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.

Now that everyone has had a chance over the past month to experience the story of Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang in Red Dead Redemption 2, it is time to begin the beta period for Red Dead Online.

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.

The Wild Animal Kills Challenge is now available in Red Dead Online, with points awarded based on the size of the animal along with bonus points for prized and dangerous predators. Offensive attacks against other players are disabled during the challenge, keeping the focus of this Free Roam Event squarely on the hunt.

Also new this week is Head For The Hills, the latest Showdown Mode, in which players taken turns running to their safe house while opponents try to take them down along the way.

In addition, new players of A Land of Opportunities can earn a RDO$50 bonus for completing the first mission, Honor Among Horse Thieves. All players can earn a bonus RDO$75 for completing Kill Them, Each and Every One; and a bonus 10 Gold Bars for completing Destroyed by Grief.

Wild Animals Kills Challenge

Prove your status as a big game hunter in the new Wild Animal Kills Challenge. Accept an invite to this new Free Roam Event to pit yourself against other sportsmen with weapons and offensive attacks against other players disabled – so the focus of this Free Roam Event is squarely on the hunt.

Points are awarded based on the size of the animal, with small animals worth one point, medium size worth two, and large animals worth three. As the challenge unfolds, prized and especially dangerous predators like wolves, cougars and bears will emerge… take them down for bonus points.

Head For The Hills

Also live today is Head For The Hills, a new Showdown Mode where players take turns making a last-ditch run across no-man's-land to their safe house, while opponents have only one objective: to hunt you down. Stake out the high ground, hide in the shadows or stalk your enemies out in the open, but don’t let them get to safety. We will also add two more new Showdown Modes over the next two weeks - stay tuned for details on Public Enemy and Sport of Kings coming in the weeks ahead.

A Land of Opportunities Bonuses

Earn bonus Cash and Gold in certain missions from A Land of Opportunities. This week, new players will earn a bonus RDO$50 for completing the first mission, Honor Among Horse Thieves. Earn a bonus RDO$75 for completing Kill Them, Each and Every One; and a bonus 10 Gold Bars for completing Destroyed by Grief.

Care Package

This week also brings a new Showdown Mode inspired care package for everyone, visit your Camp Lockbox or Post Office to pick up a gift of:

• 5x Potent Miracle Tonic
• 5x Potent Snake Oil
• 5x Potent Health Cure
• 5x Potent Bitters
• 120x Express Revolver Ammo

New Clothing Arrivals

Wheeler, Rawson and Co's latest clothing updates this week include the Flora Corseted Chemise and Paddon Shirt tops - along with limited supply of the Plaid Cap, Racoon Hat and Shaffer Chaps. You can also now feign outrage with the new How Dare You emote.

2-Step Verification Bonus

This week, we're also awarding the unique and exclusive tint of the Racoon Hat pictured above to anyone who has 2-Step Verification on their Social Club account, including those who enable it this week (who'll also receive 10 Gold Bars for Red Dead Online and GTA$500,000 in GTA Online).

 To switch on 2-Step Verification for your Social Club account, go to here.

Red Dead Online community live stream

Join us for our very first Red Dead Online community live stream this Friday May 31, 5pm Eastern on the official Rockstar Facebook, Twitch and YouTube channels. We’ll also be putting out a call on our Twitter tomorrow looking to round up a few community friends to Posse up with as we’ll be playing on both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. We’ll be getting into all sorts of rip roaring action from the latest update, from this week’s new Head for the Hills Showdown Mode to taking on Free Roam Missions and Posse Versus Challenges to some hands of Poker at the saloon and more. Look for more Red Dead Online and GTA Online live streams to be announced in the weeks and months ahead. Subscribe and follow for all our go-live notifications:

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