Red Dead Redemption II – Game Details

ABOUT

Set in the American frontier in 1899, Red Dead Redemption II follows the story of Arthur Morgan, a member of Dutch van der Linde’s outlaw gang.

SETTING

Red Dead Redemption 2 takes place in the west of America in the year 1899. The game is set before Red Dead Redemption 1 however does include New Austin and West Elizabeth from the first game. Although the storyline doesn’t really take place here, much of the game is set in the new map areas added to the east of these locations.

With Red Dead Redemption 2 there are a variety of different areas and terrains. If you head North of the map you’ll experience thick snow and freezing temperatures, or head East where the map is smoggy and damp where the swamps are. There is a unique weather system in place too, meaning it can be sunny, rainy, cold or warm, and this can change at any time. The playable area in Red Dead Redemption 2 features countryside, deserts, cities, towns, abandoned areas and more. Check out the full Red Dead Redemption 2 map below and also discover some of the towns dotted across the vast and varied landscape of Red Dead Redemption 2; from the forests of West Elizabeth to the mountains of Ambarino to the plains of New Hanover to the swamps of Lemoyne.

Learn more about each major settlement in Red Dead Redemption II by reading below.

Valentine

“A raucous, rough-and-tumble town in the Heartlands, Valentine’s livestock auctions attract traders, ranchers, cowboys, gamblers, outlaws and prostitutes from far and wide, all looking to make some money, raise some hell, and have a good time.”

Annesburg

“Life isn’t easy for the miners and their families in Annesburg, which has been providing coal up and down the Lannahechee River for almost a century. Working conditions are terrible for little pay, and many men have lost their lives down the pit.”

Saint Denis

“A key gateway into North America with a trade route that runs the length of the country, the bustling city of Saint Denis is a melting pot of cultures and people where businessmen, socialites, sailors, laborers, beggars and thieves all live side by side.”

Ambarino, Mount Hagen & Beartooth Beck

“One of the more well-known peaks in the snowy Grizzlies of Ambarino, Mount Hagen towers above Lake Isabella to the west and Beartooth Beck to the east, which provides the main pass through the western mountain range and joins up with the Dakota River further south.”

Rhodes

“Prim and proper on the surface, tensions and corruption run deep in the Southern town of Rhodes, which for years has been caught in the crossfire between the Braithwaites and the Grays, two warring plantation families.”

Strawberry

“Strawberry was little more than a small logging town until the arrival of its new mayor, an East Coast eccentric, who is obsessed with transforming it into a cultural beacon for wealthy tourists, much to the bemusement of the locals.”

Bayou Nwa, Lemoyne & Lagras

“A small, remote settlement out in the swamps of Bayou Nwa, Lemoyne, the people of Lagras live self-sufficiently for the most part, making a little money here and there from fishing and acting as guides for travelers wishing to navigate the region.”

STORYLINE

In 1899, after a botched ferry heist, Dutch van der Linde and his gang, which includes Arthur Morgan and a young John Marston, are forced to flee their hideout in Blackwater and attempt to cross the mountains east to evade law enforcement. To fund their escape, Dutch has the gang rob a train belonging to the wealthy oil magnate Leviticus Cornwall. A furious and vengeful Cornwall then hires the Pinkerton Detective Agency, who send Agents Milton and Ross to apprehend the gang. As a result, the gang is forced to be constantly on the move to stay one step ahead of the law. All the while, Morgan and the rest of the gang continually have to perform numerous jobs and heists to keep the gang funded as Dutch continually promises one last, big heist that will secure their freedom.

After shooting up their initial dwelling near the livestock town of Valentine, West Elizabeth, the gang moves on to a new area, the small rural town of Rhodes in the southern state of Lemoyne. Within Rhodes, the gang learns of old Yankee gold belonging to one of the two warring families: the Grays and the Braithwaites. Initially working for both sides in an attempt to play them against each other for the gold, the gang is gradually being manipulated and used, which culminates in a battle in Rhodes in which gang member Sean is killed and a battle at the Braithwaite manor where the head matriarch reveals she has kidnapped Jack, Marston’s son, and given him to a high ranking criminal. After working their way to the man and getting back Jack, the gang is double-crossed and Dutch begins to devolve into hatred and anger. This leads to a poorly planned bank heist that results in the deaths of both Hosea, a veteran member and best friend to Dutch, and Lenny, a young African-American member who had high ambitions. Marston is captured, and Williamson, Escuela, Bell, Dutch, and Morgan escape via a tanker ship on a voyage to Cuba.

