In an clear win for proponents of data privacy, the Supreme Court issued a decision that requires law enforcement to obtain a warrant to track individuals through cell records “in the rare case where the suspect has a legitimate privacy interest in records held by a third party”.
It’s not a complete protection, but it goes a long way toward setting precedent that cell phone data should be protected by the Fourth amendment.
This decision is the result of the Carpenter vs. United States case, where in 2011, Carpenter was convicted of robbery after the police gathered location data from his cellular carrier. It eventually made its way up to the Supreme Court, where the decision was ultimately made.
The ruling isn’t without limits however, as Chief Justice Roberts, who wrote the majority opinion, stated that the government will still be able to subpoena cell records in the “overwhelming majority of investigations”. Instead, a warrant will only be required when the suspect “has a legitimate privacy interest in records held by a third party.”
Crime vs privacy
This is a huge win for privacy advocates, who have said that the government has a tendency to go too far to get data. And, in a world where companies like Apple continue to protect the data of their customers, it’s nice to see the courts follow suit, if only slightly.
This decision leaves a lot of room for the United States government to subpoena data, however especially as the Court decided that law enforcement will still be able to gather data without a warrant in cases where they “need to pursue a fleeing suspect, protect individuals who are threatened with imminent harm, or prevent the imminent destruction of evidence”.
The Court did, however, state that it’s important to continue protecting Fourth Amendment rights as technology moves forward, stating that “Here the progress of science has afforded law enforcement a powerful new tool to carry out its important responsibilities”. But at the same time, it’s important to keep that tool in check as “this tool risks Government encroachment of the sort the Framers after consulting the lessons of history, drafted the Fourth Amendment to prevent”.
This decision still sets good precedent for the protection of citizens privacy, something that seems to be waning everyday otherwise.
We have entered into the golden era of the PlayStation 4, the time when game developers have learned how the hardware performs and have tuned games to a point that maximizes the ability of the system. Not only do these games look better than ever, but play better than ever, too.
This fact isn’t lost on Sony. When it comes to exclusive games, the PS4 is leading the pack with some of the standout single-player narrative adventures of this generation. It’s the only place where you can play huge hits such as Horizon: Zero Dawn, Shadow of the Colossus and God of War.
Exclusives aren’t the be all and end all, though. There are some incredible third-party games out there and fortunately you’ll find most of them on PlayStation too. The amount of choice the PS4 offers is part of what makes it so great but it can also be overwhelming which is why we’ve put together this list of the games we recommend the most.
Whether you’re at the cutting edge and playing on the 4K PS4 Pro or you’re sticking staunchly with your original PS4 until the PS5 launches, there’ll be something in this list that will appeal to your tastes.
Make sure you check back here regularly – we’re always updating!
Trying to decide which PS4 set-up to get? Watch Jon and Gerald discuss the differences between the PS4, PS4 Pro and PS4 VR.
God of War
A powerful, poignant and unforgettable game
One of PlayStation’s most highly anticipated exclusives of 2018, God of War has lived up to the hype. Taking Kratos from Greek to Norse mythology, making him a father, and focusing on narrative as well as completely revamping combat has made God of War a welcome refresh for the franchise. In our full review, we called God of War “the best game in the series” for many reasons, but the stand-out is that this is a game with heart and it’s not to be missed.
PS4 Pro support? Yes. 4K at 30 fps and HDR.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Say hello to the triple indie
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is developer Ninja Theory’s first attempt at publishing its own game and it’s quite an achievement. The game follows Senua, a Celtic warrior suffering from psychosis who travels to Hell to rescue her lost lover.
The game uses an interesting mix of binaural audio and innovative visual techniques to communicate Senua’s experience with her psychosis to the player, resulting in a game that’s likely to be quite different from anything else you’ve played recently.
Disturbing, insightful and extremely enjoyable to play, this is a game worth taking a look at.
You can read all about our experience with the motion capture tech behind Hellblade right here.
PS4 Pro support? Yes. Dynamic resolution adaption for stable framerates.
