The future of theRed Dead Redemptionfranchise is a bit foggy. Unlike Rockstar’s other leading seriesGrand Theft Auto,Red Dead Redemptionis focused on the same principal characters, conflicts, and themes across both entries. Even thoughRed Dead Redemption 2introduces several new characters that didn’t appear in its predecessor, including its protagonist, it’s still a prequel that subsists on the content of the first game.
What this means is that, if there is to be aRed Dead Redemption 3one day, Rockstar has a major decision to make: the game can either be built around an already-establishedRed Dead Redemptioncharacter, or it can adopt a new narrative altogether, leaving the Van der Linde Gang and its scions behind entirely. The issue with the latter strategy is that it would effectively be cut off from the rest of the series, which is fine in its own right, but begs the question as to why it would be “Red Dead Redemption 3” instead of its own, separate entity. On the other hand, no character has been tapped as a successor to John or Arthur, making the former approach perhaps just as tricky.
Ciri Can Carry The Witcher Forward
Geralt of Rivia has been a strong protagonist for three well-receivedThe Witchergames, but he is taking a backseat now. As was revealed in the Game Awards trailer forThe Witcher 4, none other thanCiri herself will be taking over asThe Witcher’s protagonist. Not only has the appropriate groundwork been laid for this choice, but it also opens the door for continued, narratively richWitchergames in the future.
Ciri was essentially a secondary protagonist inThe Witcher 3, and her character and backstory were well-formed there. Even before CD Projekt Red revealed that she would be taking Geralt’s place as the main character of the next game, it was widely speculated that she would be the most logical choice, unless the game were to be hundreds of years removed from the original trilogy, or have a premise that is otherwise disconnected. Put another way, Ciri was always the most logical choice to leadThe Witcher 4in Geralt’s stead, and now the series can spawn a number of games with her in the driver’s seat, should CDPR so choose.
The truth is, noRed Dead Redemptioncharacter has been adequately groomed for the protagonistposition thus far, at least not in the same way that Ciri has been. The closest Ciri parallel in theRed Deadseries is perhaps Jack Marston, who is the only playable character still alive in the series' timeline. There are two problems with this, however:
There are other characters, like Charles and Sadie, who have been unofficiallynominated as the leads forRed Dead Redemption 3, but they haven’t exactly been primed for the protagonist role. They are likable, certainly, but being likable is different from being able to carry a major franchise—they may not have much potential for unique and gratifying adventures on their own. Perhaps the best way forRed Dead Redemptionto have its own “Ciri” is forRed Dead Redemption 3(or whatever it may be called) to focus on an entirely new cast, while having enough narrative leeway to allow more than one character to carry the torch moving forward.
Red Dead Redemption 2
WHERE TO PLAY
America, 1899. The end of the wild west era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed. After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him. From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age.
