Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age.

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.

Built from the ground up for the latest hardware, Red Dead Online blends the classic multiplayer of the original Red Dead Redemption with the best of everything we have learned since then about creating deep multiplayer experiences. The result is something completely new and fun, and an experience that will continue to expand and evolve over time as we gain valuable feedback from our community in the Beta period.

Built from the ground up for the latest hardware, Red Dead Online blends the classic multiplayer of the original Red Dead Redemption with the best of everything we have learned since then about creating deep multiplayer experiences. The result is something completely new and fun, and an experience that will continue to expand and evolve over time.

With the gameplay of Red Dead Redemption 2 as its foundation, Red Dead Online transforms the vast and deeply detailed landscapes, cities, towns and habitats of Red Dead Redemption 2 into a new, living online world ready to be shared by multiple players. Create and customize your character, tailor your abilities to suit your play style and head out into a new frontier full of things to experience.

Explore the world solo or with friends. Form or join a Posse to ride with up to seven players; gather around the fire at your Camp; head out hunting or fishing; visit bustling towns; battle enemy gangs and attack their hideouts; hunt for treasure; take on missions and interact with familiar characters from across the five states; or fight against other outlaws in both spontaneous skirmishes and pitched set-piece battles; compete with other players or whole Posses in open world challenges and much more.

Red Dead Online rings in the holidays with limited-time festive themed Showdown Modes, Camp and Moonshining Shack decorations as well as variety of gifts and bonuses, and more. Additionally, all players who log in between December 23rd and 25th will receive a special seasonal Gift Chest with a variety of goodies such as provisions, ammunition, and more.

Along with local piano players performing holiday tunes in saloons, snowfall is also predicted to appear across the five states starting tomorrow.

Please read on for the full details, including a 1,000XP bonus for players that log in between December 31st and January 6th, new Collections and weapon variants, discounts and more.

Weather Warning On The Frontier

The holiday spirit has taken hold in the five states. Red Dead Online will be ringing in the holiday season over the next few weeks - with winter weather setting in, limited-time Festive Showdown Modes, decorations at your Camp and Moonshining Shack, gifts and more to tide you over.

'Tis The Season

On your travels, you may have heard piano players in the saloons playing festive songs as folk across the country merrily indulge in holiday festivities. Be warned, however, that the changing of the seasons often brings harsh weather to the frontier, with snowfall predicted to arrive as soon as tomorrow. Those keen to make preparations for the winter should be advised that even heavier snowfall may also be on the way, so keep the campfire burning and the stewpot simmering.

Holiday Showdown Modes

Sharpshooters across the land can put their hand-eye to the test in snow-dusted versions of bloody Showdown Modes like Spoils of War, Up in Smoke, and Overrun, while PlayStation 4 players will get exclusive access to festive variations of Gun Rush, Make it Count and Last Stand. Simply fire up the Series from the Online Menu to dive in through January 6th.

Claim Your Holiday Gift Chest

In keeping with the holiday spirit, players who play Red Dead Online between December 23rd - 25th will receive a special seasonal Gift Chest, packed to the brim with provisions and other goodies - including:

• The Krampus Double Barrel Shotgun Variant
• 30 rounds of Incendiary Buckshot Ammo
• 100 Shotgun Slugs
• 10 Thyme Big Game
• 10 Minty Plump Birds
• 20 Carrots
• 20 Assorted Biscuits
• 50 Candies
• 10 Fine Brandies
• 10 Special Miracle Tonics
• 20 Volatile Fire Bottles
• 2x Creek Plums
• 2x Agarita

Plus, visit the Benefits section to find Offers for 50% off a Shotgun or Coat during this period.

Bionuses & Benefits

A host of seasonal offerings have already been awarded to all players who have logged in and played on or after December 13th. There's still time to claim the following gifts - simply play Red Dead Online by January 6th and check the Benefits section of the Main Menu to redeem the following coupons:

• 3,000 Club XP
• RDO$200 for starting a new Role
• 1x Free Trader Resupply Reward
• 1x Free Weapon Component of your choice Reward
• 1x Treasure Map Reward
• 1x Free Moonshiner Mash Refill Reward
• 30% off one Stable slot Offer

Playing Red Dead Online between December 31st and January 6th will also reward you with a 1,000XP reward for each of the four Specialist Roles available in Red Dead Online: Moonshiner, Bounty Hunter, Trader and Collector.

And players can continue to take 5 Gold bars off the cost of the Butcher's Table and 25% off the cost of the Medium Delivery Wagon, the Bounty Hunter variant of the Schofield Revolver and the Collector variant of the Lancaster Repeater - all the way through January 6th.

And as always, keep an eye on the Benefits section for the latest Offers, Rewards and info in Red Dead Online.

Collectors can get in on the holiday action between December 24th and 30th by sending the Festive Feast Collection to Madam Nazar for a princely sum. Track down a Goose Egg, Cognac and a Thyme Plump Bird to complete the collection. And between December 31st - January 6th, Nazar will be requesting receipt of the New Year Collection, containing the Ace of Wands, Scotch Whiskey and Platinum Pocket Watch.

Twitch Prime Benefits

Players who connect their Social Club account with Twitch Prime will receive the Collector's Bag and the Polished Copper Still Upgrade -- both free of charge. To ensure access to future benefits, make sure to visit Twitch Prime and sign up.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is currently available for PS4 and Xbox One.