The release of GTA 6 today occupies all the attention of Rockstar Games. However, another iconic license from the studio remains in the minds of many players: Red Dead Redemption. With two episodes that have become cult, the series devoted to the Wild West could one day return with a third part.
If this were to happen, a central question would immediately arise: in what period of history could this new episode take place? The timeline of the saga actually leaves several possibilities, but some seem more logical than others.
Red Dead Redemption’s timeline leaves several possibilities
The first Red Dead Redemption takes place in 1911, a time when the cowboy era was already coming to an end. The game tells the story of John Marston as the traditional Wild West gradually disappears under the pressure of the modern world.
Red Dead Redemption 2 took a different approach. Released in 2018, this second episode actually takes place before the events of the first game. The story takes place in 1899 and follows Arthur Morgan as well as the famous Van der Linde gang during the last days of outlaw life.
This narrative structure means that a third game would be unlikely to explore a later time period. By 1911, the outlaw era was already coming to an end, leaving little room for new stories. For this reason, many players instead imagine a return even further into the past.
A return to the classic Wild West could appeal to fans
On several forums and online discussions, some fans believe that the best solution would be to set the story well before the events of Red Dead Redemption 2.
A player explains: “As I have said many times here, the best option would be to set the story 20 years ago, at a time when the atmosphere was more that of the Wild West. With completely new characters, stories and gangs, and either a new map or an expansion”.
Such a period would allow us to explore a wilder era of the Wild West, with more conflicts between outlaws, sheriffs and rival gangs. This would also give Rockstar the opportunity to introduce new characters without being constrained by the already established timeline. The studio could thus tell a completely independent story while retaining the spirit of the series.
The Van der Linde gang could appear indirectly
Some players still imagine a link with known events in the saga. One possibility would be to evoke the famous Van der Linde gang without making it the heart of the story. According to a theory shared by a fan, the story could follow a group of completely different characters, while sometimes crossing paths with the gang led by Dutch.
As one comment explains: “I agree. There should be different characters for the main game. But in my opinion, as the story unfolds, we start to hear about the Van der Linde gang. There could be encounters with the gang and some missions could be played with them, notably Blackwater, where the Van der Linde gang escapes and disappears from the story. The game then ends with its own conclusion and epilogue.”
Rockstar still has immense narrative terrain
The Wild West remains a period rich in stories, conflicts and notable characters. Between turf wars, expanding railroads, and growing cities, this era still offers plenty of narrative possibilities.
If Rockstar one day decides to return to the Red Dead Redemption franchise, the studio could therefore explore a new period while retaining the atmosphere that made the series successful.
As of yet, no official announcement regarding Red Dead Redemption 3 has been made. But the immense popularity of the license suggests that Rockstar’s Wild West may not yet have delivered all its stories.