In July 2025, Red Dead Online received a surprising update, marking the first significant content addition in several years. This unexpected release took many fans by surprise and led to speculation regarding Rockstar’s future plans for both Red Dead Redemption 2 and its online counterpart. Following its 2018 launch, Rockstar consistently supported the live-service game with regular updates until July 2022, when they announced a slowdown in development to focus on Grand Theft Auto 6. Fast forward three years, and players witnessed what Rockstar considers a “major” update: the introduction of the “Strange Tales of the West” patch.
This update features four new Telegram missions and a new event with limited-time challenges and rewards, all available at no cost to players. Among the new missions, one stands out— “Strange Tales of the Plague”—which plunges players into a zombie-infested rendition of Armadillo, evoking memories of Red Dead Redemption’s acclaimed Undead Nightmare expansion. The addition of zombie-themed content has stirred excitement on social media, prompting some fans to call for a Red Dead Redemption 2 version of Undead Nightmare. However, such a development seems unlikely six years post-launch.
Nevertheless, the success of the latest update hints at more content on the horizon for Red Dead Online, especially as promotional materials referred to it as “Strange Tales of the West Volume 1.” While players eagerly await news about Volume 2, Rockstar’s renewed commitment to Red Dead Online is puzzling, especially as the studio is reportedly focused on GTA 6. Some speculate that the new content may also be linked to a potential next-gen patch for both Red Dead Redemption 2 and Red Dead Online, which is rumored to be in development for a late 2025 release.