Skip to main content

Rockstar adjusts ‘Red Dead Online’ in-game economy in response to complaints

Red Dead Online, the online multiplayer version of Red Dead Redemption 2, has been catching flack for its unbalanced in-game economy. Now developer Rockstar has announced adjustments to the game in order to make play less frustrating and grind-y.

When Red Dead Online opened in public beta last week, there was a chorus of complaints that the in-game currency was too hard to earn. There are two types of currency available — regular cash and premium gold bars — which could be used to upgrade weapons or to unlock abilities like fast travel back to camp. However, both forms of currency were discouragingly hard to earn, with missions barely paying out enough to cover the basic essentials like horse feed that were required to complete them.

Rockstar has heard the complaints and has now adjusted the in-game economy accordingly. The developer has promised to increased both the amount of cash and the number of gold bars that players earn for various activities including Free Roam Missions, Free Roam Events, replays of A Land of Opportunities Missions, Showdown Series modes, and others. In addition, the value of smaller items has been balanced out, like pelts, skins, and fish. These changes have already started rolling out.

In addition to earning more for missions, weapons will now cost less as well. The price of most weapons from the Wheeler, Rawson & Co Catalogue and Gunsmiths has been reduced. If you already bought a pricey weapon, don’t worry — Rockstar has agreed to refund the difference in price to player’s cash balances. There should be a message waiting for you the next time you log in to Red Dead Online informing you about the refund, which you should receive by December 10th.

These adjustments should go a long way towards placating fans who were annoyed by the amount of grinding that was required to play the online version of the game. As an extra thank you to players for sticking with the game through its early ups and downs, Rockstar also handed out a bonus of $250 in-game currency and 15 gold bars to players who logged on to the game at any point on December 6 before midnight PST. These bonuses should arrive in player’s accounts by December 14.

Editors' Recommendations

Georgina Torbet
Georgina is the Digital Trends space writer, covering human space exploration, planetary science, and cosmology. She…
Red Dead Online Call to Arms: Tips and tricks for beginners
red dead online

Polish those pistols and pick out your favorite hat. It's time to jump into Call to Arms, the all-new PvE survival mode in Red Dead Online. Strawberry is under siege. It's up to you and your posse to ride into town and save the day, like the climax of any good Western. Survival is key, so here are some tips and tricks to winning Call to Arms rounds in Red Dead Online.

Red Dead Online's season passes should become a live service standard
Is Red Dead Online worth playing in 2021?
Red Dead Online tips and tricks

Read more
Final Fantasy XIII is coming to Xbox Game Pass, while Red Dead Online is leaving
Lightning prepares to attack an enemy.

Microsoft revealed the first batch of games coming to Xbox Game Pass in September. The biggest title is Final Fantasy XIII, one of the most divisive entries in the series to date. Beyond Square Enix's RPG, indie darling Signs of the Sojourner will also be available alongside a number of other indies. As usual, a few big names are also leaving the service this month, including Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten and Red Dead Online.

Game Pass subscribers will be able to play Final Fantasy XIII in its entirety starting tomorrow, September 2. The game features the active time battle system that Final Fantasy fans have come to know and love, and it looks absolutely gorgeous. The game is number 13 on our list of the best Final Fantasy games. While it won't be available on Game Pass' cloud service for mobile play, subscribers will be able to play it on both console and PC.

Read more
Latest Red Dead Online update adds a new survival mode
A cowboy on their horse in Red Dead Online.

Red Dead Online has been in dire need of multiplayer PvE game modes, and with today's update, one has finally been added to the game. A new game mode, titled Call to Arms, adds a survival multiplayer mode to the game that should be similar to anyone that's played GTA Online in the past. Along with Call to Arms, players can find some extra new content, including a new Crimes Contract.

Today's update was revealed on the Rockstar Newswire, but here are all of the details on what to expect from the new update.
Survive and conquer

Read more