Red Dead Redemption II must deconstruct the American Frontier mythology

On October 26, developer Rockstar Games will launch one of the most anticipated games of 2018 when it releases Red Dead Redemption II for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. This prequel story got a new trailer today that dives deep into its narrative, which once again explores the end of the Wild West era. The Western is a decades-old media staple, but it still has a lot of unexplored potential for stories. So I don’t want the familiar Old West story about cowboys trying to live free from the ever-expanding state. Rockstar should instead use one of the biggest entertainment releases of the year to deconstruct what the American Frontier myth has turned into.