Dark Souls Remastered
Out of this world online multiplayer
Dark Souls is an iconic series in the gaming world and with this remaster you have the chance to go back to where it all started in 2011, but with improved visual fidelity and performance. All the better to see those horrific and punishing enemies that are coming relentlessly for your blood.
This is the same original game with all of its DLC but that’s no bad thing. Dark Souls is a fantastic, must-play title and it’s great to see it on the latest generation of consoles. Not just because the framerate bump to 60 fps makes it a much smoother and more exhilarating gameplay experience.
PS4 Pro support? Yes. 4K at 60 fps.
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
A welcome dose of nostalgia
Crash Bandicoot is one of the classic gaming IPs and a revered figure on the PlayStation platform. We were absolutely delighted, then, when he made his debut on PlayStation 4 with the remaster of the N. Sane trilogy.
If you like your nostalgia in big dollops, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane trilogy is a remaster well worth picking up. This is the same levels, gameplay, and the iconic music is still there but it’s been given a lovely new lick of paint. At TechRadar we think it’s a great example of the way classic games should be resurrected.
PS4 Pro support? Yes. 1140p at 30fps
Horizon: Zero Dawn
This is the PS4’s next rising star
Horizon: Zero Dawn is a PlayStation 4 exclusive that owners of the console absolutely should not miss.
Set in an aesthetically prehistoric post-apocalyptic world inhabited by robot dinosaurs, the game puts players in the shoes of Aloy who hunts these creatures and scraps them for parts. It’s an interesting premise to say the least but it works.
Our own review classes it as a Play It Now title and although it has a few shortcomings we think it’s an huge open world game that gets it right. It’s a “must-own game of 2017” with visuals that will be particularly impressive for PS4 Pro owners.
Shadow of the Colossus is a classic PlayStation title, a game that performed graphical marvels when it was released on the PlayStation 2 in 2005. Now it’s been remastered with 4K and HDR support and this time around the game world is more beautiful than ever, while keeping the original’s emotional weight and gameplay.
For those looking for a gaming experience quite unlike any other, Shadow of the Colossus is a must-play. In our full review of the title we called it “a journey well worth taking once, and somehow even more worthwhile second time around”
PS4 Pro support? 2 modes: cinematic with 4K, HDR and 30 fps or performance with 60 fps.
Monster Hunter: World
Friends who slay together, stay together
Monster Hunter is a classic franchise that’s been going for a long time, but with its return to console it’s been given a new lease on life and dragged kicking and screaming into 2018.
Whether you want to play solo or team up with a group of up to three friends, this game has you enter a stunning game world that feels genuinely dynamic and alive in order to hunt down monsters. For research, of course.
There’s a learning curve here, and the dark-souls style of combat has the potential to frustrate, but this is the most accessible Monster Hunter game we’ve seen in years. If you’ve been looking for a chance to break into the series, this is it.
In our review we called the game “a bold and confident new chapter” and gave it a “play it now” recommendation. Thinking of becoming a Monster Hunter yourself? Make sure you check out our full survival guide.
PS4 Pro support? Yes. Can choose between 60 FPS, 4K resolution, or prioritized graphics. All with HDR support.
Burnout Paradise Remastered
Remastered thrillride
First released in 2008, Burnout Paradise is a prime example of how to do an exhilarating open world racing game. Perhaps not quite as appreciated as it should have been when it was first released, we’re glad to see it make a return on the latest console generation. Visually, it’s not vastly different but it still looks great and it has those all-important buttery smooth frame rates.
Paradise is different from the rest of the Burnout series but it’s fantastic in its own way. Fast cars and big crashes in a thrilling playground game world make for an adrenaline high you can’t beat. If your PS4 has been lacking in the racing stakes lately, this is a good option.
PS4 Pro support? 4K at 60fps
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
The end of the long and dusty road
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End hasn’t been out for very long, but we can already tell that this is going to be a Game of the Year contender come December. The game was tasked with an impossible task by bringing a satisfying close to Naughty Dog’s classic adventure series and delivered something well above our expectations. Exceptionally high production values, an engaging story about a wayward brother and an adventure to remember, Uncharted 4 has them all in spades.
Though Naughty Dog’s Uncharted journey has finally reached its destination, you’re guaranteed to treasure the memories it created forever.