Things get greatly complicated when the group is stranded on a plantation island named Guarma, in which they get embroiled in the civil war between the owners and (essentially) slaves that work the fields. They succeed in furthering the revolution and eventually return to the mainland.

After their arrival back to America, the group continues to run into trouble and strife, largely due to Dutch’s continual descent into madness and risky behavior. Morgan saves Marston, but begins growing increasingly disillusioned with Dutch’s leadership as he becomes more violent and paranoid. Dutch’s decline is also helped along by one of the newer recruits, the ambitious and unscrupulous Micah Bell, who convinces Dutch to take on these more dangerous heists. In addition, Morgan contracts tuberculosis, giving him only a short time to live. Morgan’s loyalty to Dutch finally breaks when Dutch murders Cornwall, instigates a war between a local Native American tribe and the US Army, leaves Marston to die, and refuses to rescue Marston’s girlfriend Abigail when she is captured by Agent Milton. Morgan disobeys Dutch’s orders and rescues Abigail, killing Agent Milton and learning that Bell has been working as a mole for the Pinkertons. Other gang members start becoming uncomfortable at the direction Dutch is going and quietly leave the gang while Morgan convinces Marston to leave and start a new life. Arthur eventually returns to Dutch, openly accusing Micah of being a rat. Dutch, Javier, Bill and Micah turn on Arthur and Marston when the Pinkertons, led by Agent Ross, arrive with a small army, but they manage to escape into the valley. Arthur accepts his fate and buys Marston time to escape by confronting Bell, but he loses the ensuing fight. Dutch, realizing Bell is a rat, parts ways with both him and Morgan, who is either killed by Bell or succumbs to his tuberculosis.

Later on, sometime between 1907 and 1908, Marston is attempting to lead an honest life and provide a living for Abigail and his son Jack. In order to convince Abigail he’s changed, Marston buys a plot of land with the intention of turning it into a ranch. He reunites with several surviving gang members, who help Marston build his ranch and provide him with jobs to pay off his bank loans. Eventually, Marston comes across information leading to Bell’s location. In revenge for Morgan’s death, Marston tracks down and confronts Bell, only to be shocked to see Dutch is with him. Upon seeing Marston, Dutch shoots Bell, allowing Marston to finish him off, and leaves in silence. Marston finds the gang’s old money stash and uses it to fully pay off his loan. Afterwards, he formally marries Abigail, and they both look forward to living a new life on their ranch.

CHARACTERS

A gang of outlaws, renegades and misfits, bonded together under the charismatic and idealistic Dutch van der Linde. They have chosen to live outside the law and now fear it may be catching up with them. There a number of characters featured throughout the story of Red Dead Redemption II. Below are the major characters in the game including those in the Van Der Linde gang. 

Arthur Morgan

Dutch’s most dependable and capable enforcer since he was a boy, the outlaw life is all Arthur has ever known. Sharp, cool-headed, and ruthless, but with his own sense of honor. A man who gets the job done.

Dutch Van Der Linde

The leader of a sizeable gang of outlaws and misfits. Idealistic, anarchic, charismatic, well-read, well-lived, but possibly starting to unravel under the pressures of the encroaching modern world.

John Marston

Once an orphaned street kid taken under Dutch’s wing at the age of twelve, John has always had to live by his wits. Shrewd, fearless and strong-willed, he and Arthur are Dutch’s proudest protégés.

Abigail Roberts

An orphan who grew up scraping out a living in dive bars and brothels in the West, Abigail is a strong, straight-talking woman who has seen a lot of life and knows what it takes to survive against the odds.

Jack Marston

Young Jack has grown up with the gang, although everyone has done their best to shield him from the more nefarious elements, especially his mother Abigail. He loves everything about nature and the outdoor life, and is carefully watched over by his many aunts and uncles.

Hosea Matthews

A master con artist, gentleman and thief, Hosea has been Dutch’s closest friend and right-hand man for over twenty years. Intelligent and quick-witted, he can talk his way into, or out of, just about anything.

