Red Dead Redemption 2 released in 2018 after eight years in development. Rockstar began work on the game immediately after the release of the first Red Dead Redemption in 2010, and in that time the studio had only released one other new full game, Grand Theft Auto 5. However, there were continual content updates to GTA 5 since its launch in 2013 and to GTA Online.
After 2013, Red Dead Redemption 2 spent five years as Rockstars’ next upcoming game. It is no surprise, then, that with all this time as the primary focus of one of the biggest video game developers, Red Dead Redemption 2 became a massive game with one of the most detailed worlds in any video game.
Red Dead Redemption 2 has a first-person mode, but it is primarily designed as a third-person game, and as such, players can often miss a lot of the more intricate details found on items and in the various particle effects within the game. This can especially be the case when combat breaks out in the game and the player's focus shifts to fighting enemies. A Reddit user named Capo-Nathan shared a screenshot they took using the in-game photo mode in Red Dead Redemption 2, which shows off the incredible detail of the game even in its most chaotic moments.
The Reddit user’s screenshot shows Red Dead Redemption 2’s player character, Arthur Morgan, diving towards the ground while holding a lit stick of dynamite. In the background of the photo there is an explosion going off, which was likely caused by the player themselves only moments before the screenshot was taken. The focus of the Reddit user's photo shows off the incredible graphical detail of Red Dead Redemption 2 that most players miss simply by being too far away due to the game's third-person camera.
The stick of dynamite is at the forefront of the photo and catches the camera's focus. The lit fuse can be seen clearly connecting to the dynamite inside its cylindrical casing. These are details Rockstar decided to add despite the fact that dynamite is a weapon players will usually only have equipped whenever they are about to throw it. This level of detail was added to all the weapons in Red Dead Redemption 2 and even to Arthur Morgan’s handling of these weapons.
The many details in Red Dead Redemption 2 add to the unique atmosphere, as so much of the game’s story is told outside its main missions and through the incredibly intricate frontier pursuits that players can take part in. Everything from hunting to just doing chores around the gang’s camp is so well realized and adds to Red Dead Redemption 2’s immersion.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.