As promised, Rockstar Games has delivered the first new trailer for its much-anticipated Red Dead Redemption 2–the first in more than six months. Much like the previous ones, this primarily focuses on teasing the game’s narrative rather than showcasing significant gameplay, and while we’re left to guess what most of it means, there is one reveal of note.
John Marston, the protagonist of Red Dead Redemption, will play a role in RDR2. This game sees you assume the role of Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang. But during the course of the trailer, there’s a quick shot of a bearded man being held by the neck with some cuts on his nose and right cheek. Yes, there seems to be no doubt that John Marston–another Van der Linde gang member–is back, and we’ll apparently find out how he got those scars of his.
Beyond that brief moment, there’s no further time spent with Marston, so we don’t yet know how significant of a role he’ll play. RDR2 is a prequel, and we know based on our breakdown of a previous trailer that a number of familiar faces will also show up. But this is the first indication that Marston himself will be included in some capacity.
Whereas RDR took place in 1911, RDR2 is set in 1899. And although the trailer itself doesn’t fill in many details about what the story involves, an accompanying description from Rockstar sets up what’s going on. “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,” it reads. “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.”
Following some previous delays, RDR2 is set to release on October 26 for PS4 and Xbox One. Rockstar and parent company Take-Two insist it won’t be delayed again. There’s still no word on a PC version.
