Will Red Dead Redemption 2 stick around like Grand Theft Auto V?

One unspoken expectation that lingered above Red Dead Redemption 2 even before its release was whether or not it would have the staying power of its forebear, the legendary Grand Theft Auto V.

To be sure, GTAV is a behemoth in the video games industry but it wasn’t expected to be quite as large as it is now. That makes the bar that much higher for Red Dead Redemption 2 because, it would seem from the outside, that Rockstar planned on making a popular game but didn’t anticipate making the most profitable media property of all time.

Yet that’s exactly what Grand Theft Auto V is. Eschewing the series’ traditional story downloadable content in favour of a constantly-improved online mode, GTA Online has carried the 2013 blockbuster for years – and will probably continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Will Red Dead Online have longevity of GTA counterpart?

Not to ignore complaints about the lack of single-player DLC for GTAV (and there are many), it would seem that the real life and spirit of the game is in its online mode. Can Red Dead Redemption 2 say the same? As of press, we think the answer is a definite “No” but we will give the mode some time to develop as so many think we should. This “wait and see” approach, though, doesn’t really factor into account just how much more limited RDR2’s world is than GTAV’s.

A lot of the attraction in GTA Online is not only in its game modes but also its cars, loot, player housing, etc. There’s really only so much you can do within RDR 2’s mold before it looks out of place. In the long term, will that hinder what the online mode can offer? Or will RDR2 actually use single-player, story-driven content to extend its life?

Those of us who have played the online game are probably looking for a mixture of both while fans of the main game are praying for the latter. And it’s not like RDR2 lacks in single-player content. It’s just that what is there is so amazing (read: fun) that people want more. That’s only natural.

Will Red Dead Redemption 2 receive any single-player DLC?

The big fear is that this is going to be another GTAV situation and this is the end of the line for single-player stuff. That makes fears – and gripes – about the online mode that much more meaningful since many players think this will be the only way they can continue their relationship with the game in the future.

At its simplest level, the question isn’t about Rockstar’s capability to make compelling content or whether or not RDR2 will have it in the future, the question really is about how much of GTAV’s shoes is RDR2 trying to fill?

In the best scenario, RDR2 is going to do its own thing and find its own path to success. As we outlined above, GTAV’s monumental success this many years on almost seems like a mistake than it does a master plan. Given that there is no “formula” for this kind of success, expecting RDR2 to replicate it would be unfair at best and stifling at worst for the game’s true potential.