Rockstar Games have announced a new update for the Red Dead Online Beta, the multiplayer mode for their critically acclaimed open-world shooter Red Dead Redemption 2, that will arrive in the Spring.
The update announced today mentions some of the new content and gameplay features that will be arriving. The focus appears to be on more well-structured anti-griefing measures as well as new story content.
One of the new measures is the “Hostility System.” This system further develops anti-griefing systems that were added to the game in February. These systems punish players who initiate unprovoked conflict in the games’ open-world by placing bounties on their heads. Now players will no longer be punished for defending themselves from those who choose to engage in PvP battles.
Rockstar also claim to be adding a reworked ‘Passive Mode’ system that was present in their online mode for Grand Theft Auto V. Now called, ‘Offensive and Defensive Playing Style Options’ Red Dead Online will allow players to avoid conflict more easily by adopting a ‘Defensive Playing Style.’ Choosing a ‘Defensive Style’ comes with a variety of benefits for friendly players, for instance: they will no longer be able to be lassoed by other players, target others with auto aim or be killed instantly by other players headshots.
The new story content has not been detailed as explicitly as the other additions, but Rockstar say that the ‘Land of Opportunity’ story will continue in this update. These missions had players working with a widowed woman to hunt down the gang of criminals responsible for murdering her husband. This story update will come alongside new ‘Free Roam’ missions where you can complete smaller tasks for new characters as well as those who appeared in the story of Red Dead Redemption and its sequel.
Some smaller additions accompany the features listed so far. A reworked character creator, rebalanced challenges and a new weapon to use, the LeMat Revolver, are also arriving in the same update. Many similar updates will likely arrive throughout the year as Rockstar continue to expand the world of Red Dead Online.
