'Red Dead Redemption 2' release date, gameplay news 2018: Will pay-to-win online microtransactions be included?

A screenshot from the official trailer of "Red Dead Redemption 2" YouTube/Rockstar Games

Fans have waited a long time for Rockstar Games to announce the arrival of the much-awaited "Red Dead Redemption" sequel. The game studio has already confirmed that "Red Dead Redemption 2" will drop later this year, and as players expect a bunch of improvements in terms of gameplay and over-all graphics, some could not help but worry about the game's online mode. Specifically, there is speculation that "Red Dead Redemption 2" will feature microtransactions that might eventually turn the game into a classic pay-to-win example.

Aside from the main single-player gameplay of "Red Dead Redemption 2," fans are also curious what the game's online component would look like. Per Game Debate, this could look a lot like "GTA Online" from Rockstar's latest "Grand Theft Auto" title. The only downside of this comparison is that "Red Dead Redemption 2" could also have microtransactions that will allow players to pay real money in order to acquire powerful weapons and armors.

Moreover, it has been argued that "Grand Theft Auto V" has gained around half a billion dollars worth of revenue up to this date, mainly due to "GTA Online." Players have resorted to buying overpowered vehicles, weapons, and structures using real dollars, thus giving them unfair advantage over other players who would rather spend an effort to make progress in the game than shelling out money.

Still, Rockstar has yet to comment regarding the possible microtransactions in "Red Dead Redemption 2," and the players should not be worried just yet that the game's online mode will be another "GTA Online." For one, the upcoming "Red Dead" title is different from the "GTA" franchise.

According to the latest reports, "Red Dead Redemption 2" will use an updated game engine, leading to more advanced graphics rendering. The game is reportedly built on the RAGE engine, the same one used to render the latest characters in "Grand Theft Auto V." The upcomig title will serve as a prequel to the first "Red Dead Redemption," following the story of Arthur Morgan and the infamous Van der Linde gang. "Red Dead Redemption 2" will be released on October 26, 2018 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles.

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