Molly O’Shea

A Dublin girl and the object of Dutch’s affection, for now at least, Molly is too high-strung for a life on the run and it’s all starting to take a toll on her.

Susan Grimshaw

WEAPONS

Red Dead Redemption 2 features a wide range of different weapons both new and from the first Red Dead Redemption game. Each weapon has it’s own individual stats and performs in it’s own unique way. The game also has a feature now where weapons degrade over time meaning gun oil has to be purchased to restore them. This feature isn’t a requirement, however weapons won’t perform as well if they are dirty or rusty. Customisation is also available on all weapons, similar to Grand Theft Auto V. You can purchase attachments, change designs and colours, purchase enhanced ammunition and more. 

To purchase weapons, ammunition and customise your weapons you will need to visit a Gunsmith store. These can be found in Valentine, Rhodes, Saint Denis and Annesburg. An additional store is available in Tumbleweed from Epilogue 1 onwards. These specialists can clean your weapons for a fee, and will sell you various weapons and ammunition types. They will also stock individual parts which you can use to customise your weapons. 

For a full list of weapons in Red Dead Redemption 2, including details on customisation and the degrading system as well as their statistics see below.

Revolvers:

• Cattleman Revolver
• Flaco’s Revolver
• Granger Revolver
• Double-Action Revolver
• Algernon’s Revolver
• Micah’s Revolver
• Schofield Revolver
• Colloway’s Revolver
• Otis Miller’s Revolver

Pistols:

• Volcanic Pistol
• Semi-Automatic Pistol
• Mauser Pistol
• Midnight’s Pistol

Rifles:

• Varmint Rifle
• Springfield Rifle
• Bolt Action Rifle

Repeaters:

• Carbine Repeater
• Lancaster Repeater
• Litchfield Repeater

Shotguns:

• Double-Barreled Shotgun 
• Rare Shotgun
• Sawed-Off Shotgun
• Pump-Action Shotgun
• Semi-Auto Shotgun
• Repeating Shotgun

Sniper Rifles:

• Rolling Block Rifle
• Rare Rolling Block Rifle
• Carcano Rifle

Longarm Back:

• Bow & Arrow

Throwables:

• Throwing Knife
• Tomahawk
• Ancient Tomahawk
• Fire Bottle
• Dynamite

Melee:

• Fist
• Hunting Knife
• Jawbone Knife
• Wide-Blade Knife
• Civil War Knife
• Antler Knife
• Machete
• Hatchet
• Broken Pirate Sword
• Stone Hatchet
• Double Bit Hatchet
• Rusted Double Bit Hatchet
• Hewing Hatchet
• Viking Hatched
• Hunting Hatchet
• Rusted Hunter Hatchet
• Cleaver

Weapon Stats

Each weapon has six main stats that broadly determine its overall efficiency. The first five parameters are normalised approximations based on other weapons, with higher totals indicating superior performance in the corresponding categories.

• Damage: The damage each shot will deal when hitting a target.
• Range: An approximation of both the maximum lock-on range of the weapon and its maximum fire range. Both of these scale based on the weapons class.
• Fire Rate: How many bullets can be fired per second.
• Reload: How quick it s to reload one bullet; the time it takes for a full reload, divided by the number of bullets.
• Accuracy: How focused the weapon’s spread is when you aim it, as indicated by the size of the reticle.
• Condition: The current mechanical status of the weapon, which in turn affects the other stats.

When you purchase or obtain a new weapon, its stat bars will be broken down into three sections; White Section, Grey Section, Black Section.

White Section:

The white section of a bar represents its current value. The larger it is, the more effective the weapon will be in the corresponding field. For instance, a large Damage which section means that each shot will hit harder. You will notice that white bar sections gradually shrink as you use your firearms and expose them to detrimental environmental effects such as water and mud. You can reverse this process by cleaning the weapon – this is explained further on in this page category.

Grey Section:

The grey section of a bar represents its theoretical maximum potential. You can develop a weapon’s potential in two ways:

• By equipping it with components, such as a long barrel or improved rifling. These are available at all gunsmiths via the Customise option.
• By firing specialised ammunition. Different types of cartridges can be purchased, crafted, collected or looted. Each ammo type has its uses. For example, express cartridges will significantly increase the damage you deal and therefore extend the weapon’s damage bar.

