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 introduces two new Legendary Animals for players to track, study, and hunt: The Legendary Mud Runner Buck and the Snow Buck, with Naturalist Role bonuses for sampling each animal.

Also debuting this week is the Wildlife Photographer Free Roam Event, the Hardcore Series, new Legendary Coats at Gus’ Store, alongside the latest Emotes, bonuses, offers, and rewards.

Highlights from today’s news include:

• New Legendary Animals: The Legendary Mud Runner Buck, found by the Heartland’s Flat Iron Lake, and the Legendary Snow Buck, spotted around the Aurora Basin in West Elizabeth, with samples from either netting 50% more RDO$, Character XP, and Role XP when delivered to Harriet
• A new Free Roam Event, Wildlife Photographer, which has players racing to take the best and most photographs of animals (with a reward for the best photo taken)
• The debut of the Hardcore Series, where players compete without Ability Cards or Consumables and featuring Hardcore variations of Overrun, Spoils of War, Hostile Territory and Most Wanted
• New items at Gus’ Store: TheMud Runner Coat and the Snow Coat can now be crafted from their respective Legendary Buck once delivered to Gus, who’s also offering 50% bonus payouts for either Legendary Animal’s carcass or pelt
• The latest Emote additions to the Catalogue: TheHypnotize, Sniff, Check the Time, Prayer, Cougar Snarl, Coin Bite and Shrug Emotes
• New Bonuses: Completing any Free Roam Event, including Wildlife Photographer, will net players an extra RDO$100 and 5,000 Character XP, plus an extra RDO$100 Reward is available for taking a photo with the Advanced Camera
• One-time gifts are still available for logging in by September 21st: 30% off any Novice or Promising Naturalist Role Item, 2,000 Naturalist XP, free Sedative Varmint Cartridges, a free Legendary Animal Pheromone, 30% off a Revolver, and a free Ability Card
• Ongoing Rewards for Naturalists: A Reward for a free Role Accessory, Outfit or Emote, the Gila Monster Camp Flag for tranquilizing and sampling any animal, the Farnholme Double Bandolier for completing an Animal Sighting Mission, and a Treasure Map with the purchase of a Wilderness Camp
• Latest Prime Gaming Benefits are still available: A Free Katata Coat, 5 Free Legendary Animal Pheromones, 6,000 Naturalist XP, a free Wilderness Camp, offers for: 50% off a Camp Dog, a Tent, and a Vest below Rank 15, plus 10x Special Health Cures, 10x Special Snake Oil, 10x Special Miracle Tonic, and 10x Special Bitters

Spotted: Legendary Mud Runner and Snow Bucks

Naturalists meandering in the Heartlands of New Hanover or the woods of West Elizabeth should sharpen their tracking skills and stay alert for a pair of Legendary Bucks.

The fabled Legendary Mud Runner Buck - with its aggressive nature and piebald coat that sets it apart from the more common bucks living nearby - has been spotted in the south of The Heartlands by Flat Iron Lake. The vigilant and fleetfooted Legendary Snow Buck can often be found grazing near the Aurora Basin.

Photograph, track, sedate and sample them in all their natural splendor and Harriet will be pleased to reward your efforts. Alternatively, hunt and skin the beasts before bringing their pelts back to Gus to adorn your trophies.

These Legendary Bucks are said to be most active at daylight, during dry weather.

You’ll receive 50% more XP (as well as Role XP) and monetary payouts for returning Legendary Buck samples to Harriet. And while Gus will not be able to craft coats from intact Legendary Buck carcasses, he will gladly purchase these carcasses and pelts from you for 50% more RDO$.

GUS’ STORE

In addition to offering 50% bonus payouts on intact Legendary Buck carcasses and pelts, Gus will be positively thrilled to aid you in crafting either the Mud Runner Coat or the Snow Coat.

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER FREE ROAM EVENT

A brand new Free Roam Event invites all players to photograph animals in their natural habitats, competing against other photographers to rack up the highest number of points. Outscore your foes by photographing as many different animals as possible as closely as you can, paying mind to the quality of your composition. Prove your skills behind a camera to emerge as the victor for generous RDO$ & XP payouts. The best individual photograph taken during each event will also earn a reward.

INTRODUCING THE HARDCORE SERIES

No Ability Cards. No consumables. Just you, your opponent and your trigger. If you think you’re an expert gunslinger, the Hardcore Series is where you’ll meet your match.

Keep an eye on the Featured Series tile for the occasional Hardcore Series in the weeks ahead. This week, jump into the Hardcore variations of Overrun, Spoils of War, Hostile Territory and Most Wanted.

NEW EMOTES

There is a selection of new Emotes available in the Wheeler, Rawson & Co. Catalogue this week, including Hypnotize, Sniff, Check the Time, Prayer, Cougar Snarl, Coin Bite and Shrug.

BONUSES, OFFERS & REWARDS

Completing any Free Roam Event will pay out RDO$100 and a Reward for 5000 Character XP, including the newly added Wildlife Photographer Free Roam Event. Plus, take a photo using the Advanced Camera to receive a Reward for RDO$100.

Speaking of discounts, Naturalists might be wise to take advantage of 40% off all tonics in Harriet’s Shop. While those on the hunt for fashion can take 30% off all craftable Coats in Gus’ Store, plus 30% off all trinkets.

If you haven’t jumped into Red Dead Online yet, play before September 21st to receive the following one-time gifts, and be sure to check the Benefits section frequently for new Offers and Rewards:

• An Offer for 30% off any Novice or Promising Naturalist Role Item
• A Reward for 2,000 Naturalist XP
• A Reward for Free Sedative Varmint Cartridges
• A Reward for a Free Legendary Animal Pheromone
• An Offer for 30% off a Revolver
• A Reward for a Free Ability Card

Becoming a Naturalist and studying wild fauna in their home environment is a reward unto itself, but there are plenty of other perks, including the following one-time gifts:

• Become a Naturalist and get Reward for a free Role Accessory, Outfit or Emote
• Sedate and sample any animal and get the Gila Monster Camp Flag
• Complete an Animal Sighting Mission and get a Reward for the Farnholme Double Bandolier
• Purchase a Wilderness Camp and get a Reward for a Treasure Map

Visit the Social Club Events page for a rundown of all the latest special bonuses, and you can also view current active Offers and Rewards at any time via the in-game Benefits menu or at the Offers and Rewards section of the online Wheeler, Rawson and Co. Catalogue.

Prime Gaming

Red Dead Online players who connect their Rockstar Games Social Club account to Prime Gaming will receive Rewards for:

• 5 Free Legendary Animal Pheromones
• 6,000 Naturalist XP
• A free Wilderness Camp
• A free Katata Coat crafted from the Legendary Elk hide

In addition, players connected to Prime Gaming will receive Offers for 50% off a Camp Dog, 50% off a Tent, and 50% off a Vest below Rank 15 - as well as 10x each of Special Health Cures, Special Snake Oil, Special Miracle Tonic and Special Bitters at their Camp Lockbox or any Post Office.

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