Red Dead Redemption 3has been on a lot of fans' minds, especially withGTA 6’sinevitable release date nearing. It’s understandable, as no one really knows what Rockstar has planned once it finally releasesGTA 6and rakes in its millions if not billions of dollars from sales. Naturally, people will turn toRed Dead Redemption, as it is Rockstar’s most recent non-GTAgame, and thus the most likely to get a sequel.
However, as everyone ruminates on thebest follow-up toRDR2, it is easy to forget that, while phenomenal,Red Dead Redemption 2may not even need a sequel, prequel, spin-off, or any form of new entry. In fact,there are plenty of great reasons why Rockstar’s next game shouldn’t beRed Dead Redemption 3, especially with it following upGTA 6, a game that will likely be the developer’s biggest game yet.
It Has A Satisfying Ending
Red Dead Redemption 2’sphenomenal narrativewas a triumph that elated both critics and fans alike, introducing players to the formidable and expertly written protagonist Arthur Morgan while fleshing out characters that first appeared in the originalRDR. As fans know, it was a prequel to the firstRed Dead Redemption, one that perfectly wrapped up the story started in that game and served as an excellent burst of pathos for characters like Dutch and John Marston.
So,it feels wrong for Rockstar to make a third entry in the series, especially if it directly follows on from either game. There are absolutely directions the story could go and characters a third game could follow, but that doesn’t mean it should. It’s often better to know when to leave a game alone, andRed Dead Redemption 2absolutely earned the series a well-deserved ending that shouldn’t be tarnished.
It Wasn’t Meant To Be A Huge Series
TheGTAgames are somewhat connected, with locations and characters popping up across multiple titles, but they are largely divorced from one another, offering standalone experiences that newcomers can enjoy without the need to complete every other game.Red Dead Redemptiondid not follow that formula, instead serving as one of Rockstar’s few sequential seriesthat offered a connected narrative.
Fans only want anotherRDRgame because Rockstar set the precedent for a sequel, but that definitely doesn’t mean it needs one.
Red Dead Redemptiondoesn’t need to become the nextGTA, nor does Rockstar need another series. In fact,Red Dead Redemptioncould just end up likeL.A. Noire,Bully,Oni, and all of Rockstar’s other games that never received sequels. Fans only want anotherRDRgame because Rockstar set the precedent for a sequel, but that definitely doesn’t mean it needs one.
Fans Can’t Wait Another Seven Years Between Releases
GTA 6’srelease datehas long been in contention, with Rockstar giving few details and fans relying on endlessly changing rumors and alleged leaks. It has gotten to the point where fans are looking at every morsel of supposed evidence for a hint at when it might drop. That’s completely understandable though, asGTA 6has been 12 years in the making and is Rockstar’s first game in seven years.
If Rockstar were to makeRed Dead Redemption 3after GTA 6, then it could be another seven or potentially even more years for fans to wait. That may be too long for some, especially considering just how much the anticipation forGrand Theft Auto 6hurt fans of the series. Of course,RDR3could have a shorter development time, but knowing how Rockstar rarely does things in halves, that seems unlikely.
7Rockstar Needs More Games
It Shouldn’t Be A One-Trick Pony
The last time Rockstar made a non-GTAorRed Dead Redemptiongame wasMax Payne 3in 2012, over 13 years ago. If Rockstar were to makeRed Dead Redemption 3next, that would put an even bigger gap between different games by the developer.It risks becoming a bit of a one-trick pony, a developer only known for two different games, rather than its library of excellent titles.
Rockstar did publish new editions for bothBullyand the originalGTAgames between the release ofMax Payne 3and 2025. It also released a VR version ofL.A. Noire, although these hardly count as new games considering they’re re-releases of older games.
If Rockstar were to release something new as opposed toRed Dead Redemption 3, it would give those who aren’t fans of eitherGTAorRDRsomething to play, while also giving dedicated fans a taste of what else the veteran developer is capable of. A new IP or even a sequel in one of their other franchises would be a win-win for everyone, while also letting Rockstar flex its creative muscles.
6Rockstar’s Focus Should Be On Bully 2
It Absolutely Deserves A Sequel
One potentialIP Rockstar could return tois the legendary school-sim,Bully. It has a dedicated fanbase who are eager to see a sequel and continue the adventures of Jimmy Hopkins.There have been a plethora of rumors and leaks surrounding a sequel toBully, but they’ve never come to fruition, despite there definitely being a lot of interest in a new entry.