If you equip a weapon with the relevant components and ammunition, it’s possible for the white section of a bar to fill the grey section completely. This illustrates he fact that the stat in question has reached its maximum potential for that firearm.

Conversely, if you allow a weapon to degrade, you will see the grey bar sections extending towards the left. This reflects the fact that the weapon is losing some of its efficiency and requires maintenance. 

Black Section:

The black section of a bar can never be attained. It is outside of the weapons potential.

Weapon Degradation

Weapons in Red Dead Redemption 2 gradually deteriorate in condition due to usage and environmental factors. Allowing them to become dirty or rusty will lead to lower damage, slower cocking and longer reloads. It is therefore recommended to regularly maintain your arsenal, however it is not a game requirement.

The Degradation Process:

You can keep track of the condition of a weapon via the weapon wheel. Look below the five main stats bars to find a ‘condition’ bar. Initially, this is fully white, which corresponds to an optimal condition. Over time, you will notice that the right end of the bar becomes grey, indicating that the degradation process has begun, and that weapon’s potential has been lowered. This also reflected visually, with the weapon in question showing signs of wear and tear. 

There are actually three different hidden parameters that determine weapon deterioration:

• Soot: Shooting the weapon will cause it to slowly degrade. A weapon will go from best condition to worst condition after being fired a certain number of times.
• Rust: Rust appears when the weapon is submerged in water or deep snow (this includes when the weapon is holstered). It will take a set number of seconds for a weapon exposed to water to go from best condition to worst condition.
• Dirt: Dirt stains a weapon when it is submerged in deep mud (this includes when the weapon is holstered). It will take a set number of seconds for a weapon exposed to mud to go from best condition to worst condition.

Degradation has the following detrimental effects on your weapons, applied in a gradual and proportional manner:

• The damage caused by the weapon is reduced.
• The weapon’s fire rate is reduced.
• If applicable, the weapon’s cocking speed is slowed down.
• The time it takes to reload will be increased.

Slowing Degradation

There are several items that can reduce wear and tear on your weapons. Their effects stack, making it possible to spend less time on maintenance with your favoured firearms.

More generally, it is usually sensible to stow your preferred weapons on your horse should you need to spend an extended time in proximity to mud, water, or snow. If there is no real danger of attack when you are engaged in activities that will directly affect weapon condition (such as swimming to reach collectibles, for example), it might be better to just take a disposable sidearm along for emergencies. 

Maintaining Weapons

You should maintain your weapons to negate the effects of degradation. There are two methods; manual upkeep, or employing the services of a gunsmith. Both will also remove visual effects such as soot, rust and dirt from the weapon.

Manual Cleaning:

You can clean your firearms yourself as long as you own gun oil. This is sold in most shops, including gunsmiths, general stores, trappers and fences. You may also find gun oil when looting through bodies that have been killed. 

Gunsmith Cleaning:

You can also pay a gunsmith to clean your weapons. Just like manual cleaning, this restores them to perfect condition.

Weapon Customisation

Weapon customisation is a system that enables you to apply component and style changes to weapons that you own via the services of a gunsmith.

Modification Overview:

Most component modifications directly affect the performance of weapons. If you can afford to do so, applying suitable upgrades to your preferred firearms will give you an extra in combat.

Style modifications are purely cosmetic, enabling you to personalise your weapons in accordance with your preference.

Component – Barrel Length

Barrel length is designed to improve the accuracy of weapons. This component is available for revolvers, pistols, and shotguns (with the exception of the sawed-off shotgun).

• Short Barrel: Default component on all weapons of the above categories (except Schofield revolver, which comes equipped with a long barrel).
• Long Barrel: This increases the accuracy due to a narrower cone of fire

Component – Grip

A grip modification changes the design of the handle for sidearm weapons. You can change this component for revolvers and pistols.

• Basic Grip
• Ironwood Grip
• Ebony Grip
• Pearl Grip
• Hero Pearl Grip (available exclusively for the cattleman revolver if your honor rank is 4 or higher)
• Gunslinger Ebony Grip (Available exclusively for the double-action revolver if your honor is rank -4 or lower)

Component – Barrel Rifling

Barrel rifling is the helical pattern inside the barrel designed to spin projectile on exit, increasing velocity and range.

