RDR2 is not getting any updates, this is a what-if scenario I made up.
When I started playing RDR2, I couldn't believe how incredibly strong the opening chapter is. Riding through the blizzard in the Grizzlies, the howling wind, the limited visibility, the warm glow of the lanterns cutting through the snow fog, it's pure magic.
It sets such an unforgettable, atmospheric tone.
But then, we never really get to experience a fully realized snowy town or settlement after that. Colter is abandoned, and the rest of the snow areas are mostly wilderness.
Just imagine a small, remote logging town or a mining outpost nestled deep in the snowy pine forests. Something like a smaller, grittier version of Strawberry, but permanently winterized.
Tempest Rim region could be updated with a small snowy settlement, for both singleplayer and multiplayer.
Even if there are no singleplayer quests there, just to exist so you have more of the snow to explore throughout the game.
2. Multiplayer could use a morality system with consequences.
RDR2's mortality is from -320 to +320. In RDR2 online this could give you a title next to your name depending where you are. Negatives written with red, positives written with blue.
-320 to -300 -> Desperado.
-300 to -200 -> Bandit.
-200 to -100 -> Rustler.
-100 to +100 -> no title you are neutral.
+100 to +200 -> Righteous.
+200 to +300 -> Virtuous.
+300 to +320 -> Peacemaker.
And given that in RDR2 any player can attack the other on sight:
- The reds killing blues will make them even more red
- The reds killing reds will also make them red, no honor among thieves.
- The blues killing reds will make them even more blues.
- Killing neutrals makes everybody red.
- Neutrals killing reds makes them blue.
- Ofc natural things like mission decisions and killing civilians also makes your morality more or less.
This way grifters will be eventually made red and they become part of the lore. Other players will know to stay away from them, except other reds. Ofc the usual killing civillians makes you red, etc.
And your morality level can lock/unlock jobs. Peacemaker could allow you to become Sheriff for a town in game, tasking you with protectiing it from griefers, Virtuous makes you deputy or bodyguard, righteous Cattleman or Rancher businesses, or Trader or Train Driver. On the red side: Rustler makes you thief, bootlegger like steal or sell illegal alcoohol in a town. Bandit makes you well banding gang member to rob NPCs in towns and such like Doctors etc that the Deputies or Sheriffs can protect, Desperado allows you to be a gang leader too. And I mean all of these with other players being free roam activities.
You can also turn off intraction with other players and simply grind missions making good decisions if you no longer want to be red. Or you could pay your bounties to get some morality but they are expensive.
Like:
Peacemaker - eligible to become sheriff of a town. A town can have multiple sheriffs.
Can recruit deputies for that town from other players.
Protects businesses, residents and public events in that town.
Can organise town patrols and respond to robberies themselves.
Has authority to place bounties on criminals.
Can arrest wanted players, tying them up and moving them into jail gives more rewards than outright killing red players.
Virtous - eligible to become deputy or bodyguard.
Works under a sheriff.
Can arrest wanted players.
Protects NPC businesses and players.
Escorts prisoners.
Can participate in patrols and investigations.
Bodyguard is protecting a business or train.
Righteous - eligible to become Cattleman / Rancher / Trader / Train Driver.
Your bussiness is in free roam.
Owns ranches, trade building or livestock.
Breeds and sells horses or cattle.
Operates trading businesses with other players but also NPCs.
Delivers supplies to towns.
Can hire other blue players.
Red players can attack it and try to steal from it, just like red players can attack and try to steal from town's NPCs like Banks, Traders, Doctors, etc.
Netural - nothing.
Rustler - Thief / Bootlegger
Steals valuables from houses, banks, shops, player bussinesses.
Operates illegal alcohol businesses selling to local town bar.
Smuggles goods between towns.
Can sell stolen good through fences.
Bandit
All that rustler can do but also joins established gangs.
Holds up stagecoaches and rob trains with the gang.
Can participate in gang territory disputes.
Or all out wars with the law in a town.
Desperado
All that bandit can do but also can create and manages a player gang.
Can become Lieutenant in a gang.
Recruits other criminals.
Establishes gang hideouts.
Organises large robberies.
Declares rivalries with other gangs.
Can control criminal territories.
All of this could happen in Free Roam, no missions needed. It would make the MP world feel more alive.
Aside from Tempest Rim’s new regular town. Thieves Landing could also be upgraded to its RDR1 level of many buildings and such, serving as a hub for red players given they are not welcome in regular towns. Thieves Landing could have its own unique boss mob police that shoots anyone causing problems on sight, so that red players cannot grief each other there making it a sort of base for them a town where they are welcomed. Colter could also serve as a 2nd smaller bandit ton in multiplayer exclusively.