Revive Red Dead Online with Elden Ring’s Secret Sauce

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Although Red Dead Online clearly has great promise, it seems to have received less attention from Rockstar compared to other projects. Fans have shown a keen interest in the further evolution of RDO, with campaigns like “Save Red Dead Online” gaining momentum. Unfortunately, it looks like Red Dead Online may not achieve the same level of success as Grand Theft Auto Online.

It’s intriguing that while Rockstar Games continues to regularly update Grand Theft Auto V’s online version, there have been fewer updates for Red Dead Online, which is surprising given the game’s popularity and the success of GTA Online. One might wonder if the more realistic tone of Red Dead Redemption 2 doesn’t offer as much creative freedom as the fantastical Grand Theft Auto V, or if Rockstar chose to stick with a proven formula instead of experimenting further with its online game. To thrive and potentially surpass its predecessor, Red Dead Online might benefit from studying the approach taken by Elden Ring Nightreign.

Elden Ring Nightreign’s Cooperative Focus Could Translate Well To Red Dead Online

Red Dead Online Is Best When Players Work Together, Not Against Each Other

While Red Dead Online offers team deathmatches, horse races, and various multiplayer modes, these aren’t what truly sets the game apart. In fact, there are numerous competitive multiplayer shooters and racing games available, many of which boast superior mechanics compared to Red Dead Redemption 2. Essentially, the competitive multiplayer aspects in RDO are a welcome addition, but they don’t fully leverage its unique qualities.

In a different vein from the main narrative, Red Dead Online truly shines when participating in bounty hunts or newly added missions, such as those introduced with the Blood Money update. Interacting with other players during these activities significantly enhances the interactive nature of the game. Unlike team deathmatch, these missions offer a much more engaging and immersive experience, enriching the Red Dead universe rather than simply offering a Wild West take on competitive shooter or racing games. Additionally, the popularity of cooperative experiences like Elden Ring Nightreign suggests a thriving market for such gameplay, a market that is likely to expand in the future.

The accomplishment of recent games such as “Split Fiction” supports the idea that gamers crave well-crafted cooperative experiences.

Elden Ring Nightreign Could Be a Good Blueprint for Red Dead Online

There’s a possibility that the design approach of Elden Ring Nightreign might fit well with Red Dead Online, particularly in certain aspects. For example, the narrative structure of Elden Ring Nightreign, which revolves around a powerful adversary but is divided into separate, modular gameplay segments, could be adapted effectively for an expansion of Red Dead Online. In this hypothetical expansion, missions could focus on intense combat scenarios that necessitate teamwork among multiple players to complete successfully. These missions, when combined, would contribute to a larger narrative arc, culminating in a climactic confrontation or heist.

As a devoted enthusiast, I can’t help but feel the immense potential that expansive online realms like Red Dead Online hold is truly astounding. It’s disheartening to see Rockstar Games seemingly letting this potential slip away. By fostering cooperative gameplay within these virtual landscapes, we could inspire players to collaborate and weave their own narratives within the digital world. Given the immersive, detailed, and impactful nature of Red Dead Redemption 2, this potential is amplified exponentially. Learning from the broad-brush approach taken by GTA: Nightreign in cooperative gameplay could pave the way to realizing this vast potential.

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2025-04-11 20:07