• Standard Rifling: Default component on all weapons
• Improved Rifling: Weapons range is increased by 10%; damage fall-off ranges are also increased by 10%, making weapons more effective at long distances. When used on shotgun weapons with buckshot ammunition equipped, spread is increased, leading to a wider cone of fire – but therefore lower accuracy.

Component – Iron Sights

Iron sights make it easier to aim your weapon. This modification is available for all firearms except sniper rifles. While aiming a weapon without a scope in first-person view, pressing DOWN on the D-Pad will toggle the iron sights view on and off.

• Stock Sights: Default component on all weapons (with the exception of sniper rifles).
• Improved Sights: Increase accuracy by enabling better target acquisition.

Component – Scopes

Scopes are available for repeaters and rifles. While aiming a weapon with a scope, pressing DOWN on the D-Pad will toggle the full-screen zoom scope view on and off. Not that this is not possible with sniper rifles, though.

• No Scope: No zoom (not available for sniper rifles)
• Short Scope: Low-level zoom 
• Medium Scope: Medium-level zoom
• Long Scope: High-level zoom

Component – Stock

The stock modification changes the grain textures of the wooden sections of longarm weapons (repeaters, rifles, and shotguns, including the sawn-off shotgun).

• Basic Grain
• Straight Grain
• Wide Grain

Component – Wrap

Leather wraps help to preserve the condition of weapons against wear from usage and the elements. This is available for repeaters, rifles, and shotguns (including sawn-off shotgun).

• No Wrap: Default degradation
• Wrap: Reduces weapon degradation by 10%. This stacks with other similar effects.

MISSION LIST

Red Dead Redemption 2 has a storyline which is approximately 60 hours+ long containing nearly 105 main missions. This does not include side missions, random events, activities and other events.. The game is broken up into 6 main chapters and then 2 Epilogue chapters. Red Dead Redemption 2 is set in 1899, before the first game. This means that characters from the first game will appear in the story of Red Dead Redemption 2 and will seem a lot younger than players remember. The events in the game tell the story of the Van Der Linde Gang and events leading up to the beginning of the first Red Dead Redemption game.

*Please be warned, reading the below Mission List may expose minor spoilers to the Red Dead Redemption II story. We advise that if you don’t want the story spoiled, you do not read the sub-headings for each chapter*

Chapter I:

After a failed robbery, the gang has fled from Blackwater into the Grizzly Mountains, however a late spring snowstorm has left them frozen and starving and fighting for survival. The gang are stuck in an abandoned mining town, licking their wounds and awaiting to break free from the weather.

• Outlaws from The West
• Enter, Pursued by a Memory
• Old Friends
• The Aftermath of Genesis
• Who the Hell is Leviticus Cornwall
• Eastward Bound – Unlocks the open world 

Chapter II:

After breaking through the storm, the gang heads down from the mountains to dry, warm land, and is now hiding at Horseshoe Overlook. 

• Polite Society, Valentine Style
• Americans At Rest
• Paying A Social Call
• A Quiet Time
• Good, Honest, Snake Oil
• Exit Pursued By A Bruised Ego – Unlocks Horse Brush and the Legendary Animals map.
• Blessed Are The Meek?
• Who Is Not Without Sin 
• Money Lending And Other Sins – Unlocks Ledger and Camp Upgrades
• The Spines Of America – Unlocks Fence to sell Gold Bars
• The First Shall Be Last
• Pouring Forth Oil II
• Pouring Forth Oil IV
• A Fisher Of Men – Unlocks Fishing and Fishing Pole
• We Loved Once And True III
• The Sheep And The Goats
• An American Pastoral Scene
• A Strange Kindness – Gold bar

Chapter III:

The gang have been made to run flee Valentine after an altercation with the railway magnate, Leviticus Cornwall, who has grown tired of having his trains robbed by gangs of outlaws. Afraid that the routes from the west were being watched by the Pinkerton Agents, the gang moves south and east and are now hiding at Clemens Cove near to the small town of Rhodes.

