Summary
To almost no one’s surprise, the years following the release of the lastRed Dead Redemptiongame have been host to an avalanche of speculation regarding the next entry in the series. The potentialstars ofRed Dead Redemption 3, its setting, and its narrative premise are all up in the air, and while this is perfectly understandable, many of these guesses are based on false or unsubstantiated assumptions and can be likened to loaded questions.
Red Dead Redemption 2is a bit of an anomaly when it comes to Rockstar’s releases. The game is directly linked to 2010’sRed Dead Redemption, serving as a prequel and featuring many of the same characters, staking itself in the same narrative soil. Rockstar doesn’t often do this, as other series by the company, likeGrand Theft AutoandManhunt, are more like anthology series that take place in the same universe, rather than direct continuations of a particular story. Thus, a hypothetical third game in the series would be another first for the developer, meaning that nothing can be guaranteed.
Max Paynehas direct continuity, but Rockstar only developed the third game in the series, with Remedy helming the other two. So,Red Dead Redemptionis still a unique series for the company.
The broadest, most fundamental assumption made when talking aboutRed Dead Redemption 3’s narrative elementsis that the game is in the works in the first place. Given the overwhelming success ofRed Dead Redemptionand its sequel, many assume that a third game is inevitable, but this is where it’s important to remember thatRed Dead Redemption 2is an anomaly: just because Rockstar made a direct prequel toRed Dead Redemptiondoesn’t mean that it’s guaranteed to happen again.
It’s possible that the story, or even the entire Western framework, might be a thing of the past for the company—this isn’t unrealistic, as theRed Dead Redemptionnarrative is mostly concluded.
It’s easy to forget, butRed Dead Redemptionisn’t the first game in theRed Deadseries. 2004’sRed Dead Revolverwas Rockstar’s firstforay into the Wild West genre, setting the stage forRed Dead Redemptionsix years later. However, the games aren’t connected beyond superficial similarities and a few Easter eggs. At the risk of being reductive,it’s possible to think ofRed Dead Redemptionas aGTA-style sequel toRevolver, in that it is a game set in the same universe, with a similar tone, without being directly linked by an overarching plot.
When people discussRed Dead Redemption 3, it’s often with the assumption that it will bedirectly linked toRed Dead Redemption 2. In truth, it’s just as likely that Rockstar could repeat history with a newRed Dead Redemptiongame, making it more of a spiritual successor toRDR2, set in a different era with a completely new cast of characters.
While it’s not unreasonable to wonder whetherRed Dead 3could explore the origins of the Van der Linde Gang, or follow Sadie Adler after the events ofRed Dead 2, these popular theories assume much about the very nature of the game. That is, they assume that the game exists and that it will somehow continue the narrative established by the previous titles. There’s nothing wrong with this sort of speculation, of course, butRed Dead Redemptionfans should be aware that questions like “will Charles be the protagonist ofRed Dead 3or Sadie?” are loaded, based on major assumptions about a game that may never even see the light of day.
