Rockstar Games has today unveiled one of Red Dead Redemption's multiplayer modes. Just like in Grand Theft Auto IV, "Multiplayer Free Roam" lets players explore the full single-player gameworld in an online, multiplayer environment. However, this mode remains separate from the single-player story and is not a means by which to progress through the "campaign" with other players. In Free Roam, players can explore by their lonesome or band together to form "posses" of up to 8 hombres. While possied-up, players can take on other posses, hunt down criminals or start a "group activity," like a traditional multiplayer deathmatch. Up to 16 players can be in the same online lobby simultaneously.
As with GTA IV, experience points are gained as you play multiplayer modes. There are 50 levels of character progression, with experience points unlocking new weapons, mounts, characters and challenges.
Today's announcement emphasizes that Free Roam is just one part of the Red Dead Redemption multiplayer experience. "There are more structured competitive modes that we'll reveal soon," Rockstar promises.
Red Dead Redemption's online 'Multiplayer Free Roam' revealed
by Andrew Yoon 
on Apr 8th 2010 1:43PM
81
Reader Comments (81)
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 7:27PM Chareth Cutestory said
But it has team deathmatch! I dare you to find another game in which you can fight against 8 other people with 7 of your friends.
Plus, horses!
Reply
Plus, horses!
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 2:18PM JMoney156 said
What's the right way to play it? I'm specifically taking about the free-roam mode where you just mess around. A few friends of mine and I flew some helicopters into each other, ejected each other from our cars with head-on collisions, ran over each other and shot each other in the face a few times for maybe two hours, but with a lack of objectives we got bored fairly quickly. If I was playing it incorrectly, please enlighten me.
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 7:29PM Chareth Cutestory said
It sounds like the "Free Roam" mode will act as a meeting space/launch pad for objective based gameplay.
That said, the objectives sound extra generic.
If they'd said "horse rustling" or "train heisting" instead of "deathmatch," I might care.
Reply
That said, the objectives sound extra generic.
If they'd said "horse rustling" or "train heisting" instead of "deathmatch," I might care.
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 2:22PM StrikeFear13 said
I really hope one of the big jumps with next gen consoles is having a higher online player count. 64-128-256. Games like this would be perfect for it. Mag-style, except good games. ;)
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 2:26PM calgaryaltahotmailcom said
lol whatever, MAG is not just good, it's GGGRREAT!
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Posted: Apr 8th 2010 2:40PM itsjose said
I always thought it would be great if NFS did this, just join in on a race.
But this looks ridiculously AWESOME. Team deathmatch wherever, whenever.
This a day 1 buy for me.
But this looks ridiculously AWESOME. Team deathmatch wherever, whenever.
This a day 1 buy for me.
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 2:40PM iceveiled said
AH multiplayer. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
I'd rather the developers put all their efforts into polishing the single player experience instead of tacking on yet another multiplayer mode that I'll play for 2 days before going back to whatever online shooter I'm playing at the time. But it sounds fun.
I'd rather the developers put all their efforts into polishing the single player experience instead of tacking on yet another multiplayer mode that I'll play for 2 days before going back to whatever online shooter I'm playing at the time. But it sounds fun.
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 2:42PM blueskyv201 said
Gentlemen, I think I'm in love.
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 2:50PM Mofetti said
This game just keeps getting better and better!
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 2:50PM SisypheanLife said
I would rather the multiplayer has some effect on my single-player character. If not campaign co-op, at least have it benefit my offline playing in some way.
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 3:23PM (Unverified) said
Still more interested in it's single player, I didn't even know they were doing a multiplayer but it's nice for those that want it.
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 3:55PM (Unverified) said
After watching this I know want this game.
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 4:03PM xSFx said
OMGICANTWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIT
Single player was going to earn my sixty by itself.
Single player was going to earn my sixty by itself.
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 4:03PM prodigy69 said
what'd he say?....the sheriff's near?
can't wait for this game
can't wait for this game
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 4:10PM Nobledevil Gaming Optimist said
Holy cow, it's like an MMO without the filler! Yup, this is now a purchase instead of a rental. Here's my money Rockstar, and thank you for the effort.