If you’re a PS4 owner, it would be criminal not to take this ride.
PS4 Pro support? Yes. 2560 x 1440 resolution with HDR and 30 fps in single-player.
Bloodborne
Hope you don’t have a swear jar
From Software’s enigmatic and notoriously challenging Souls titles all hold critical and fan acclaim, but none are as stylistically interesting as the quasi-Industrial era Bloodborne.
It plays like an RPG set indelibly on a hidden difficulty mode with all the helpful text pop-ups removed, which is to say it requires more than a modicum of patience from the player.
But that’s the point – in Bloodborne, you get out what you put into it. Victory’s all the more rewarding when you’ve watched your enemy, memorized his attack patterns, struck at the opportune moment and prevailed via the game’s impeccable melee combat.
PS4 Pro support? No.
Assassin’s Creed Origins
Making the old feel new again
After a year away, Assassin’s Creed is back and it’s bigger and better than ever. In Assassin’s Creed Origins you go back to ancient Egypt, before the brotherhood and before the Templars, where you play as the original assassin Bayek.
Assassin’s Creed is a series that was growing increasingly stale but with Origins the formula has been refreshed with new RPG mechanics, story-driven side quests and a far more free-flowing combat system.
Whether you’re new to the series or a fatiguing fan, Assassin’s Creed Origins is absolutely worth playing as it’s the strongest and most stunning installment we’ve seen in years.
PS4 Pro support? Yes. HDR support coming November 6.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
A chilling return to form
Your gaming collection isn’t really complete if it doesn’t have a quality horror title and if we had to suggest one it’d be the newest installment in the Resident Evil franchise.
Resident Evil is the franchise that put survival-horror games on the map and though it lost its way slightly in later titles, the newest game is a return to form for Capcom.
By going back to the survival-horror basics and getting them dead on, Capcom has made Resident Evil 7 a genuinely frightening and exhilarating gaming experience. If you have the stomach for the gore, it’s absolutely worth playing.
The PlayStation 4 version of the game has an added bonus for PS VR owners – a virtual reality adaption of the game which Capcom has absolutely nailed. However, you’ll need to be brave to play it all the way through.
PS4 Pro support? Yes. 1080p supersampling and HDR.
Titanfall 2
They had the technology to rebuild him, better than before
The original Titanfall was a great game, but unfortunately it didn’t come to the PlayStation. Fortunately, its sequel, Titanfall 2, improves on it every conceivable way: the motion is more fluid, there are more distinct titans to choose from and, hold onto your hats here, there’s actually a single-player campaign that might take the cake for the best first-person shooter story of the year.
This game’s pedigree is inherited from one of this generation’s smartest and most unusual shooters. The original Titanfall married ninja-fast on-foot combat to the gloriously thuggish thrill of piloting giant mechs, which are summoned from orbit a few minutes into each match.
The skill with which Respawn has balanced this mix of styles in the sequel is remarkable – Titans have firepower in excess but they’re easy to hit, and maps offer plenty of places for infantry to hide. These ideas coalesce into one of this year’s most remarkable entries in the genre and is well-deserving its own shot in the spotlight as well as a Game of the Year nomination.
PS4 Pro Support? Yes. Higher resolution and more stable frame rates.
Dishonored 2
A smart, stealthy, steampunk adventure
Following the surprise 2012 hit Dishonored wasn’t going to be an easy task, but Dishonored 2 has more than lived up to its expectations.
Picking up 15 years after the events of the original, Dishonored 2 takes players back to the Victorian Steampunk city of Dunwall. This time, though, you have the choice of whether or not you want to play as the original title’s protagonist Corvo, or his equally-skilled protegee Emily.
Dishonored 2 doesn’t differ wildly from the first game, but there was nothing wrong with Dishonored in the first place. What we get is a vastly improved and close to perfected take on it.
Anyone who likes their games filled with atmosphere, character, and a bit of wit and intelligence will find Dishonored 2 worth picking up.
Many games have offered us post-apocalyptic visions of the future, but none have been as brutal, as believable, or as touching as Joel and Ellie’s story.
It was near-perfect on PS3, but with current-gen’s increased performance ceiling Naughty Dog found ways to ramp up the visual fidelity to ‘drop the controller and stare’ levels. A radical tonal departure from Uncharted’s jovial treasure-hunting escapades, The Last Of Us Remastered demonstrates the California studio’s ability to strike a darker mood, populating the overgrown ruins of its setting with a cast characterised by murky morals but still getting you to care for them like your own bessies.
If you love this one, make sure you keep an eye on all the latest news surrounding its sequel: The Last of Us 2.
PS4 Pro support? Yes. Choice of 4K at 30 fps or 1080p at 60 fps with HDR.
Battlefield 1
A refreshing jump back in time
In the latest Battlfield game, DICE takes players back in time to World War One and by doing so completely rejuvinates the once stagnating franchise.
Battlefield 1‘s historical setting helps it to stand apart from the rest of the modern military shooters on the market with all new weapons, vehicles, and level designs that feel fresh and capture the chaos and brutality of war.
The game offers a poignant and entertaining single-player campaign that sets a new standard for first-person shooter. Broken into six sections, each following a different character and front line location, the campaign never feels dull or repetitive.
The single player campaign even feeds neatly into Battlefield 1’s multiplayer mode which, while familiar, also benefits from the much-needed breath of life that the change in setting gives.
Graphically impressive, entertaining, and sometimes touching, Battlefield 1 is a return to form for the series.
PS4 Pro support? Yes.
Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration
Lara’s origin story finally makes its way to the PS4
Has it really been 20 years since we first saw Lara in action? How the time flies when you’re upgrading from a 32-bit resolution to upwards of 4K. But no matter how many years go by, Lara still manages to find a handhold in our hearts.
Despite being the sequel to a prequel about the young life of the Lara Croft, Rise of the Tomb Raider feels like the pinnacle of the series. The reboot which saw a brave new direction for the franchise seemed a lot of the time to be little more than a bit of light Uncharted cosplay, but Rise is a far more accomplished game.
There’s now a genuine open world which feels like there is always something to do, and something more than just harvesting up collectibles in exchange for a light dusting of XP. There are also tombs. Yes, that might seem a fatuous thing to say given the name, but the previous game gave them short shrift. In Rise though they are deeper and more plentiful. Plus, on top of everything else, it’s got VR support, which is pretty neat considering that there aren’t many PlayStation VR titles around these days.
Welcome back to PlayStation, Lara, we’ve missed you.
PS4 Pro support? Yes. 3 display modes available; choose between 4K at 30 fps, 1080p at 60 fps or 1080p at 30 fps with enriched visuals.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Stories don’t come bigger than this
Geralt didn’t have the smoothest of entries to PS4, but after some heavy patching and a lot of angry words about visual downgrades, we’re left with an RPG boasting tremendous scope and storytelling.
Oh, and combat. And don’t forget Gwent, the in-game card game. And there’s the crafting to get stuck into. And the alchemy.
You’re rarely short of things to entertain yourself with in The Witcher 3’s quasi-open world, then, and all the better that you’re in a universe that involves the supernatural without leaning on the same old Tolkien fantasy tropes. Invigorating stuff.
PS4 Pro support? Yes. 4K resolution or improved performance at 1080p.
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age
The JRPG genre at its best
Final Fantasy 12 is one of the most underappreciated and anomalous Final Fantasy games, first released in 2006. With this remake, Square Enix gives players a chance to take a second look at the game, this time at a games that runs much more smoothly with less obvious faults and cracks.
In The Zodiac Age you’ll find a beautiful game world, fast and exciting combat, and a sweeping storyline that’s an example of the JRPG genre at its best. Whether you’re a fan of Final Fantasy or not, 12 is enough of a series outlier that it’s a good place to dip in and see what you might be missing. It’s a PlayStation 4 exclusive, too.
PS4 Pro support? Yes. 2560×1440 resolution.
Overwatch
Our 2016 Game of the Year
Overwatch has without a doubt been one of our favorite games to come out of the last year.
