Rockstar Games announced today that Red Dead Redemption 2’s multiplayer component will be called Red Dead Online and launch some time in November of 2018.

The World of Red Dead Redemption 2 41 IMAGES

Today we’re excited to announce Red Dead Online, a new online connected experience set against the backdrop of Red Dead Redemption 2's enormous open world.



Red Dead Online is an evolution of the classic multiplayer experience in the original Red Dead Redemption, blending narrative with competitive and cooperative gameplay in fun new ways. Using the gameplay of the upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2 as a foundation, Red Dead Online will be ready to be explored alone or with friends, and will also feature constant updates and adjustments to grow and evolve this experience for all players.



Red Dead Online is planned for launch in November 2018, initially as a public beta, with more news to come soon.



Access to Red Dead Online is free to anyone with a copy of Red Dead Redemption 2 on either PlayStation 4 or Xbox One.

According to an exclusive Q&A with the development team behind Red Dead Online, it will take elements of the original Red Dead Redemption’s multiplayer “much further, and combine that with everything we’ve learned in the years since then with our favorite elements from Grand Theft Auto Online.”The initial launch period will be considered a “public beta,” according to the post from Rockstar’s Newswire. “We feel Grand Theft Auto Online really only found its feet creatively with Heists,” says Josh Needleman, Senior Producer at Rockstar’s San Diego office, says.“Our aim this time is to get there a bit quicker, but still be responsive to what people enjoy playing and evolve as we go.” Anyone who purchases Red Dead Redemption 2 will get access to Red Dead Online. You can read the full release from Rockstar below, and check out our full Q&A with the Red Dead Online developers for many more details about the new multiplayer:

JR is an editor at IGN who really really really hopes you can drag players around with a lasso. He’ll probably holler about on Twitter