulated that the game may have been delayed due to updates for its other popular title, "Grand Theft Auto Online." Other rumors speculated developer Sony was reluctant to allow proposed cross-platform play between players—in other words, players on different consoles could theoretically all play the game together. Rockstar addressed the delays in its post, stating that “while we had hoped to have the game out sooner, we require a little extra time to polish.” The company then thanked fans for their continued patience.

Better late than never

The decision is a prudent one on Rockstar’s part, as far too many games have suffered due to rushed development schedules. AAA titles like "Assassin’s Creed: Unity," "Mass Effect: Andromeda," and "Fable 3" are just three examples of games that were rushed through development and panned as a result.

Nintendo Representative Director and gaming giant Shigeru Miyamoto has publicly stated on the matter: “A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad.”

Big shoes to fill

Despite its sequential title, "Red Dead Redemption 2" serves as a prequel to 2010’s "Red Dead Redemption." The game told the story of ex-criminal John Marston in his quest for, well, redemption as he unwillingly hunts down his former partners.

Players rode, fought and shot their way through a fictionalized version of the dying Wild West of 1911. Players could fight duels, hunt down criminals, lasso cattle, hold up trains, and indulge many other outlaw or vigilante fantasies. While some critics dismissed the game as “Grand Theft Horse,” a derisive reference to Rockstar’s flagship Grand Theft Auto series, the game received near universal acclaim for its story, characters, and gameplay, winning several Game of the Year awards. While expectations for the sequel remain extremely high, fans will finally have their chance to play the long-awaited game this October.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED