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.

This week in Red Dead Online introduces the latest Showdown mode, Public Enemy, in which opposing teams compete to take out each other’s designated (and rotating) ‘Public Enemy’ to secure the most points and victory. 

A new Free Roam Event also debuts this week: Railroad Baron, a twist on King of the Castle, pits players against each other as they fight for control of a specific area on a moving train.

Additionally, all Red Dead Online players can score a version of the new Bellerose Hat for free just by logging in this week.

Public Enemy Mode

In this world, there are only two ways to win: either be the Public Enemy or be the one to bring them down. In this new Showdown Mode, each team has a designated Public Enemy, which rotates regularly among players. Kill the opposing team's Public Enemy to score points but be careful: every kill they make is a point to the other side.

Railroad Baron Free Roam Event

Ride the rails and capture as many train cars as you can in this traveling variation on King of the Castle. Accept an invite to begin and fight to keep control of the active area on the train car for the longest amount of time over the course of the event to claim victory.

Bellerose Hat Gift and More

With a coquettish beaver felt design that features a buckled silk band and trimmed plume, the Bellerose Hat is incredibly popular among Wheeler, Rawson and Co's most influential clients. All Red Dead Online players this week will receive the unique tint of the Bellerose Hat pictured above added to their character's wardrobe free of charge, while additional styles can be obtained via the Wheeler, Rawson and Co. catalogue along with the new Flores Vest and remaining limited supplies of the Calhoun Boots, Raccoon Hat and Shaffer Chaps.

This week you'll also get 35% off all Provisions. And you can customize your Camp with a new flag, theme or an upgraded tent that recharges your cores more quickly while resting at camp with 25% off all Wilderness Outfitters offerings. Visit Cripps at your camp to check it out.

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