Red Dead Redemption dropped players into a world that was modernizing, a world slowly abandoning the American Wild West. As a prequel, Red Dead Redemption 2‘s setting gets to marinate in that time period a little while longer. However, RDR2 also takes place in the Wild West’s final few years. Interestingly, the sun is setting on Dutch van der Linde’s gang, as well. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, developers from Rockstar Games elaborated on what players should expect from the plot this time around.
Josh Bass, Rockstar San Diego’s Art Director, said that a desire to further explore Dutch’s gang explains Red Dead Redemption 2’s overarching plot.
Dutch?s presence loomed over the original Red Dead Redemption, and his influence on events was a big inspiration for the setting and direction of Red Dead Redemption 2. We all wanted to know more about him and the gang?what was it like riding in that gang" What led them to the events of the original game" What happened to them along the way" Unlike Red Dead Redemption, this subsequent entry in the series won’t follow John Marston. While the star of the 2010 release will very much have a presence, Arthur Morgan will be the window from which players view this new story.
Bass said of Arthur’s role in Dutch’s gang,
In Red Dead Redemption 2 you get to see that gang, including Marston, at the peak of their notoriety and at the very moment things begin to f...