It’s a classic team arena shooter from Blizzard that sets two six-person teams of wildly different characters against each other in a bright and cartoonish science fiction universe.
Great graphics, tight maps, and a good roster of characters to enjoy playing. Overwatch is good old fashioned fun and we thoroughly recommend it.
PS4 Pro support? Yes. 1080p with 60 fps. 4K UI overplay.
Grand Theft Auto V
Of heists and men…
Not only is it the best sandbox game on the platform, GTA V is also the best golf game, the best tennis sim, the undisputed virtual yoga champ, one of the best racers… it’s even a pretty serviceable MMO.
We’re used to scale and scope from Grand Theft Auto, but what Trevor, Franklin, and Michael bring us is a staggeringly well-realised city seen from three entirely different perspectives. Trevor, the maniacal rampage killer whom we discover to be in all of us when we play a Rockstar game; Franklin, the classic rags-to-riches character with street smarts and the ability to pull off a bandana; and Michael, the troubled criminal with a dysfunctional family and a beer gut to show for his life of violence.
However you play GTA V – a multiplayer muckabout, a story-driven third-person actioner, a flight sim – it reveals itself to be the best game on both this generation and the last.
PS4 Pro support? No.
NieR: Automata
Seeking fun, weirdness and excellent combat? Look no further
If you want to play a game that will feel different to anything else you’ve played recently, we heartily recommend NieR: Automata.
Though it’s a sequel to 2010 game Nier, you don’t have to have played the first game to enjoy this one. Set in a dystopian future, the story of the game revolves around a war between machines created by alien invaders and the remnants of humanity. Humanity has fled Earth to seek refuge on the moon but has sent combat droids down to fight for them.
You play as one of these droids, 2B, accompanied by another droid called 9S. Combat in this game is intensely satisfying, the game world is stunning with a huge sense of scale and the story is strange (sometimes to a fault) but incredibly entertaining. You won’t be disappointed.
PS4 Pro support? Yes. 1080p at 60 fps.
FIFA 18
Still the best football sim money can buy
FIFA is, for many console owners, a highly anticipated annual event. The latest and arguably greatest installment in the football sim series has arrived in the form of FIFA 18.
Whether you’re looking to play against others online, build up a management career on your own or play a cinematic story mode that’ll give you an insight into the dramatic life of a premier league footballer, FIFA has a game mode just for you.
The best thing is, there’s always more than enough to throw yourself into and agonize over until the next game rolls around with further incremental improvements that’ll convince you to upgrade.
How many Snakes does it take to change a lightbulb?
Okay, so Hideo Kojima’s last game for Konami – and his last ever Metal Gear game – might be a little tough for the MGS n00b to get to grips with, but it’s still one of the best stealth-action games ever crafted. The open-world shenanigans will satisfy all your behind-enemy-lines / Rambo fantasies and probably confuse you with crazy plot twists and a million characters all with the same gravel-toned voices.
But hey, that’s all part of its charm, right?
PS4 Pro support? No.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Superb in every sense
Looking for an incredible single-player shooter? Look no further than the 2017 wonder that was Wolfenstein II. Picking up from where the original game left off, this game is a timely social commentary and a superbly silly adventure all rolled into one well-written package.
With tight mechanics and a story worth caring about this is one of the most satisfying first-person shooters we’ve played in a long time. In our full review we called it “expertly crafted” and recommended that you play it now.
It feels like it was announced an age ago, but Red Dead Redemption 2 is edging closer to its release date. With the western epic for PS4 and Xbox One almost ready to saddle up and ride out, and with a newly-teased PC version also on the horizon, its a great time to rustle up everything we know so far.
Revelead with perfect pacing on the part of Rockstar, the game will be the developer’s third set in the Wild West and its first release since Grand Theft Auto 5 in 2013. To say Rockstar fans are waiting with bated breath is an understatement.
Though the game isn’t due to be released until October 2018 news and rumors are circulating and we’ve gathered everything you need to know right here.
