Rockstar games is not having to do much to build hype for its upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2, a sequel to 2010's hugely successful western. The gameplay video speaks for itself, and it looks absolutely amazing. The new story will actually be a prequel to the original Red Dead, putting players among the Van der Lind gang 12 years before John Marston begins his quest to hunt them down. This time, the playable character will be Arthur Morgan, the gang's enforcer. And yes, the former protagonist John Marston will also appear, as a whippersnapper (relatively speaking).

Josh Bass, art director at Rockstar San Diego, and Aaron Garbut, director of art at Rockstar North, recently spoke with THR about the sequel, saying in part that, "In Red Dead Redemption 2 you get to see that gang, including Marston, at the peak of their notoriety and at the very moment things begin to fall apart. This story focuses on Arthur Morgan, Dutch’s most trusted enforcer. Adopted into the gang by the Dutch when he was a young boy, Arthur considers the gang to be his family — Dutch has given his life some much‐needed purpose, and the gang has served as the one positive and constant in Arthur’s life."

Plot and Gameplay

Dutch's presence "loomed large" over the original game, and so exploring his influence and life with his gang is a natural progression for the series. But even though gamers will be dropped into the heyday of Dutch's gang activity, a rapidly changing country around them, as well as factions within the gang, will start to tear it all apart.

"We’ve aimed to capture a wide slice of American life in 1899, a rapidly industrializing nation that would soon have its sights on the world’s stage — and would do whatever possible to 'modernize,'" Garbut says of the sequel's setting. "It’s a brutal landscape with a sordid history, but also one that’s full of opportunity. One of the most satisfying aspects of creating a world of such scope and scale is the ability to experience a whole range of stories and characters in your journey across that world. The gang’s journey and the game’s epic scope makes room to touch on all aspects of turn of the century America in a meaningful, substantial way."

Part of that will be exploring juxtapositions within this world -- "between rich and poor, between weak and strong ,and between civilization and the wilderness" as Garbut said -- a world that will react to you and your choices in a "consistent" manner. He went on to explain that "You can exchange stories with a barman in a saloon, talk yourself out of trouble with a local lawman, hijack a train or simply rummage through the drawers of an old homestead hoping to find cash or just some food to help the gang survive — and seamlessly transition between these things in ways that are both fun and are in keeping with Arthur as a character."

All of that sounds more like an RPG than Red Dead has perhaps felt in the past, given that everyone plays the same protagonist who has a very clear journey. And while some fans may wish there were several different playable characters, a la Grand Theft Auto, Bass commented that sticking with the one character felt more true to the western story they are looking to tell. And ultimately, "We think people will really love the feeling of being in the gang. It isn’t like anything we’ve done before." The key is immersion, and the hope is that players will have memories of experiencing this world.

Characters

Rockstar has also released a slew of character descriptions for the new game -- check them all out below:

Dutch van der Linde: The leader of a sizable gang of outlaws and misfits. Idealistic, anarchic, charismatic, well‐read, well‐ lived, but possibly starting to unravel under the pressures of the encroaching modern world.

 

Arthur Morgan: Dutch's most dependable and capable enforcer since he was a boy, the outlaw life is all Arthur has ever known. Sharp, cool‐headed and ruthless, but with his own sense of honor. A man who gets the job done.

Bill Williamson: An ex‐soldier discharged from the army, possibly dishonorably. Hot-headed, he tends to act first and think later but is tough, dedicated and always ready to fight.

Javier Escuella: A notorious bounty hunter and Mexican revolutionary. Javier immediately had a strong connection to Dutch’s ideals. Very committed, passionate and loyal.

John Marston: Once an orphaned street kid taken under Dutch's wing at the age of 12, John has always had to live by his wits. Shrewd, fearless and strong‐willed, he and Arthur are Dutch’s proudest proteges.

Charles Smith: A relatively recent recruit to the gang, Charles is quiet and reserved but extremely competent in everything he does and virtually unbeatable in a fight. A decent, honest man who also happens to be deadly.

Micah Bell: A career criminal and hitman. Wild and unpredictable but he lives for the action.

Sadie Adler: A widow who is hell-bent on taking revenge upon those who killed her husband. Relentless and afraid of nothing and no one. The wrong woman to cross, but very loyal to those she loves.

Hosea Matthews: A master con artist, gentleman and thief, Hosea has been Dutch's closest friend and right‐hand man for over 20 years. Intelligent and quick‐witted, he can talk his way into, or out of, just about anything.

Abigail Roberts: An orphan who grew up scraping out a living in dive bars and brothels in the West, Abigail is a strong, straight‐talking woman who has seen a lot of life and knows what it takes to survive against the odds.

Uncle: A hanger‐on and good‐time guy, Uncle is always around when the whiskey is open and never around when there’s any work to be done. If he wasn’t so entertaining, Dutch would have cut him loose years ago.

Josiah Trelawny: A flamboyant conjurer, conman and trickster, Trelawny is a very hard man to pin down but he’s always able to bring good leads.

Lenny Summers: Young Lenny has been on the run since he was 15 years old after killing the men who murdered his father. Smart, educated, competent and ambitious, he is always ready to do his part.

Sean Macguire: A cocky young Irish thief and stick‐up man who comes from a long line of criminals and political dissidents. He always wants a piece of the action and believes in himself...perhaps a little too much.

Mary-Beth Gaskill: A kind, good‐natured young woman, which makes her the perfect criminal. By the time people realize they’ve been duped, Mary‐Beth is already on her way home with the money.

Karen Jones: A consummate scam artist and trigger woman who can drink pretty much anybody under the table. Bold and full of fun, she loves the outlaw life and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Tilly Jackson: An outlaw from the age of 12, Tilly ran with another gang before joining up with Dutch. Savvy, resilient and dependable, she can more than handle herself and isn’t afraid to speak her mind.

Leopold Strauss: Originally hailing from Austria, Herr Strauss is responsible for keeping the gang’s books and running their money lending operation. A serious, somewhat shifty and unemotional man, he has all the qualities a loan shark needs.

Reverend Swanson: An ex clergyman now lost to debauchery, Swanson has fallen a long way from the standards he once set himself. If he hadn’t saved Dutch’s life in the past, it’s unlikely the gang would have kept him around for this long.

Susan Grimshaw: The undisputed boss and arbiter of justice in the camp, everything would have fallen apart years ago without Susan in charge. Tenacious and iron‐willed, she stands for no nonsense.

Molly O’Shea: A Dublin girl and the object of Dutch’s affection, for now at least, Molly is too high‐strung for a life on the run and it’s all starting to take a toll on her.

Pearson: The camp’s butcher and cook, Pearson served a short stint in the navy that he likes to talk about at length. A loud, jolly degenerate who is somewhat in denial about the turn his life has taken.

Jack Marston: Young Jack has grown up with the gang, although everyone has done their best to shield him from the more nefarious elements, especially his mother, Abigail. He loves everything about nature and the outdoor life, and is carefully watched over by his many aunts and uncles.