The demise of Red Dead Online has been public and controversial, but it could lead to something much better taking its place. With the uproar that took place regarding the game's shutdown, it's apparent that there's a playerbase longing for something similar. Even though Red Dead Online had a tumultuous existence, there's a chance that a fantastic game could rise from its ashes.
While Red Dead Online was being actively ed, the game seemed to go from one cycle of controversy to another. Players were frequently dissatisfied by lackluster updates and rewards, and complaints about the game's relative lack of meaningful advancement were common. The fact that GTA Online thrived while Red Dead Online struggled only made matters worse, since both games came from the same company. One would assume that both games would have an equal chance to thrive, but Red Dead Online never seemed to hit its stride before its decline.
Another Game Can Improve On What Red Dead Online Started
Even though fans of Red Dead Online were often angered by how the game failed to live up to its potential, the fact that they were still disappointed by its closure shows that the game had an audience. There were a lot of players that wanted Red Dead Online to succeed, because they loved the idea. When Rockstar stopped ing RDO, there was a lot of sadness from the fandom, to the point that they held a funeral for Red Dead Online's end. Although that was the end of active updates for RDO, the fanbase that ed the game is still out there, proving that there is a market for online wild west games eager for content.
Although Red Dead Online had the advantage of working on the same engine as Red Dead Redemption 2, other developers can jump on the opportunity to recapture RDO's audience with their own western online game. It may actually be better if a studio smaller than Rockstar takes the reins for Red Dead Online's possible successor. If its attention isn't split with another major property, as was the case with GTA 6 hurting RDO's updates, then the developers would be able to focus more on their RDO equivalent. With proper care, a new western sandbox can tap into that market and thrive.
With the genre of wild west games being so empty aside from Red Dead in the modern day, a brand new name coming to take the throne in RDO's absence would not be a surprise. However, the search for a new cowboy sandbox could also see the revival of old names. Call of Juarez, for example, has been dormant since 2013, and despite a major hiccup with The Cartel, it's still one of the better-known IPs in the genre. With a shift to an online sandbox and an upgrade for modern expectations, Call of Juarez or any other title could fill the void left by RDO. Red Dead Online was a missed opportunity, but there's still hope for the next game to take the reins.
Red Dead Online never lived up to its full potential, but it may have paved the way for something better to come next. Red Dead showed that a cowboy game can thrive, and 2's runaway success could be replicated with a good multiplayer title. Although Red Dead Online is finished, a better game could take its place.