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 5:11PM Raed1987 said
I love you Rockstar
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 5:27PM SisypheanLife said
I've gotta say, though. That does look like fun.
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 5:34PM Captain Angus Beef said
PTOM actually stated that deathmatch and other game modes THEMSELVES will feature up to 16 players, but the actual game world will be more MMORPG-like, meaning much more than 16 players will actually be in the lobby at any given time, à la Playstation Home. Think of the lobby as an actual starting place to meet people to set up a 16-player deathmatch, or whathaveyou.
To further delve on the lobby system, the lobby is indeed open world but not just players will interact with one another, there will be plenty of NPCs to get involved with, as well. Hunting and "raids" will be commonplace as well.
To further delve on the lobby system, the lobby is indeed open world but not just players will interact with one another, there will be plenty of NPCs to get involved with, as well. Hunting and "raids" will be commonplace as well.
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 5:41PM SisypheanLife said
That has the potential to be a really interesting and free-flowing world, if it works out like that. Perhaps with easy transitions like Burnout Paradise between modes and the "lobby".
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Posted: Apr 9th 2010 12:50PM (Unverified) said
Wrong. All game modes are 16 player online, including free-roam. I wish it were true. Check out the IGN article on this if you don't believe me.
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Posted: Apr 9th 2010 2:11PM SisypheanLife said
I looked but didn't see anything that said what the size limit of the lobby is. Read a lot of MMO comparisons but only information about the 16-man limit for the game modes themselves, not the free-roaming lobby.
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Posted: Apr 11th 2010 9:51PM Captain Angus Beef said
Poop, where did you see that they confirmed the lobby to having a 16-player max limit? The narrator in the video didn't even say that. He said there were 16 players max in a deathmatch, but nothing about the size of the lobby. When PTOM and G4 are comparing the lobby to something straight out of an MMORPG, I hardly think that 16 players is something worthwhile to compare to an MMORPG sized game.
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Posted: Apr 8th 2010 6:46PM MixedRaceJesusFreak said
Texas just called they want they want the wild west back
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 7:07PM JaseH said
Only 16 players?
What?
________________________________________
JaseH.
What?
________________________________________
JaseH.
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 7:09PM EvoHelix said
Just spotted something that's a little strange in the trailer:
All guns seem to cause 1-3 hit Kills. Is this how the game is balanced or just how the videos are cut?
All guns seem to cause 1-3 hit Kills. Is this how the game is balanced or just how the videos are cut?
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 7:45PM Chareth Cutestory said
Well, the wild west was the height of kevlar technology.
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Posted: Apr 8th 2010 7:27PM QuePasa87 said
DAMN this looks awesome! I wonder how many times the words "this town ain't big enough for the two of us" will be said in just the first day online lol.
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 7:31PM LoosePampelmousse said
I hope there's brothels. Me and 15 ladies multipayer action a huminahuminahumina.
Posted: Apr 9th 2010 6:39AM ecliptic said
@MystileArmor Thats some hilarious imagination there..... lol
I'd have fun playing w.you on gtaIV lol
hit me up psn "ecliptic"
I'd have fun playing w.you on gtaIV lol
hit me up psn "ecliptic"
Posted: Apr 11th 2010 9:50PM Captain Angus Beef said
Poop, where did you see that they confirmed the lobby to having a 16-player max limit? The narrator in the video didn't even say that. He said there were 16 players max in a deathmatch, but nothing about the size of the lobby. When PTOM and G4 are comparing the lobby to something straight out of an MMORPG, I hardly think that 16 players is something worthwhile to compare to an MMORPG sized game.
Posted: May 10th 2010 2:56PM (Unverified) said
My general presumption is that it will be a larger player cap with a number of servers to select to play on. Slightly like Runescape (Don't flame me; I'm not a Scaper any more), this will give us a good, consistent if wanted, choice of world as well as the diversity to organise clan battles and such.
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