The open world cowboy game from Rockstar red dead On-line has been trending all last weekend and into this week, but not for the reasons the publisher might want it to be. Players are working to make a hashtag viral to solicit responses as to its further development. #SaveRedDeadOnline is a hot topic on Twitter right now, and longtime fans are pleading for an update from Rockstar – or at least an explanation of what’s going on.
Red Dead Online is an add-on too Red Dead Redemption 2, with pleasure Grand Theft Auto On-line, it was spun off into its own independent product. The fan pushback comes from the lack of recent content updates: Rockstar released the Blood Money update on July 13, 2020, a disappointing addition after another long silence, and there hasn’t been a word since then. While individual updates may be good, the general lack of them means fans remain frustrated. When rock star finally did publish an announcement on January 6th, it was a disappointing one that focused on experience points and in-game cash bonuses. The hashtag #SaveRedDeadOnline was born out of the resulting frustration.
So you are telling me that over 2/3 of your new monthly content / bonuses is almost 2 years old at this point?
You want your community to play 2 year old content so they can make a little extra money to spend … what on?
One of them was never completed historically#SaveRedDeadOnline https://t.co/nYXhMGJ2B1
– Mr. Gaming Buds (@MrGamingBuds) January 6, 2022
I spent quite a bit of time on the border and played a hundred hours alone and in a group. My cowboy is an accomplished bounty hunter and trader with a fully upgraded moonshine hut. I’ve delivered wagons full of skins, shot down dozen of stupid bandits, and earned a variety of pretty cosmetics. I bullied once or twice you might say. but Red Dead Online has completely dropped out of my rotation due to a lack of updates; It’s hard to piss off friends if you’re not told to. While there are daily challenges and regular discounts, the meat of the game itself is largely untouched.
Hence, fans are using social media to show that there is a base of customers who want more Red Dead. Throughout the western environment, the wild, modern concepts of Grand Theft Auto Online, there is still a lot of potential for new professions, missions, campaigns or crimes. There is still a lot that fans think is “worth saving”.
This isn’t the first Red Dead rodeo to be fan-indignant. In July 2020, Red Dead fans dressed up like clowns to protest Rockstar in the game. The game never got the attention – or success – of its sister game Grand Theft Auto Online. Even so, the long silence is daunting for the fans.
Two years of this rock star nonsense now. She just doesn’t care anymore, the care and love for Red Dead 2 is long gone. Now it all depends on GTAV, what a disappointing turnout. #SaveRedDeadOnline
– Ben T. (@videotech_) January 6, 2022
For those wondering why fans are using it #SaveRedDeadOnline Instead of moving on, it’s because we know the game has potential, we know Rockstar can and should do better.
If everyone moves on, there is no hope for RDO and little hope for the RDR series.
– Red Dead Online Messages (@RedDeadRDC) January 8, 2022
Part of the hope behind the hashtag #SaveRedDeadOnline is that it will spark some kind of reaction from Rockstar regarding the Red Dead Online Content schedule. While there is still no answer, the hashtag and its popularity prove that the game still has a fan base that is still keeping up and hoping for a Hail Mary update.
