'Red Dead Redemption 2' Gameplay Trailer: 10 Things You Might Have Missed

Rockstar Games warned us that a new Red Dead Redemption 2 trailer was coming, but we still weren’t ready for this. The company released a jaw-dropping gameplay video on Thursday morning, offering a look at the beautiful upcoming video game and revealing a ton of exciting new details

You can check out the full gameplay trailer up top, but if for whatever reason you can’t watch a 6-minute video right now allow us to break it down for you. Here are 10 things we learned about Red Dead Redemption 2.

10. The Historical Setting

Just like the original, Red Dead Redemption 2 explores the tumultuous time when the Wild West began to give way to American modernization. The game will “attempt to capture this pivotal moment when the age of outlaws was ending,” which means you can expect plenty of classic Western tropes against a backdrop of societal change.

9. The Landscape

Red Dead Redemption features a massive and diverse map. There are “harsh mountain trails,” “dense forests,” and swampy marshlands to explore. You’ll also encounter modernizing cities lit up with electric lights, along with smaller Old West-style outposts.

8. The Main Character

You’ll play as Arthur Morgan, an outlaw and senior gang member of the Van der Linde Gang. Based on previous reveals we know that Arthur is something of a right-hand-man to the gang’s leader, though he may have some doubts about the group’s motives.

7. Base Camps

Every time your gang moves to a new location you’ll set up a base camp. There, you’ll be able to interact with other non-player characters, play cards, and tell stories around the campfire. Bringing food back to base camp will improve morale, and talking to other members of the gang may also unlock sidequests.

**6. NPC Interactions

Speaking of non-player characters, Red Dead Redemption 2 offers a variety of ways to interact with other characters in the game. Of course, you can always shoot your way out of any discussion, but you can also talk your way through a tough spot or just start shit with some rando. You can escalate or diffuse, make friends or enemies, and even intimidate witnesses into keeping their traps shut.

**5. Combat

Most of the time, however, you’ll probably want to let your guns do the talking. Thankfully, that won’t be an issue. Red Dead Redemption 2 features a revamped shooting system with realistic reloading and recoil for a more grounded experience. Punching and physical combat have also been improved.

4. Horses

No Wild West game would be complete without horses. In Red Dead Redemption 2 you’ll be able to pick from a variety of horse types suited for different tasks, from quick escapes to pulling larger wagons. You’ll also want to bond with your horse so it stays cool under pressure in a gunfight, and as an added bonus you can store extra items in your saddlebag.

3. Other Animals

Beyond horses, there are plenty of other animals to interact with. That includes predators like alligators, along with somewhat friendlier creatures like moose, and even the occasional scavenging buzzard. Hunting animals will also earn you pelts, which you can trade in for cash at the nearest town.

2. A Massive Map

As expected from any open-world game in 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2’s map is gigantic. The trailer notes that you can explore it both on foot or on horseback. However, we also saw at least one train in the trailer, so it’s possible that could be an option for fast(er) travel.

1. New “Deadeye System” and More

Rockstar ended the trailer with a tease of more to come. That includes missions, activities, enemy gangs, robberies, and, perhaps most importantly, a new “deadeye system” for shootouts. So stay tuned.

Red Dead Redemption 2 launches October 26.