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Red Dead Online
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Red Dead Online
Released 2018 · PS4 · Xbox One · PC
Red Dead Online is the multiplayer western built on Red Dead Redemption 2, launched in beta in November 2018 and sold separately from December 2020. You build your own character and pick specialist roles rather than following a scripted story.
Rockstar stepped back from major content in 2022 to concentrate on its next projects, and the game now receives seasonal events rather than new roles.
Official Trailer
The Five Roles
Progression runs through specialisations rather than a campaign: Bounty Hunter tracks and captures targets, Trader runs a goods business from camp, Collector hunts buried items across the map, Moonshiner builds an illegal distillery, and Naturalist studies and samples wildlife. Each has its own rank, gear and money loop, and most players pick two or three.
How the Money Works
Cash and gold bars are the two currencies, and gold is the one that gates the roles. Bounty Hunter is the usual first choice because it earns steadily without needing much investment, while Trader and Moonshiner pay more once you have built up. Daily challenges are the reliable gold income for anyone not spending real money.
A Game Rockstar Stepped Back From
In 2022 Rockstar announced it was moving Red Dead Online's development resources toward its next major projects. Since then the game has had seasonal passes and returning events rather than new roles or story missions. It is still online and still playable, and the community has been vocal about the slowdown.
Frequently Asked Questions about Red Dead Online
Do you need Red Dead Redemption 2 to play Red Dead Online?
Not necessarily. It came with Red Dead Redemption 2 at launch, but Rockstar also sold it as a standalone purchase from December 2020.
Is Red Dead Online still active?
Yes, the servers are running and people still play. Rockstar shifted development away from it in 2022, so updates are now seasonal events rather than new roles or missions.
What is the best role to start with in Red Dead Online?
Bounty Hunter is the usual recommendation. It costs the least gold to unlock and pays out steadily without needing you to build a business first.
Are there cheat codes for Red Dead Online?
None have been found. Red Dead Redemption 2's cheats are entered in story mode, and they do not work in Red Dead Online, whose economy rules them out. The story mode cheats are on our RDR2 cheat codes page.