After many weeks of radio silence, Rockstar has finally announced the launch date for Red Dead Online. Red Dead Redemption 2’s highly anticipated online component launches tomorrow, November 27, but not everyone can play it immediately. Depending on how and when they bought RDR2, some players must wait longer than others to give online a try.
Red Dead Online Beta Rollout
To avoid the crippling network issues which plagued GTA Online’s launch, Rockstar is releasing Red Dead Online in stages.
Those who purchased RDR2’s Ultimate Edition can start playing Red Dead Online tomorrow, November 27. If you played RDR2 on its initial launch day, October 26, you can play Red Dead Online on November 28. Anyone who played RDR2 during its first three launch days (Oct. 26-29) can play Red Dead Online on November 29. And finally all RDR2 players can try the Red Dead Online beta on Friday, November 30.
Here’s a press statement from Rockstar explaining what will be in the beta version of Red Dead Online:
“With the gameplay of Red Dead Redemption 2 as its foundation, Red Dead Online transforms the vast and deeply detailed landscapes, cities, towns, and habitats of Red Dead Redemption 2 into a new, living online world ready to be shared by multiple players. Create and customize your character, tailor your abilities to suit your play style, and head out into a new frontier full of things to experience.
Explore this huge world solo or with friends. Form or join a posse to ride with up to seven players; gather around the fire at your camp; head out hunting or fishing; visit bustling towns; battle enemy gangs and attack their hideouts; hunt for treasure; take on missions and interact with familiar characters from across the five states; or fight against other outlaws in both spontaneous skirmishes and pitched set-piece battles; compete with other players or whole posses in open world challenges and much more.”
Since Rockstar is labeling the initial Red Dead Online launch as a beta, players should expect some growing pains. However, if all goes well the beta should soon morph into a full launch with more features and functionality.
In the meantime, might we interest you in some official Red Dead Redemption 2 merchandise? We’ve also got you covered if you’re looking for the game’s Abalone Shell Fragment.