Rockstar Games announced that Red Dead Online, a new online connected experience set against the backdrop of Red Dead Redemption 2‘s enormous open world, will debut in November first as a public beta test.
The new multiplayer world will be an online version of the Red Dead universe, and it’s a clear lesson from the success of GTA Online, which has kept Grand Theft Auto V at the top of the charts for more than five years.
Rockstar said that Red Dead Online is an evolution of the classic multiplayer experience in the original Red Dead Redemption, blending narrative with competitive and cooperative gameplay in fun new ways. Using the gameplay of the upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2 as a foundation, Red Dead Online will be ready to be explored alone or with friends, and will also feature constant updates and adjustments to grow and evolve this experience for all players.
Red Dead Online is planned for launch in November 2018, initially as a public beta, with more news to come soon. Rockstar said that as with most online experiences of this size and scale, there will inevitably be some “turbulence at launch.”
Rockstar said, “We look forward to working with our amazing and dedicated community to share ideas, help us fix teething problems and work with us to develop Red Dead Online into something really fun and innovative.”
Access to Red Dead Online is free to anyone with a copy of Red Dead Redemption 2 on either PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. Red Dead Redemption 2 will be available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on October 26.