Red Dead Online's Legacy: A Lesson for FiveM and GTA RP Developers

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has publicly pushed back against the idea that *Red Dead Online* was a missed opportunity. While the multiplayer component of *Red Dead Redemption 2* did not achieve the same level of success as *GTA Online*, Zelnick emphasized that it was still a "massive franchise" and "immensely successful and long lasting." The game launched in 2018 and received major updates until 2022, after which development resources were shifted toward *GTA 6*. Despite not capturing a large share of the online space, Zelnick suggested that the project was worth the effort and likely contributed to Rockstar's overall revenue.

What Happened

*Red Dead Online* entered the competitive online space in 2018, aiming to replicate the success of *GTA Online*, which had been running since 2013. While *Red Dead Online* had a solid three-year run and received regular updates, it never managed to overtake *GTA Online* in terms of player engagement or revenue. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has acknowledged this but argues that the project should not be seen as a failure. He suggested that *Red Dead Online* was a worthwhile experiment and a valuable part of Rockstar’s broader portfolio.

Zelnick also noted that *Red Dead Online*’s performance highlights a broader challenge: even when following a proven formula, success is not guaranteed. The game’s struggle to attract and retain players in the shadow of *GTA Online* underscores the difficulty of competing with an established online title that has already built a massive player base and long-term engagement.

Confirmed vs Speculative

What is confirmed is that *Red Dead Online* was not considered a missed opportunity by Take-Two’s leadership. Zelnick explicitly stated that the game was “immensely successful and long lasting,” and that it contributed to Rockstar’s financial performance. It is also confirmed that development resources were redirected to *GTA 6* in 2022, which likely limited the scope for further updates to *Red Dead Online*.

What remains speculative is whether *Red Dead Online* could have achieved greater success with more support or a different approach. Zelnick acknowledged that it's “debatable” whether the outcome would have changed, but he personally believes the game was likely fighting a losing battle regardless. This suggests that while the project had value, it may not have been the right time or the right approach to challenge *GTA Online* directly.

Why It Matters For FiveM And GTA RP

For FiveM and GTA RP communities, *Red Dead Online* serves as a cautionary tale and a case study in online game sustainability. The game attempted to build a new world with a different tone and setting, but it still faced the challenge of competing with *GTA Online*, which had already established itself as the dominant player in the open-world online space.