Cut to the chase
What is it? The sequel to the Wild West Rockstar hit, Red Dead Redemption
When can I play it? October 26 2018
What can I play it on? PlayStation 4 and Xbox One have been confirmed so far, with a PC version now highly likely too
Red Dead Redemption 2 trailers
The first trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2 which was released shortly after the game’s announcement. It doesn’t reveal much other than that we’re going to be returning to the Wild West. The game locations in the trailer are diverse and beautiful and it looks highly likely that the game will be open world.
The game’s second trailer came on September 28, after Rockstar teased some new information would be coming in a tweet earlier that week. This time around we got to see a bit more about the game, including a glimpse of its new protagonist Arthur Morgan.
Watch the trailer for yourself below and take a gander at all the screenshots we’ve collected as well as see some of the new theories this trailer has dragged up:
The third trailer rode into town on May 2, all guns blazing. We thought we were ready for it thanks to a tip-off from Rockstar’s twitter feed, but it still hit us right in the feels.
This trailer puts us right in the middle of the action and confirms (spoiler) that John Marston, the hero of Red Dead Redemption will feature in the game. There’s only a fleeting glimpse of him, the wounds that will become his distinctive scars still fresh on his face.
We’ll stop now, you just check it out for yourself below:
Red Dead Redemption 2 release date
We thought we’d have Red Dead Redemption 2 in our stockings come Holiday 2017, but it turns out that may have been a bit preemptive on our part.
Initially a blog post on the publisher’s website from May 2017 said that we’ll have to wait until Spring of 2018 to saddle up for Rockstar Games’ next epic western:
“Red Dead Redemption 2 is now set to launch Spring 2018 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. This outlaw epic set across the vast and unforgiving American heartland will be the first Rockstar game created from the ground up for the latest generation of console hardware, and some extra time is necessary to ensure that we can deliver the best experience possible for our fans … We are very sorry for any disappointment this delay causes, but we are firm believers in delivering a game only when it is ready.”
However, Rockstar Games later tweeted to say that the game would instead be released on October 26 2018, which is a few months later than the June 8 release date that leaked earlier this year.
If you’re thinking “we’ve heard all that before” don’t worry too much: Take Two’s CEO, Straus Zelnick, has promised that the game won’t be delayed again. Talking to Mad Money Host, Jim Cramer, Zelnick promised “hand on heart” that the release date is October 26, adding that the entire team is on track.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is Coming October 26th 2018: https://t.co/LLSkGYfJMP pic.twitter.com/fSu8k9qVZeFebruary 1, 2018
But what about a PC version? So far, there’s been no official word from Rockstar on a Red Dead Redemption 2 PC outing, with only the console versions so far announced.
However, we saw a similar story with the release of Grand Theft Auto V. A roaring success on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, it was several years before it made the jump to the PC, and eventually even crossed console generations with a remastered version of the game turning up on PS4 and Xbox One.
Could it be a similar story for Red Dead 2? It’s looking likely – the LinkedIn profile of a programmer with previous experience at RockStar shows that the employee has been working on the game from a PC standpoint, with the profile verified by several sources. We’d say a PC version is incredibly likely at some point.
Red Dead Redemption 2 rumors
PlayStation exclusivity
It seems that there will be some PlayStation exclusive content when Red Dead Redemption 2 is released on the PS4 later this year. After Rockstar announced some of its pre-order bonuses for the game, the PlayStation Store listing stated that players will be able to “play select content first on PlayStation 4” with “details to follow.”
Now, we don’t know what kind of content is under this timed exclusivity – it could be something completely inconsequential. But it could also mean blocking other platforms from accessing maps or weapons for a long time. We’ll be updating as soon as we find out more.
Trusted leak
Trusted Reviews is reporting that in the middle of 2017 it received documents with details surrounding Red Dead Redemption 2. Now that some of the details have been corroborated by official announcements, Trusted Reviews has released the rest of the details which include information on the game’s online mode, story and characters.
Online mode
The game’s online portion will, apparently, have three different modes: ‘Revive and Survive’ ‘Battle Royale’ and ‘Money Grab.’ Given the wild popularity of games such as PUBG and Fortnite, it doesn’t seem unlikely that Rockstar would be interested in turning its hand to this kind of gameplay and seizing on the popularity.
