Summary
Red Dead Redemption 3is still likely almost a decade away. While Rockstar Games is better known for theGrand Theft AutoFranchise, the Wild West period piece stories the company has told inRed Dead Redemptionand its sequel have resonated with a huge audience as well. UnlikeGTA, the stories ofRed Dead Redemption 2and the first entry are deeply connected. The first game in the series tells the story of John Marston, a man pulled back into his past by a government agency and forcefully sent down a path of revenge.Red Dead Redemption 2tells the story of Arthur Morgan, the man who earned John the freedom that was ripped away from him.
Red Dead Redemption 2was a prequel by necessity. Both RDR games occur towards the end of the Wild West period. Moving forward would require a shift away from the setting of the American West, something that has defined the series so far. Because of this,Red Dead Redemption 3could be another prequel. The peak of the Wild West period was a ten-year period starting in 1870, which is also the period that the Van Der Linde Gang was founded and came to prominence. Whether Rockstar goes with this setting or not, it is likely series themes will be reprised, such as:
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By the timeRed Dead Redemption 3rolls around, the series will likely have spanned almost 20 years. While the obvious choice seems to be going back and covering the start of the Van Der Linde Gang, even if Rockstar takes a different approach, it must provide some closure, at least thematically.Red Dead Redemption 2avoided closurein a traditional sense. John and Arthur’s relationship is one that was cut short. Arthur’s life ends on his terms, but if not for his illness, he could have lived much longer and his other relationships also share a lack of finality. Denying closure to characters makes the games feel real, but Rockstar needs to complete its thesis.
BothRed Dead Redemptiongames have centered around sacrifice, overcoming one’s past, and redemption. Whilethe setting ofRed Dead Redemption 3is a mystery, it would only make sense for Rockstar to tie up its exploration of these themes. Since another prequel revolving around the Van Der Linde Gang seems likely, it would make sense to wrap things up for them as well. The cast of the games is aging, and the company can’t expect its fanbase to hang around for much more than two decades following a single narrative and thematic thread. Whether it be a narrative continuation or simply thematic closure,RDR 3is Rockstar’s last chance to tie up loose ends.
Arthur Morganis one of gaming’s greatest protagonists because of the uniqueness of his complexity. By all metrics, Arthur is an evil man who has done bad things. Despite this, throughout the game, Arthur is depicted as having a strong moral code dictated by some sense of honor. This sense of honor leads him to make sacrifices to give John a chance to live a better life than he did. This exploration goes hand in hand with John’s arc in the first game, which explores the same themes differently. It makes sense forRed Dead Redemption 3to tie up any narrative and thematic threads left before moving on to new things in the series.
Tying up the remaining narrative and thematic threads inRed Dead Redemption 3would open the door for Rockstar to tell a different type of story with the eventual fourth entry. Whilethe Van Der Linde Gangmembers are beloved by fans, the Wild West setting provides so many other possibilities for stories that Rockstar should take time to explore.Grand Theft Auto’s self-contained stories have allowed the developers to examine myriad timeframes and locations. WhileRed Dead Redemptionis its own thing, its setting and premise could certainly explore a broader range of topics as well.
