Rockstar announced today that the Red Dead Online Beta will be receiving a small content update on February 26th. It also brings some balancing and bonuses to the online game.
All the adjustments made by Rockstar is a response to player feedback. The biggest change is to be players blip on the mini-map.
The visibility of blips over long distances is no more. You’ll now only see players within a 150 meter radius and slightly further away, you’ll only appear if firing a weapon. Players located in other towns or regions will no longer be visible. Rockstar stated this would “prevent players from being repeatedly targeted across the map at long distances.”
They also introduced a new highlight system for overly aggressive players. Much like GTA Online, if you become hostile without provocation, your map position (and your Posse’s) will become visible to other players. Your dot will progressively darken from blue to dark red. The more you’re a bad cowboy the more visible you are.
Rockstar is adding Posse-wide Parleys and have improved Feuds. You’ll be able to initiate Parley, which applies to your attacker’s entire Posse, after just a single kill. On the other hand, you could decide to Feud, Posse Feud or Leader Feud after one kill. Doing so will start a timed mini-deathmatch rivals will duke it out while in Free Roam. You will earn points for each kill during this event.
Bounty Hunters and Law Balancing
Players who have high bounties will have to be extra cautious, because NPC Bounty Hunters will soon be attempting to kill them.
Criminal behavior has different bounty values and honor consequences based on the severity of the crime. For example, killing another player incurs a high bounty, while assaulting townspeople or animal cruelty could give a lesser bounty (if the crime is reported). Lower level crimes like looting and ransacking will only decrease your honor.
One your bounty exceeds a certain threshold and Bounty Hunters will take notice. You’ll be wanted dead, and the higher the bounty teh more difficult the pursuit becomes for you and your Posse.
Daily Challanges
Red Dead Online will be getting a variety of Daily Challenges come February 26th. Complete objectives from every aspect of life in the west to earn Gold Nuggets and XP. Challenges range form foraging for herbs to winning Fueds. Daily’s will eventually include specialty challanges and rewards, streak bonuses and more.
Other Fixes and More
In addition to what’s stated above, Rockstar is also addressing several other changes based on the communities feedback. Select weapons will be re-balanced. They specifically mentioned the Varmint Rifle, which will have accuracy “brought more in line with other longarm weapons. Voice chat will be reduced to work at closer proximity. Rockstar also specificied they’re aware of the many problems currently plaguing horse cargo. They plan to introduce some improvements to making “pelts and carcasses more persistent after death or respawning.”
Next week will bring more details about additional content coming with the February 26th update. This week players in a Posse will earn double XP in Free Roam Missions and Free Roam Events. Next week earn 20% more XP across all activitites in Red Dead Online.
Source: Rockstar