Bully 2was actually in development at Rockstar, but was dropped in favor ofMax Payne 3, a tradeoff not everyone would likely agree was worth it. Of course, this means that Rockstar once had some interest in the project, something that could hopefully be reignited in the future, especially once development onGTA 6wraps up. While it remains to be seen, a sequel toBullyalmost two decades later would be unbelievably exciting.
5Rockstar Has Plenty Of Old IP It Should Revisit
Max Payne, LA Noire, Oni
In fact, while on the topic of older Rockstar IP, there are plenty of amazing games that it could return to. One ofRockstar’s most underrated games,L.A. Noirecould definitely do with a new entry, one that could follow a new detective in the city, years prior to or even after the events of the first game.L.A. Noirewas groundbreaking with its use of motion capture, and it also remains one of the best detective games of all time.
Red Dead Redemption 3 Already Has The Perfect New Gang Leader
While it may seem like everyone grew to distrust Dutch, there’s one gang member who only saw him as a hero, and can make a much bigger gang.
Alternatively,Rockstar could return to one of its lesser-known IPs, likeOni, or even the phenomenal movie tie-in game,The Warriors. Of course, there’s alsoMax Payne- which isgetting remakes in the future- which definitely deserves a new game. Frankly, Rockstar has plenty of great games that deserve a new entry, all of which have loyal fans who will queue up day one to buy them and would be far better options thanRed Dead Redemption 3.
4Rockstar’s Next Game Should Be A New IP
It Is The Perfect Time To Experiment
Of course, while returning to an old IP would be satisfying for their built-in fanbases, Rockstar should also try developing a new IP. Naturally, that’s far easier said than done as it is a risky move and requires a lot of effort. However,the release ofGTA 6is actually the perfect time for Rockstar to try something new, as it affords it not only a huge boost to brand recognition but also a likely ridiculous influx of money to be spent on new and risky projects.
Much like how other developers rely on their bigger franchises to help support their smaller ones,Rockstar could finally leverage its money-makingGTAseries to allow it to create something new and exciting. It would also help bridge the gap between bigger releases, which could even facilitateRed Dead Redemption 3coming in the distant future.
3There’s Not Much Room For Growth In RDR’s World
It’s The Ultimate Cowboy Simulator
Red Dead Redemption 2’sopen-world is unlike any other, featuring a plethora of life-sim elements, such as fishing, hunting, and trading, all of which coalesce to make it feel truly alive. As such,it’s hard to imagine howRed Dead Redemption 3could innovate further upon the foundations set by its predecessor, without feeling iterative rather than innovative.
Red Dead Redemption 3 Could Be Even Better By Borrowing One Starfield Feature
Starfield has a great feature which could be added into Red Dead Redemption 3 that would make the game so much better and would add to the fun.
Of course, technological advancements are constant, and Rockstar could come up with new features that would makeRDR3’sworld even more interesting. It could also make it a little less restrictive when it comes to mission structure, which would be a significant step up. However,without an interesting twist on the open world,Red Dead Redemption 3could feel a little flat. Rockstar has already made the ultimate cowboy simulator, which makes it hard to go up from there.
2It Is Time For A New Take On The Western
Someone Else Should Have A Go
Rockstar has done a phenomenal job of emulating the cinematic flair of Western films, which has helped elevate its already fantastic narratives. However, while its particular take on the Western video game is interesting and has done wonders for the genre,it feels like it’s time for another developer to show how versatile the often dusty brown-tinted setting can be.
There are already manygreat Western gamesthat aren’tRed Dead Redemption, all of which take the genre in new directions.It’s great to see what can often feel like a stuffy and singular genre be taken to new heights, but that only feels possible out of Rockstar’s hands. That’s not to say it makes bad Westerns, quite the contrary. Rather, it isn’t capable of twisting the genre on its head, which is fine, but something that a new developer should absolutely do.
1Rockstar Should Try A Different Time Period
It Has Mastered Two Already
Rockstar has proven time and time again that it’s capable of recreating periods in time perfectly, capturing the atmosphere, style, and tone of each setting with ease.L.A. Noire,Red Dead Redemption, and the plethora ofGTAtitles, among others, are all proof of this. So, it only feels right thatRDR3isn’t a Western, but rather something else set in a completely different time period.
Red Dead Redemption 3 Should Take This Page From Fallout’s Book
Red Dead Redemption and Fallout are very different games, but the latter has a development trick that might be a big boon for Rockstar.
It could tackle Ancient Japan, Rome, or Greece, or perhaps a futuristic setting unlike anything we’ve seen before. Frankly, Rockstar’s style of cinematic single-player open-world game design would be perfect for any setting. While it would be great to seeRed Dead Redemption 3eventually, there are clearly lots of reasons why its release date should perhaps be pushed back just a little.
