Red Dead Redemption released about a year ago on consoles to major praise and stupendous sales. However, many were holding out for a PC release announcement that felt like it was taking too long to arrive. Well, the game finally arrives next month on new PC platforms, so how does it play? Early reports are saying that it plays beautifully.
First, you should know that if you are like me, and waiting for a Steam release of the game, you will have to wait just a little longer. On November 5th, the game does come to PC, sure, but on select digital platforms like Rockstar’s own launcher and the horrendous Epic Games Store. Steam will get the game this December.
Red Dead Redemption 2 for PC also offers HDR support, the ability to run high-end display setups with 4K resolution and beyond, multi-monitor configurations, widescreen configurations, faster frame rates and more.
Red Dead Redemption 2 for PC takes full advantage of the power of the PC to bring every corner of this massive, rich and detailed world to life from the windswept snowy peaks of the Grizzly Mountains to the dusty roads of Lemoyne; from the mud-spattered storefronts of Valentine to the cobbled streets of St Denis.
New graphical and technical enhancements for deeper immersion include increased draw distances for better navigation; higher quality global illumination and ambient occlusion for improved day and night lighting; higher quality snow trails, improved reflections and deeper, higher resolution shadows at all distances; tessellated tree textures and improved grass and fur textures for added realism in every plant and animal.
Okay, so gameplay. Yes, the game is a port from console but word on the street is that it feels much smoother, tighter, and robust. The render distance, or how far out you can see is much farther than console, although there is no real-time ray tracing effects in the PC version at present. However, that could change as Rockstar stated that this was a feature they were interested in.
While the gameplay itself feels better, the game runs at a significantly higher frame rate (depending on your setup), one of the bigger draws to the PC version for many is mod support, which is available from the start. Although, it is hard to say just how that will work through Rockstar’s Launcher over say, the Steam Workshop, and the abysmal Epic Games Store.
Something else to highlight is the mouse control over the console pads. At times on console, things felt rather sluggish and slow to the point where everything felt rather… heavy? If you played the game, you understand what I am trying to say. However, with the use of keyboard and mouse, everything seems much more fluid and smooth in terms of movement, which is extremely important when considering the pacing of what often happens around you while you play.
Despite being a port, this is one game that just feels better on PC, flat out. It will be available on limited digital platforms in just a few days, and we personally will be waiting for Steam, but that’s just us. But if you feel you have been waiting long enough, we don’t blame you. It just sucks that launchers like Epic Games Store get it first. Oh well, what’s another month?
In addition to technical enhancements, the game features a bunch of additional content. It all seems rather minor when compared to the large scope of the game, but as insignificant as it seems, anything new to the PC version is more than welcome.
From the official Rockstar Games website:
3 New Bounty Hunter Missions:
- Herman Zizendorf has been stealing tools from tradesmen – track him down in Blackwater.
- Ex-Confederate Cavalry Officer Camille de Millemont is wanted dead or alive out by Catfish Jacksons, but his loyal men are never far behind.
- Bart Cavanaugh and his gang are camping out in Big Valley. Take Bart dead or alive without alerting his gang if you want to avoid a whole mess of trouble.
2 New Gang Hideouts:
- Take on the deadly Del Lobos gang in new hideouts at Gaptooth Breach and Solomon’s Folly
New Weapons for Story Mode including:
- M1899 Pistol – all-new Semi-automatic handgun with clip loaded ammunition
- Evans Repeater – high capacity repeater (previously available in Red Dead Online only)
- High Roller Revolver – ornate double-action revolver (previously available in Red Dead Online only)
- Le Mat Revolver – powerful revolver with the ability to shoot shotgun shells (previously available in Red Dead Online only)
New Horses for Story Mode including:
- Warped Brindle Arabian – a fast and agile mount
- Few Spot Appaloosa – beautiful and hardy, ideal for cross-country journeys
- Perlino Andalusian – a healthy, sturdy animal ideal for hunting (previously available in Red Dead Online only)
- Red Chestnut Arabian – a fleet-footed beast with a distinctive coat (previously available in Red Dead Online only)
- Plus 3 new wild horse variations – keep an eye out for wild herds featuring the Buttermilk Buckskin Kentucky Saddler, Liver Chestnut Morgan, and Gold Palomino Tennessee Walker
5 New Trinkets to collect with new effects:
- Hawk Talon – permanently decreases Stamina bar drain speed by 30% when drawing a bow
- Cat Eye – permanently increases the length of Fortifying tonic effects by 20%
- Shark Tooth – permanently increases horse bonding experience bonus by 10%
- Turtle Shell – permanently increases health bar refill speed by 10%
- Crow Beak – permanently increases looted ammo by 10%
New mission “To The Ends of The Earth – collect requested herbs for a range of rewards
