Red Dead Redemption 3 Could Bring Back Red Harlow (If It’s A Prequel)

If Rockstar Games were to create another Red Dead Redemption, it’s possible for Red Dead Revolver protagonist Red Harlow to once again take center stage. The lead in the game that started it all was alive around the time period, and his existence in Red Dead Redemption 2 world is confirmed through campfire conversations. Because the age of the Wild West is basically over by the end of the first Red Dead Redemption, it would make sense to make another Red Dead Redemption prequel. That approach would pave the way perfectly for Red’s return.

Released in 2004, Red Dead Revolver tells the story of Red Harlow on a mission to avenge his parents’ deaths. When he was a teenager, he saw them killed under the orders of General Javier Diego. The game takes place 12 years later, with Red now a seasoned bounty hunter, sometime between the late 1870s and early 1880s. Red overhears someone talking about the gold his parents were killed over, and it sends him on a chase for the ones responsible. At the end of the game he does just that.

Red Dead Redemption, considered a spiritual successor, was released six years later. Set in 1911, it follows protagonist John Marston and is not a sequel to Red Dead Revolver. The 2010 game and its sequel, 2018’s Red Dead Redemption 2, were initially thought to take place in a world separate from Revolver, but hints from Red Dead Redemption 2 suggest that Red Harlow is actually recognized as a legend of the Wild West. Red’s life takes place well before the events of both Red Dead Redemption games, so Rockstar would have a lot of freedom to flesh out even more of it.

Why Red Harlow Would Work For Red Dead Redemption

Red Dead Revolver begins in the late 1860s, when Red was a teenager. Because it jumps forward to an adult Red 12 years later, that would put it between the late 1870s and early 1880s. As previously mentioned, the first Red Dead Redemption is set in 1911; and the 2018 sequel is actually a prequel, taking place in 1899. Nearly two decades separate the earliest moments of the Redemption series and Revolver, and Red was confirmed to exist thanks to dialogue that can be heard in Red Dead Redemption 2. At this campsite, people can be heard talking about the quick-draw competition in Brimstone that Red was part of in Revolver. At another site, a character can be heard talking about the “legendary bounty hunter” Red Harlow.

Rockstar could make its next game a Red Dead Revolver reboot. Aside from that, there are two clear choices for the direction it could take. The first would be to bridge the cap between the end of Revolver and the beginning of Red Dead Redemption 2. After finally avenging his parents, perhaps he returned to a life of honest bounty hunting. Doing this, there would be opportunities to include some interesting Red Dead Redemption tie-ins, like Red possibly crossing paths with members of Dutch’s Gang in their youth or maybe even riding alongside Landon Licketts in his earlier days. The other option would be bridging the gap between teenage Red and adult Red. Most of the game takes place after he’s an established bounty hunter, so it could be interesting to see how he got to that point. With this route, Rockstar would have the chance to really flesh out the cast of Revolver and potentially put them on par with Red Dead Redemption 2 favorites like Arthur Morgan and Sadie Adler. The latter was so beloved that many in the community would like to see Sadie in Red Dead Redemption 3.

At this time, it isn’t known if a third Red Dead Redemption is in development. Rockstar recently confirmed the development of GTA 6, and is still working out the litany of issues surround GTA: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition. The company is clearly keeping busy, so another Red Dead would likely still be years away.

About The Author

Ahmad Austin
(15 Articles Published)

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Ahmad began writing for Screen Rant in January 2022. A lifelong gamer, his current interests include Destiny 2, Forza Horizon 5, Session and a multitude of RPGs.

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