• The New South
• Further Questions of Female Suffrage
• American Distillation
• An Honest Mistake 
• The Course of True Love – II
• The Course of True Love – III
• Preaching Forgiveness as He Went
• Sodom? Back to Gomorrah
• Advertising, the New American Art – II
• Horse Flesh For Dinner – Unlocks horse fence
• Magicians for Sport
• The Fine Joys of Tobacco – Makes fire bottles purchasable at fences
• Friends in Very Low Places
• Blessed Are The Peacemakers
• A Short Walk in a Pretty Town 
• Blood Feuds, Ancient and Modern
• The Battle of Shady Belle – Unlocks Chapter 4 and better horses at Scarlett Meadows Stable and Saint Denis Stable

Chapter IV:

Things end poorly with the gang in Rhodes. The Pinkertons have once again shown up and Jack Marston has been kidnapped. The gang travel to Saint Denis where they become heavily involved and things don’t quite go to plan.

• The Joys Of Civilization 
• Angelo Bronte, A Man of Honor
• No, No And Thrice, No
• The Gilded Cage
• A Fine Night of Debauchery
• Horsemen, Apocalypse
• American Fathers 
• Urban Pleasures
• Country Pursuits
• Revenge Is A Dish Best Eaten
• Banking, The Old American Art

Chapter V:

The gang attempted a bank robbery in Saint Denis which ended as a disaster. The gang has now almost been destroyed, several members killed or arrested and everything seems to be lost. In aid of escape, what is left of the gang manages to get onto a boat and head out to see, but where they end up is completely unknown to them on arrival. 

• Welcome To The New World
• Savagery Unleashed
• A Kind and Benevolent Despot
• Hell Hath No Fury
• Paradise Mercifully Departed
• Dear Uncle Tacitus
• Fleeting Joy
• A Fork In The Road
• That’s Murfree Country
• Icarus And Friends

Chapter VI:

The gang, what is left of it, have reunited at Lakay, however they quickly get assaulted by a squad of Pinkertons who attempt to finish them off. 

• Visiting Hours
• Just A Social Call 
• A Rage Unleashed
• The Delights Of Van Horn
• Archaeology For Beginners
• The Bridge To Nowhere
• Honor, Amongst Thieves
• The Fine Art of Conversation 
• Goodbye, Dear Friend
• Mrs. Sadie Adler, Widow II
• Favored Sons
• The King’s Son
• My Last Boy
• Our Best Selves
• Red Dead Redemption

Epilogue I:

The Epilogue occurs a few years after the end of Red Dead Redemption II. Blackwater is no longer off limits and is available to visit. Better horses can also be purchased at Blackwater Stable. 

• The Wheel 
• Simple Pleasures
• Farming, for Beginners
• Fatherhood, for Beginners
• Old Habits
• Jim Milton Rides, Again?
• Fatherhood, for Idiots
• Motherhood – You’ll have access to all of Arthur’s weapons and items after this mission.
• Gainful Employment
• Home of the Gentry?

Epilogue II:

• Bare Knuckle Friendships
• Home Improvements for Beginners
• An Honest Day’s Labors
• The Tool Box
• A New Jerusalem 
• A Quick Favor for an Old Friend
• Uncle’s Bad Day
• Trying Again 
• A Really Big Bastard
• A New Future Imagined
• American Venom

WILDLIFE

The diverse habitats and climates of Red Dead Redemption 2 are home to around 200 species of animals, birds and fish, all of which behave and respond to their environment in a unique way.

Deer, bison and pronghorn traverse the plains in large herds, scavengers quickly sniff out carrion, sockeye salmon leap upstream, wolves attack in packs surrounding their prey, geese fly in fixed formations, possums play dead, rodents scamper into tree hollows, grizzly bears bluff charge when threatened, and birds of prey soar on thermals. They all form part of a complex ecosystem and must continually fight for their place on the food chain. The wilderness is at once a bountiful and perilous place, for both man and beast, and any predator can quickly turn prey.

A ZOOLOGICAL COMPENDIUM OF EARTH’S CREATURES

SOUNDTRACK

Building on the evocative score of the original Red Dead Redemption, the soundtrack and score of Red Dead Redemption 2 is a powerful, emotional journey through the final days of America’s outlaw era.

Red Dead Redemption 2 features an interactive, dynamic score composed by Woody Jackson. Rockstar fans will already be familiar with Woody’s work on the original Red Dead Redemption, L.A. Noire and Grand Theft Auto V with Tangerine Dream, The Alchemist and Oh No.