‘Revive and Survive’ will set two teams against one another in an all out battle where teams will have to fight to stay alive, risking their own necks to revive team members and keep the game going.
Finally, ‘Money Grab’ will be a heist-style mode where two teams will go head-to-head in order to collect money from a central location and return it safely to their hideout.
The report also says that, like Grand Theft Auto’s online mode, Red Dead Redemption 2 will allow players to explore the game’s open world, with rewards for completing tasks, activities to take part in, and upgradeable tents instead of apartments. It even suggests that there’ll be a companion app launched with social features and a poker minigame (a great way for players to increase their in-game funds without having to sit down and play the game).
New mechanics
The report also states that the game will have new mechanics. There’ll be locations dedicated to procuring new items and gambling, as well as a slum market where it’ll apparently be possible to pick up these items on a discount. All stores will operate according to the game’s day-night cycle – so no going to purchase a new pistol and midnight.
Vehicles will range from minecarts to horse-drawn carriages. It may even be possible to use full-explorable trains to traverse the map.
It’s also being said that the main campaign and online mode will be playable in first-person and the Eagle Eye function will make a return, allowing players to track bounties and detect fish for catching.
Mission branches
According to the report, player actions in main campaign missions will affect the direction in which the story moves. Interacting with certain characters over others or interacting with them in different ways, for example, may result in a different outcome or objectives.
Red Dead Redemption 2 news and features
We have very little in the way of solid facts when it comes to Red Dead Redemption 2 but what has been confirmed by Rockstar can be found below.
There’s a new protagonist
John Marston is no more. Red Dead Redemption 2 brings players a brand new protagonist called Arthur Morgan and the game will follow this outlaw and the Van der Linde gang as they rob and fight their way across America.
That doesn’t mean that John is entirely absent. From trailer number three we’ve learnt that John is in the game, although how major a player he’s going to be we’re yet to see.
Dutch is back
The main antagonist from Red Dead Redemption showed his face in this game’s second trailer which confirms he’ll be back. Whether or not he’ll be the same antagonistic force is unclear but we think it’s highly unlikely he’s going to be a force for good.
There’s mention of “the sons of Dutch” in the third trailer, and while this is more than likely a reference to the familial nature of the Van Der Linde gang, is there a possibility Arthur Morgan could be Dutch’s progeny?
It’ll have an open world
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a sequel to an open world game and it’s being developed by Rockstar so this isn’t exactly surprising information. Though Red Dead Revolver was a more linear affair, it was apparent that Rockstar was moving away from this with its spiritual successor Red Dead Redemption and we imagine this trend will continue.
On the game’s site, Rockstar has called the game world “vast and atmospheric” and the trailer certainly backs up this claim.
The environments shown in the trailer are diverse and stunning and we imagine that as before you’ll be able to traverse them on foot, horseback and perhaps even by rail at your own pace.
It’ll have single and multiplayer
As you’d expect of a Rockstar game, Red Dead Redemption 2’s vast open game world will be the backdrop to a thrilling single-player campaign.
Though the first game followed the story of one man, we’re not sure whether that will be the case with Red Dead Redemption 2. The game’s trailer shows 7 figures on horseback which does suggest there could be multiple stories weaving together here like Rockstar did with Grand Theft Auto 5. We’ll just have to wait to find out if this is the case.
One similarity we do know Red Dead Redemption 2 will have to Grand Theft Auto 5 is its huge online multiplayer world and it could be this element of the game that the 7 cowboys on horseback imagery is referring to.
On the game’s website, Rockstar has stated that the world of the single player campaign will “also provide the foundation for a brand new online multiplayer experience.”
Considering Grand Theft Auto 5’s online world is still growing and thriving 4 years after the game’s initial release this is an exciting prospect. We imagine the cooperative missions that involve heists, races, gangs and money making will transfer neatly over to the Wild West world of Red Dead Redemption 2.
PlayStation 4 players will get early access to some online content
Thanks to a partnership between PlayStation and Rockstar, PlayStation 4 owners will get early access to some of the game’s online content. In a post on the official PlayStation Blog where the announcement was made it wasn’t clear what the online content would be, however it was promised that more details would be revealed soon.
