Red Dead Online, the multiplayer counterpart to Red Dead Redemption 2, recently got its first big update in years with Strange Tales of the West. In this update, the paranormal and bizarre are given the spotlight, bringing an extra dose of weirdness to Red Dead Redemption 2.
What's even more exciting, though, is that Strange Tales of the West is the first volume of what's expected to be a series of updates. Right now, it's unclear how many volumes Rockstar plans to add to Red Dead Online in the future, but even just one more is a great promise. There's no telling what Strange Tales of the West Vol. 2 will feature, but when it comes to aliens, Rockstar may want to save that for GTA 6.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Just Proved It's Time For Rockstar to Pull the Trigger on a Bold Idea
The Red Dead Redemption franchise hasn't been afraid to play around with wild ideas, and it's time for Rockstar to fully dive in.
Red Dead Redemption 2 and GTA 6 Need to Keep Their Paranormal Content Balanced
Both Franchises Have Long Histories of Embracing the Strange
Between GTA 5's Bigfoot, UFOs, and Mount Chiliad mystery and RDR2's extensive list of weird encounters, Rockstar has made it clear that the company enjoys dabbling in the paranormal, and there are plenty of fresh cryptids that could be showcased in Strange Tales of the West Vol. 2. Since RDR2 has its own UFO, it would make a lot of sense for the second volume to feature a mission centered around the extraterrestrial, but between that and GTA 6's inevitable Easter eggs, it could quickly become overkill.
RDR2 has featurea a vampire, ghosts, and even a cave hermit who claims to be the devil.
GTA 6's Paranormal Moments Need to Feel Special
Since the fictional state of Leonida is inspired by Florida, there are plenty of ways for GTA 6 to feature cryptids. Florida's version of Bigfoot is known as the Skunk Ape, and myths of giant alligators continue to drive home the terrifying nature of the state's swamps. With Red Dead Online's mission "Strange Tales of the Bayou" experimenting with its own version of swamp monsters, there is already overlap happening that may need to be avoided when GTA 6 arrives.
Strange Tales of the West Vol. 2 could arrive at any time. Whether it's next month, the end of this year, or even closer to GTA 6's launch, the next update may want to ensure that its paranormal creatures are beings that can only be experienced in that update. GTA 6 potentially giving a double dose of alien content to players runs the risk of such reveals not feeling as exciting.
Other Cryptids and Folklore Monsters RDR2 Could Explore
- Chupacabra
- Thunderbird
- Skinwalkers
- Wendigos
- Werewolves
Red Dead Online still has plenty of strange creatures to work with. Of course, GTA 6 could experiment more with these kinds of beings, too, but they work better with Red Dead Redemption's western era. GTA 6's modern setting might be a better place to add UFO Easter eggs, especially with the game's teased emphasis on social media. When encountering a UFO, or even possibly an alien out in the swamps of Leonida, trying to capture a picture or selfie before it disappears would be a lot of fun.
Rockstar has made it clear that the company enjoys dabbling in the paranormal
GTA 6 is Set to Be Next Year's Goliath
- GTA 6 will launch on May 26, 2026.
- The game's online counterpart has yet to be announced.
As Tom Petty sang in the first GTA 6 trailer, it's been a "long, long road" for the game to finally get here, but it's now less than a year away from launch. With two strong trailers and a confirmed release date, the hype for GTA 6 is growing with each passing day. Whether paranormal Easter eggs are in the base version of GTA 6 or its eventual online version, aliens and UFOs might be more exciting to come across in Leonida than in the next Strange Tales of the West volume.
Red Dead Redemption 2
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 95 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
- Released
- October 26, 2018
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Publisher(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Engine
- RAGE
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- N/A
WHERE TO PLAY
America, 1899. The end of the wild west era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed. After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him. From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age.
