Red Dead Online Will Receive Defensive Playstyle, New Missions, and More in Spring

Rockstar’s Red Dead Online has received bounty hunters, daily challenges, and other new content, but the development team isn’t done yet. This Spring will see another major update that adds a new “playstyle”, a new Hostility System, updates to the character creator, and much more. Even the LeMat Revolver from the first Red Dead Redemption is making a comeback.

The Defensive Playstyle is a means to reduce griefing from other players. Those opting for the new playstyle can’t be lassoed, targeted, or receive critical hits from enemy players. If attacked, you can either escape or lasso an enemy player in return (though this will take you out of the Defensive style). This is meant for those who simply want to immerse themselves in the world without dealing with other players.

In terms of content, players can expect additional missions in “A Land of Opportunities”, along with new Free Roam mission NPCs and mission types. There will also be dynamic events that see players rescuing and defending NPCs or fighting back against ambushes. Stay tuned for more information on when this all goes live. In the meantime, get the full details on the upcoming content below.

Red Dead Online spring roadmap

Hostility System

• The new system builds upon the anti-griefing measures added in February. They system will include smarter and more responsive features that keep players immersed in the world through confrontations and PvP action. For example, players who have damage inflicted on them by attackers will be able to defend themselves without incurring Bounties or Hostility increases. Previously, the attacker and target would be marked as an enemy – now the attacker who inflicts damage will be immediately marked as an enemy to the attacked player; players will not accumulate Hostility increases for killing other players who are marked as an enemy.
• Hostility increases will not apply within structured events such as Free Roam Events, Free Roam Missions, Showdowns and Races. Engaging in player vs player behaviors related to Free Roam missions will not incur Hostility increases, however attacking other players not engaged in the activity will cause your Hostility level to rise.

Offensive and Defensive Playing Style Options

• The Offensive Playing Style is much like the current Free Roam play as we know it while the Defensive Playing Style is a more evolved version of the Passive Mode concept, designed for Red Dead Online’s more grounded experience – giving players more flexibility in how they interact with the world and at the same time de-emphasizing hostile contact with other players. Some players just want to immerse themselves in the world, riding, hunting and fishing in peace. We want to offer these options while allowing players to coexist comfortably alongside other players in the world.
• Choosing the Defensive option introduces balances that compliment a less confrontational approach. Defensive players cannot be lassoed by rival players – although if a Defensive player lassos another player, they’ll be removed from Defensive play and incur a significant Hostility level increase. Defensive players will trade the ability to lock on to other players for the benefit that other players will not be able to lock on to Defensive players.
• While Defensive players can target and be targeted in free aim, they cannot deliver or receive critical hits – if a Defensive player is attacked with a headshot, they’ll survive and be able to defend themselves via the Hostility system or escape all while remaining Defensive. There are several other adjustments that come with the Defensive Playing Style, all of which are built to work seamlessly with systems like Hostility and Bounties to keep all players rooted in the world.

Other content

• More A Land of Opportunities Missions: Continue Jessica LeClerk’s search for revenge as you explore the path of a Gunslinger or an Outlaw.
• New Free Roam Mission givers and mission types: Red Dead Online is set in the years before the single player story so expect to encounter a range of new and familiar faces as you traverse the frontier
• Dynamic events: fight off ambushes, initiate rescues, defend folks in need and more as you travel across the world
• All this, plus updates to the character creator, restructured Daily Challenges that eliminate hostile gameplay in Free Roam and introduce streaks for bigger rewards, the return of another classic weapon, the LeMat Revolver from the original Red Dead Redemption, and much more.