Don't take that copy of Red Dead Redemption out of your console just yet: Rockstar has announced four additional DLC packs that update virtually every facet of RDR with new game modes, features, items, and achievements.
Unlike the Outlaws To The End DLC, these additional RDR content packs will be proper paid content. Three of the four packs will run $10 each, while one pack has an unannounced price (which I think is secret code for $15). In the grand tradition of Fallout 3 before it, the new Red Dead DLC will be doled out one at a time in rapid succession, starting this August and continuing through "Fall 2010" (the last announced time period for the DLC). I expect we'll see new RDR DLC once a month between August and November.
== TEASER ==But what's inside those DLC packs that will send you back to the last days of the old west? The more obvious additions to the game are new multiplayer maps, multiplayer skins to choose from, gameplay modes, weapon types (a damn tomahawk!) and challenges for those weapons (a gold tomahawk!). Where the DLC gets a little more interesting are some of the more esoteric additions. The most exciting DLC pack, Liars And Cheats, adds multiplayer Poker and Liar's Dice to the game. Hell. Yes. If you can still cheat online and catch other people cheating and force them into a duel, than I'll send Rockstar my 800 points tomorrow.
Far more groan-inducing (Editors note: Clean out your desk!) is the Undead Nightmare DLC pack, which will add various "ghost towns" to New Austin, pitting you and your posse against zombies. I understand why Rockstar feels the need to add a zombie gametype to the game, but I believe zombies in video games have already been called. It's done! Zombies are done! You can't call the called. It's been called.
Actually, the Undead Nightmare DLC also promises to add new animal types to Red Dead Redemption, which I imagine means "undead versions of animals already in the game." But the idea of going out into New Austin and hunting a zombie bear sounds weirdly compelling. Totally non-canon and immersion-crushing, but compelling.
And expect new achievements and trophies to be added with each DLC pack, so if you want to keep your RDR S-Rank, get ready to work (and fork over cash) to hold it.
Here's the full DLC breakdown.
DLC #1: Legends and Killers Pack
- Launch: "Early August" 2010
- Price: $10/800 Microsoft Points
- 9 new multiplayer map locations
- 8 new multiplayer character skins
- New projectile weapon: the Tomahawk
- New Weapon challanges
- New achievements/trophies
DLC #2: Liars and Cheats Pack
- Launch: TBD
- Price: $10/800 Microsoft Points
- New competitive multiplayer modes
- Multiplayer mini-games in Free Roam
- Attack and Defend multiplayer competitive mode and challenges
- New multiplayer horse races
- More than 8 additional multiplayer characters, including characters from the RDR singlepayer campaign
- Multiplayer versions of Liars Dice and Poker(sold!)
- New weapon: the Explosive Rifle
- New weapon challenges
- New achievements/trophies
DLC #3: Free Roam Pack
- Launch: TBD
- Price: TBD
- New modes, challenges and gang hideouts
- New action areas and defensive placements
- Posse scoring and leaderboards
- New anti-griefing measures in Free Roam
DLC #4: Undead Nightmare Pack
- Launch: "Fall" 2010
- Price: $10/800 Microsoft Points
- Ghost towns and cemeteries
- Brand new single-player adventure, challenges and quests
- 8 new multiplayer zombie characters
- Additional animals unleashed in the world
- New dynamic events
That is a ton of new content... as it should be, since buying every single DLC pack will run you at least $30. August isn't too far off at this point, so we'll see how that new content turns out. In the meantime, I'm got cards to hide under the table.