So we finally have some news about the PC port that millions of crunchy cowboys have been waiting for. Rockstar has finally confirmed the release date of the PC version of Red Dead Redemption 2. The game will include all the bells and whistles of Arthur Morgan’s story, and we’re also getting full access to Red Dead Online and all those missions and new content, no cross-play stuff though as far as I can tell. Full PC system requirements will drop when pre-orders open on October 9th. The full game will finally launch on November 5th, opening it up for a nice few launch weeks ahead of the holiday blitz of shopping and consumption.
There is some bad news though, as Red Dead Redemption 2 will not be on Steam at launch, because Rockstar are pulling an Epic, trying to divide the gaming ecosystem into spheres that they have even more control over. The move is likely to be a split decision for the gamers across the globe though, as some won’t mind theidea of installing a new game launcher for such an inevitably popular release, others are going to hate it.
I can’t possibly be the only one that hates this trend of hyper-fragmentation within entertainment, right? TV and cable are dying a slow death while consumers pay more and more for access to an increasingly limited stable of exclusive content across 145 different streaming apps, it’s bonkers, and video games look to be heading in that same direction. Anyway, Rockstar is hoping that you’ll install yet another game launcher, and they’re willing to give away some free games, but only if you pre-order the PC version of their latest PC AAA video game. Here’s what plonking down some cash on the Red Dead Redemption 2 PC port will net you:
- Grand Theft Auto III
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- Bully: Scholarship Edition
- L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition
- Max Payne 3: The Complete Edition
If you wanted more convincing though, Rockstar is offering more goodies, as players who pre-order on the Rockstar launcher will get a free upgrade to the Premium Edition of Red Dead Redemption 2, with the Special and Ultimate editions discounted by $20 USD each. You’ll also get:
- Outlaw Survival Kit for Story Mode
- War Horse for Story Mode
- Treasure Map for Story Mode
- Cash Bonus for Story Mode
- 50 Gold Bars for Red Dead Online
Personally, I wouldn’t have double-dipped for Red Dead Redemption 2 anyway, but this exclusivity deal is yet another reason for me not to, and I suspect that plenty of gamers feel the same way. In short, Rockstar can stuff this idea where the sun don’t shine. But not content with offering it as a PC exclusive on their barebones launcher, the company is teaming up with what many feel to be another doomed venture to help promote another lame product.
Rescuing The DOA Stadia Horse
Red Dead Redemption 2 will hit PC on Nov 5 and will be a launch title for Google Stadia. And frankly, Stadia needs a lot more than a couple exclusives to help its struggle for widespread adaptation. The game streaming service already has to compete with the prohibitive networking requirements limiting their consumer base, and the notable lack of AAA titles is just making things worse.
Maybe I’m wrong and Stadia will be a hit, but every single reaction I’ve seen about this Google effort shows a distinct lack of excitement. And maybe RDR 2 will help with that, but it just seems like a lost cause.
