Okay cowpokes, let’s talk. Like many of you, I’ve been replaying Red Dead Redemption 2 for the hundredth time because honestly nothing else hits the same. The landscapes, the heartbreak, the gang dynamic… it’s a masterpiece that only gets better with age. And now that we’ve all had a year to obsess over Grand Theft Auto 6 (yes it dropped in 2025 and yes I’m still driving around Vice City), the natural question is: what’s next for Rockstar? Could it finally be… Red Dead Redemption 3? 🤠

I mean, just last week I stumbled across this old tweet from Roger Clark—the iconic voice and soul behind Arthur Morgan—and it sent me spiraling. He basically declared that RDR3 is a certainty. Not a wild guess, not a maybe. A certainty. When the actor who became the heart of RDR2 says something like that, you listen. But here’s the gut punch: he doesn’t think Arthur will be part of it. At all. 💔

Clark responded to a fan bluntly: Arthur’s story has been told. And… I hate that it’s true. From the snow-capped mountains to that gut-wrenching sunrise, we lived Arthur’s redemption. Bringing him back would risk cheapening one of gaming’s most perfect narrative arcs. But still—can you imagine a Red Dead game without our boah? It’s like asking me to go camping without my horse. Impossible.

So what could RDR3 look like if Arthur isn’t the star? Well, for years the fandom has been screaming for a prequel. Maybe play as young Dutch or Hosea, see the Van der Linde gang in its Robin Hood days before everything went wrong. But Clark seems to think that’s unlikely precisely because Arthur would then have to appear as a kid or young man, and that would still involve his character. Rockstar might want a clean break. Fresh characters, fresh tragedies. A new corner of the dying Wild West. Maybe we finally explore that Blackwater massacre? Or jump into a completely new story with a Native American protagonist? The possibilities are endless, and honestly that’s what makes Rockstar’s universe so rich—they’ve built a world where the land itself is a character.

Let’s not forget, RDR2 is still breaking records. Just a few months ago, thanks to a massive Steam sale, it hit an all-time concurrent player peak. In 2026! This game refuses to die, and that kind of staying power puts huge pressure on a sequel. Rockstar knows they can’t just slap a number 3 on the box and call it a day. They’ll need another once-in-a-generation experience. And if Clark’s confidence is anything to go by, they’re probably already deep in the saddle.

Now, while we’re dissecting Clark’s wisdom, he also spilled some thoughts on GTA Online that I find super interesting. Remember when everyone panicked that GTA Online would be shut down to make space for the GTA VI Online mode? He made a brilliant point: why would Rockstar kill a golden goose that lives in an entirely different city? Los Santos and Vice City are worlds apart. GTA Online is still pulling in crazy numbers with its own economy and dedicated community. It’s not an either-or situation. I’m betting Rockstar keeps both running as long as the cash keeps flowing. Actually, I’m still jumping between both myself—one day I’m a grimy outlaw in Valentine, the next I’m doing heists in a neon bikini. The duality of gaming. 😂

But back to RDR3—when could we realistically see it? If we take Rockstar’s typical timeline and the fact that GTA VI just launched, we’re probably looking at 2029 or 2030. A painful wait, but what’s five more years of listening to sad cowboy music and sobbing over campfire stories? We’ve done it before. And if Clark is right about Arthur not returning… maybe that’s okay. It forces Rockstar to stop leaning on nostalgia and create a new outlaw we’ll fall hopelessly in love with. After all, none of us knew we needed Arthur Morgan until he gently said “You’re alright, boy.” So here’s my question: are you ready to let Arthur rest, and embrace a completely new legend? Or will you keep dreaming of a DLC that never came? 💬

I know my heart still aches, but if there’s one thing Red Dead taught me, it’s that endings make way for something new. And I trust Rockstar to break my heart all over again. So polish your boots, start saving for that collector’s edition, and let’s keep the campfire burning until RDR3 finally rides into town. Yeehaw. 🤠