The score features additional production and arrangement by Jeff Silverman (Truth and Soul, Aloe Black), with additional musical score and orchestration provided by Colin Stetson (Bon Iver, Hereditary), David Ferguson (Johnny Cash’s engineer), David Ralicke (Beck, Sons of Anarchy), Gabe Witcher (Punch Brothers, True Detective), Luke O’Malley, Mario Batkovic (of Geoff Barrow’s Invada), Matt Sweeney (Zwan, Iggy Pop, Bonnie Prince Billy), Rabih Beaini and Senyawa, as well as contributions from over 110 other musicians including Arca (frequent Bjork, Kanye West, Frank Ocean and Kelela collaborator), Duane Eddy (Lee Hazlewood protégé), Jon Theodore (former drummer of Mars Volta and current Queens of the Stone Age drummer), Michael Shuman aka Mikey Shoes (Queens of the Stone Age, Mini Mansions) and more.

All of the vocal moments in Red Dead Redemption 2 are produced entirely by Grammy Award-winner Daniel Lanois, known for producing albums for Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Willie Nelson as well as collaborating with pioneering musician Brian Eno to produce several albums for U2 including the multi-platinum The Joshua Tree. In addition to Lanois’ production, the soundtrack features additional vocal performances from a range of award-winning artists including D’Angelo, Willie Nelson, Nas, Rhiannon Giddens, Josh Homme, plus an additional track written, produced and performed by David Ferguson. All songs for both the score and soundtrack were created exclusively for Red Dead Redemption 2.

THE ORIGINAL SOUNTRACK ALBUM

Playlist 

THE ORIGINAL SCORE ALBUM

LAUNCH DETAILS

Red Dead Redemption II was teased via social media on October 16th & 17th, 2016 before being officially announced on October 18th, 2016 via social media on Twitter and Facebook with a quite simple post of “RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2 Coming Fall 2017 #RDR2” followed by a link to the official website and an artwork announcing the official trailer date. 2 Days after this the first official trailer was released showcasing what the developers had been working on over the years. 

On May 22nd, 2017, a few months prior to the scheduled launch of Red Dead Redemption II, Rockstar Games announced that the game had been delayed until Spring 2018. This delay was unfortunate and rattled fans but was expected as it’s a regular pattern of behavior from the developer. Rockstar Games then went rather quite until they dropped the second trailer on September 28th, 2017 which at the end confirmed the title was still on track for the Spring 2018 launch. Fans were still skeptical as the game had only been announced for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 with no mention of a PC version. Red Dead Redemption launched in 2010 only for consoles and this sparked fans as the game never made it to the PC platform, making it worrying that Red Dead Redemption II would be following the same footsteps. 

However, on February 1st 2018 Rockstar Games announced a SECOND delay, however had provided a more precise launch date of October 26th, 2018. This delay meant that the game would launch nearly 2 years after its announcement and had been delayed by more than 12 months. A third trailer dropped on May 2nd, 2018 which paid closer attention to Arthur Morgan, the protagonist and the storyline that the game follows. 

5 months later, on October 26th, 2018, Red Dead Redemption II officially released for Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Just like Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online, Red Dead Online was not available from the start and instead launched on November 30th, 2018 as the Red Dead Online Beta. Rockstar Games provided early access for those who had purchased the Special and Ultimate editions, of which was staggered throughout the week before being available to everybody who owned Red Dead Redemption on November 30th, 2018. 

Whilst fans were still left in the dark wondering whether the game would ever make it to PC, those on consoles had already begun completing a very long and in-depth storyline, side missions, Easter eggs, ranking up in Red Dead Online and well, doing everything that PC owners couldn’t do. Fortunately, after much scrutiny and complaints from the wider community, Rockstar Games officially announced on October 4th, 2019 that Red Dead Redemption II would be releasing for PC on November 5th 2019. The PC version featured a wide array of graphical and technical enhancements including new missions, weapons and more. See the below section for more information on the PC release.

PC RELEASE

Red Dead Redemption 2 for PC , brings with it a range of graphical and technical enhancements to bring new life and detail to the story of Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang, on the run from the law across America in the final days of the 19th Century.