Red Dead Redemption 2 Was Delayed By Cross-Platform Multiplayer Hopes?

A lack of cross platform Red Dead Redemption 2 multiplayer is apparently Sony's fault, related to their refusal to allow the concept from Microsoft.

One of the things that many gamers and developers are wanting to do today is cross platform multiplayer, and the Red Dead Redemption 2 multiplayer is no exception. However, that won’t be happening when the game comes out, and apparently the fault lies, once again, with Sony and the Playstation console.

Specifically, the game was apparently delayed due to Rockstar hoping that Sony would allow them to make the game capable of cross-platform multiplayer, which would allow gamers from both the Playstation 4 and the Xbox One to be able to play together, rather than being limited to a single console.

Previously, Sony stated that the reason that it wouldn’t do cross platform multiplayer with Microsoft is out of concern for the younger portion of its fanbase, as being cross-platform with the Xbox One might expose children to harmful or explicit content.

This attitude has prevented a number of developers from creating cross platform content for both the Playstation 4 and the Xbox One. These include Psyonix, the creators of Rocket League, Gearbox for Borderlands, and more. Various personalities like Gabe Newell have also expressed their wishes for cross platform multiplayer.

Red Dead Redemption 2 was delayed several months ago from the fall of this year to the beginning of next year for then-unknown regions, but now it seems that we actually know what caused the delay.

The Red Dead Redemption 2 multiplayer will likely be similar to the multiplayer of the original Red Dead Redemption, where players could run around the Old West fighting bandits, hunting animals, racing, and having shootouts. Rockstar may add more modes for it, but for now the hopes of a lot of fans are that Red Dead Redemption 2 is just as good as the first Red Dead Redemption, if not better.

There hasn’t been any official confirmation from Rockstar that Sony is refusing to allow them to make cross platform multiplayer, but considering Sony’s previous statements about cross platform play they’re likely the reason why Playstation players and Xbox One players still can’t play together.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is supposed to be releasing sometime early next year for the Playstation 4 and Xbox One. A PC version may also be in the works.

Hunter is senior news writer at SegmentNext.com. He is a long time fan of strategy, RPG, and tabletop games. When he is not playing games, he likes to write about them.