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Red Dead Redemption 2’s online mode, Red Dead Online, is… interesting to say the least. There’s a lot of promise and opportunity to grow in the world they’ve set, but without new and steady content I can’t help but call it empty.

It’s fun with friends, of course. Everything is. That’s hardly a substitute for a real story, however.

On the other hand, they have been adding regular updates and new game modes to keep players entertained. One of these additions is the new game mode called “Gun Rush”. It’s essentially their take on the “battle royale” genre with the flair and mechanics of Red Dead. After a couple hours of playtime, I decided to give my first impressions and let you know whether or not it’s worth it’s taking a look.

Before we get started, let’s make one thing clear. Gun Rush is only a game mode inspired by games like Fortnite and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, it is NOT a full-fledged battle royale. Do not go into the game expecting it to be one. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get to business. The mode itself is fairly straightforward. You and 31 players drop onto the map, either alone or in teams of four, and use strategy to survive the ever enclosing circle of death while fending off other players.

It seems really cool in concept, a battle royale mode on the massive Red Dead map. Yet there’s nothing of substance to be found in this game mode. There’s no new assets or features added to Red Dead Online and with their lock on shooting and clunky movement controls, it’s the worst feeling battle royale experience for sure.

Now I don’t want to be all negative. Rockstar never stated or promoted this to be anything other than one of their game modes. The games are quick (maybe a little too quick) and give players a new reason to get back into the game. As long as you go in with low expectations and an open mind, you and your friends could have a lot of fun.

Even with all of that though, I feel like as a gaming community, we’re accustomed to a more polished battle royal experience. Going into a game mode like this is a step back from what we’re used to. I would never knock Rockstar for trying to make something that appeases their fan base while cashing in on current trends; I think they’ve earned that. Yet something about this just feels off. Maybe it’s the fact that they’ve finally released something that isn’t jaw-dropping. Or maybe with all these battle royales I’m too spoiled to accept anything less, even if it’s from Rockstar.

All in all, it’s not a bad game mode. Not a great one, but not bad. I think if they spend more time to tweak and refine their gameplay mechanics, they might really have something on their hands. Sadly, knowing that it could be better, really makes the experience all the more disappointing.

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