Well, it’s no-brainer: once the players already know how the story ends, the tension disappears. No matter how great the characters are, the stakes feel weaker when the ending is a forgone conclusion.
For a series like Red Dead Redemption, that thrives on tragedy and moral weight, another prequel risks emotional burnout. Fans want unexpected storylines, where choices matter and results aren’t already decided.
They Know The Punchline
Red Dead Redemption 2 hit so hard because Arthur Morgan’s fate was a shock to everyone. His illness blindsided players, making the game tragedy unforgettable. But trying another prequel following the same blueprint might not bear such fruit again. What was a powerful, dramatic irony in Red Dead Redemption 2 could become a predictable melodrama in Red Dead Redemption 3.
The franchise earned its recognition by flipping western troops on their heads, displaying outlaws as layered, flawed, deeply human characters. But you can’t subvert expectations twice in the same way. How do you keep the emotional stakes alive if the audience already knows the punchline?
Fans Want Progress, Not A Prequel
With the story moving into World War I, the fans keep suggesting Jack Marston as the lead for Red Redemption 3. The idea establishes that players anticipate a progression in the story and not a prequel. Jack’s story could explore uncharted ground, the fading shadow of the gang clashing with a new century of industrialized war.
But moving the storyline into World War also comes with a trade-off. It could alienate the players who loved the series for its western heart, heroes, horses, frontier towns, and open plains. The question remains whether Rockstar wants to expand the series into something new or double down on the old west mythology that made it iconic. Either way, they’re torn between the two and have to opt for one.
A Way Out
One way out of these conflicting choices could be to start afresh. With new characters that are set in a different era. Something that feels new but also complements the classic. Like the 1870s golden age of the wild west. Players would get the classic Red Dead atmosphere and mechanics without knowing what the story entails.
The formula has worked well in the past for Rockstar Studios, when they successfully rotated protagonists in Grand Theft Auto, but Red Dead is a little different as well. Its slower, more character-driven storyline relies heavily on deep emotional bonds with specific individuals. Taking this leap would require faith that the franchise’s strength lies in its storytelling craft and gameplay, and not in some single gang.
Returning to another prequel poses the risk of displaying creative stagnation. While choosing a bold new direction would prove that Red Dead’s greatness comes from daring storytelling and not recycling the past.
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