There’s an unlockable weapon in Grand Theft Auto Online
Grand theft Auto Online players are getting an interesting Red Dead Redemption 2 treat in the form of an unlockable weapon. Players should be on the lookout for an in-game email over the next few days containing a clue which will allow them to start a scavenger hunt of sorts. Following the trail in the game will lead players to the Double Action Revolver.
Once the revolver is acquired, a Headshot Challenge will launch in Freemode which, if completed, will give players a $250,000 in-game prize and the opportunity to unlock the revolver for use in Red Dead Redemption 2 when it’s released in 2018.
Art book
There’s a listing for a book called The Art of Red Dead Redemption 2 that has popped up on Amazon (and has been swiftly deleted). The book is being published by Random House and had a slated release of October so looks likely to be an official product and in the listing claimed to be “a peek behind the curtain of Rockstar Games and its intensely guarded approach to the creation of the lush, Old West open-world gameplay”.
What we want to see from Red Dead Redemption 2
Considering solid facts on the game are pretty thin on the ground, speculation and rumors are understandably rife, with most of the basis for guessing at possible features coming from the game’s two trailers.
It could be a prequel or sequel
Red Dead Redemption 2 will have a brand new protagonist called Arthur Morgan which puts John Marston out of the picture.
It was the appearance of Red Dead Redemption antagonist, Dutch Van der Linde, in the second trailer for this game, however, that made fans think it could very well be a prequel. Dutch looks much younger and more fresh in the trailer which gives this pre-Red Dead Redemption theory credence.
That said, others have pointed out some anachronistic background details from the trailer which throw the prequel nature of the story into question. First up is a telephone which appears in an office scene of the trailer. This phone has a design which would have been in use long after 1890. However, a train which appears later in the trailer is being pointed out as being from a much earlier time than this.
Red Dead Redemption is largely set in 1911, so all of these details taken together suggest that Red Dead Redemption 2 could actually have a very long timeline which begins before John Marston’s Red Dead Redemption and then runs concurrent to it, perhaps starring multiple characters.
However, it could also be a prequel that just doesn’t stretch too far back in time – it’s also being rumored that the game is set only 5 years before the previous game around 1906 which would make a great deal of sense.
Bows and arrows and dual wielding weapons
In the game’s second trailer we see protagonist Morgan wielding a bow and arrow as well as simultaneously firing two revolvers. This suggests combat mechanics have advanced significantly from the previous game.
Bow and arrows were actually a weapon option in Red Dead Revolver before being nixed in Red Dead Redemption. Since then, fans have been crying out for their return and the trailer certainly seems to show that’s happening.
Out on the water
You couldn’t even swim in Red Dead Redemption but a glimpse of a character out on the open water in a kayak in the trailer for the sequel has people wondering if you’ll be able to travel across water or maybe even swim this time around. It’d certainly make an already sure to be large game world even larger.
More animals than ever
The game’s second trailers shows in no uncertain terms that bears are back. But this time they’re being joined by crocodiles. This makes the surrounding game world significantly more dangerous and although we like to see as much wildlife as possible, we’re not looking forward to being taken by surprise by a crocodile in a swamp.
Sharing the load
A scene of a character walking alongside a mule loaded up with equipment also has fans wondering if it’ll be possible to share your inventory with your steed. We imagine this would work in a similar manner to sharing your inventory with your companion in games like Skyrim.
The biggest takeaways from the tentative topography was a slight move eastward from the arid plains of Red Dead Redemption, showing more marshy locations, islands, and even a mention of a bayou city called New Bordeaux – possibly a tie-in with the recently released, 2K-published Mafia III?
A source with insider knowledge did confirm to us that the map was legit, adding that the game plans to take place before the events of Red Dead Redemption.
However, it is still a leaked map from the internet, so checked expectations are always a smart move.
Rockstar has revealed that the map of the game will be used as the foundation for building an online multiplayer world similar to that of Grand Theft Auto 5 so the incredible scale and diverse landscape suggested by this map would be suited to an online world.
Keep checking back here for more Red Dead Redemption 2 news and rumors! We’ll report everything as and when it’s revealed.
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