The long story of Red Dead Online is all but over, and fans have been left with a history of bad luck and disappointments. The game launched with much enthusiasm, but player enthusiasm had dimmed significantly when the end of support came. WhileRed Dead Online had plenty of potential, it missed the mark in some crucial ways.

Released in May of 2019,Red Dead Online was intended to be a companion to the highly successfulRed Dead Redemption 2, much like the relationship betweenGrand Theft Auto 5 andGTA Online. WithRDR2's excellent gameplay combined with a more customizable character, the game's future appeared bright. However, despite the game having several opportunities, it never made the full leap to be what fans had been hoping for.Red Dead Online's official end of support felt less like a shock and more of a logical end point in the eyes of many.

It is easy for one to realize how much could have been done withRed Dead Online. However, for any number of reasons, it never became the true wild west adventure that a lot of fans had been hoping for. Instead it was a sandbox that, while functional, felt directionless.RDO had so much potential, but most of it sadly went unfilled.

Red Dead Online Was Based On A Fantastic Game

RDR2 - Arthur and Sadie

Red Dead Redemption 2, the game thatRed Dead Online was based on, is nothing short of phenomenal. It stands as possibly the best game that Rockstar Games has produced both in terms of gameplay and writing. Main protagonist Arthur Morgan is better thanGTA 5's protagonists by virtue of being an instantly memorable character with wit and heart backed by impressive cowboy skills. With an excellent combat system, a variety of side activities, and a full roster of memorable characters, theRDR universe seemed like a perfect place for an online sandbox.

One could argue that being based on such an excellent game can be a weakness just as much as it was a strength. WithRed Dead Redemption 2 receiving glittering reviews and praise from all sides, it was one of the biggest games of 2018. While it provided a great setting forRed Dead Online, the original game also cast a long shadow that leftRDO with a lot to live up to. The great expectations that came with being tied to such a successful IP madeRDO's failure to consistently rise even more frustrating to fans. After all, since Red Dead Redemption 2 broke sales records, the online game would be expected to succeed as well.

Unfortunately,Red Dead Online was left in the shadow ofRed Dead Redemption 2. It lacked the strong story and characters that elevatedRDR2, and the gameplay wasn't enough without substantial, meaningful content. Every timeRDO disappointed fans, the brand made the hit heavier because fans knew what theRed Dead name was capable of.

Red Dead Online Was Always Overshadowed By GTA Online

Red Dead Online needs to give players more things to do.

WhenRed Dead Online is discussed, it's hard not to bring up its sister gameGrand Theft Auto Online. Both are online multiplayer games that are based on a highly successful Rockstar property. However, the two games ended up having incredibly different destinies. While one thrived, the other could only look on at the more fortunate game's success. The #SaveRedDeadOnline protests on aGTA Online news post show the dissatisfaction ofRDO players.

Grand Theft Auto Online has been Rockstar's primary focus for the past ten years. The game has seen several updates that have expanded the scope of the game significantly. The release version ofGTA Online seems so much smaller than its current state that it is almost unrecognizable. In comparison,Red Dead Online's updates were fewer and farther between, and they rarely provided anything of the grandiose scale that offerings such asGTA Online's The Contract and various heist updates provided. ManyRDO players felt like their game was being ignored, and the way thatGTA Online was thriving did not help matters.

Grand Theft Auto Online has been around for nine years, but it is still going strong whileRDO is ending support after four years. The comparison between RDO andGTA Online's treatment is best embodied by howGTA Online's The Criminal Enterprises update came out near the time ofRDO's end of life announcement.Red Dead Online was never able to compete withGTA Online.

In The End, Red Dead Online Never Did Enough

Red Dead Online Screen

There was a lot that fans wanted out ofRed Dead Online. They wanted to run their own gangs and carve their own stories out of the wild west. While the game did offer players the chance to ride alongside their friends and go on missions, it still left a lot of players wanting more. Despite the updates, the world ofRDO never felt complete.

The updates added content, but usually only in small doses, and nothing to the level of whatGTA Online updates provided. Likewise,Red Dead Online's lackluster events rarely felt like something worth celebrating. It became common for bonus rewards from missions to be the main thing that players would expect from in-game events rather than new missions or collectibles. The state of the game became such that player protests were common, demanding more meaningful content, and new questlines. After all,RDR2was incredible, andGTA Online was thriving, so the feeling was thatRed Dead Online should have been as good as those two.

Despite protests, the response toRed Dead Online would continue until the end. Players would be underwhelmed by updates, hoping for something more substantial. The roles and missions that were added during updates only momentarily satiated the fanbase because other problems had yet to be addressed. As fans wonder what went wrong withRed Dead Online, it is clear that in the end,RDO's inability to please the fans would become its final legacy.

Red Dead Online was a more controversial game than it was ever meant to be. Its cycle of disappointing its players provided a public relations problem for Rockstar, and the fans kept hoping for big updates that never seemed to happen. With Red Dead Online's support ending for good, those same fans can only wonder what could have been.

Next: Red Dead Redemption 2 Features Missing From Red Dead Online