Summary
With fans hoping for aRed Dead Redemption 3, the question of what time period the game could take place in is a looming one. The past two releases for the series did well to explore the end of the Wild West, finding sensible timeframes to capture a classic outlaw feel while showcasing how industrial modernity was slowly taking control of the frontier.
Both of these games take place over the course of roughly 20 years, yetRed Dead Redemption 3would likely have to look farther afield for the time period of its own story. Above all else, it is important thatRed Dead 3maintains the same themes as its predecessors, and so there are only a few distinct timeframes that the game could realistically explore without losing the winning framework of the wider IP.
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WithRed Dead Redemption 2smartly deciding to take place prior to the events of the first game, one of the obvious choices forRDR3would be to go forward in time. This potential time period would be very limited in capturing the same gameplay as the rest of the franchise, but there is still clear narrative room for Rockstar to work with.
As the events ofRed Dead Redemptionend in 1914, a third entry to the series could easily take off from this time period to further the series' overall story.A 1914-setRed Dead 3could follow Jack Marstonwith players already taking control of him in the epilogue of 2010’sRDR. The start of this setting could still focus on the final days of the Wild West, with Jack eventually fighting in World War 1 around 1917.
Upon returning from war, Jack could find his past way of life completely unsustainable, having to adapt to a rapidly industrializing world and the new form that crime takes within it. While this would sadly do away with things like horse riding and Wild West shootouts in that traditional sense, it would tell an impactful tale that logically carries forwardthe themes of change thatRDRandRDR2explored so well.
Of course,Red Dead Redemption 3could just as easily be set even further in the past, with this option having a lot more wiggle room for potential narratives. An obvious plot forRDR3could see the game explore the life of Dutch and Hoseaas younger men, formulating the Van der Linde gang and even taking a young Arthur Morgan under their wing. This would add even more context to the gang’s saga, which was heavily detailed in the first two games, but it would also be difficult to give a story such as this the same stakes and impact as pastRed Deadtitles.
Beyond this,Red Dead 3could take the franchise back to the time period ofRed Dead Revolver, with the franchise’s launching title taking place in 1880. With the scale and detail of modernRDRgames, this time period inRDR3would provide the most comprehensive glimpse into the true Wild West that the series has ever seen, and could involve classic characters fromRevolversuch as Red Harlow.
WhileRed Dead Redemptionand its prequelwere smartly tied together by a shared narrative, the franchise has backed itself into a corner in terms of what it can explore next while matching the same expectations.Red Dead Redemption 3will most likely go further into the 20th century or take the IP into the heart of the Old West, with each time period bringing with it its own high risks and rewards.
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