Redemption Multiplayer

thumb|300px|right|The main Multiplayer mode in RDR. Multiplayer in Red Dead Redemption consists of multiple game modes, and allows players to play cooperatively or competitively through an online connection.

The multiplayer does not have a standard "game lobby" and instead starts out in Free Roam mode, with the entire map open for exploration, along with Hunting areas and Gang Hideouts for players to take advantage of. From there, players can establish player parties with other players, called Posses, or choose to participate in various game modes via an ingame menu or various entry points around the game world.

In competitive game modes gameplay begins with either a mexican standoff in Free For All, with all the players beginning in a circle, or a team face-off, with all players in their respective team's line facing the other team. There will be a short countdown, then a firefight will commence, in which all the players will all start shooting at once. Most players will die right off, allowing the remaining players to find a choice location (such as a sniping spot) to fend off their attackers. Once the standoff ends, and everyone from one team dies, the actual game you are playing (Gang Shootout, Hold Your Own, Grab Bag, etc.) starts.

Game Modes
There are several game modes in Red Dead Redemption's multiplayer:


 * Free Roam: Free Roam is the entry point into multiplayer where you are free to go nearly anywhere with up to 15 other players. This is also where you can pick your unique character, mount, and title in the Outfitter. Players are also able to to band together and form posses of up to 8 players.
 * Shootout: The objective in a shootout is to kill as many other players as possible. The winning player is the one who reaches the score limit first or who has the highest score at the end of the time limit. There are both Free-For-All and Gang based versions of this mode.

Capture the Bag

 * Gold Rush: The world is populated with a number of bags and chests and the objective is for each player to capture as many bags as possible.
 * Hold Your Own: Each team has a bag which they have to guard from being stolen by the other team.
 * Grab the Bag: Both teams go after one bag. Bags that are dropped may be picked up by other players. Players are capable of carrying two bags at one time, but carrying the bags will slow you down. A player or team wins by having the highest score at the end of the time limite, or by reaching the score limit before time runs out.

Titles
During the multiplayer game experience, whether in Free Roam or structured game modes, players will be able to earn titles corresponding to criteria met during play. This can be anything from a certain amount of experience accrued to completing certain actions and a number of times or in a specific way. Titles, once selected, will appear above the player's name on their in-game icon.

Mounts
In the multiplayer of Red Dead Redemption the player unlocks mounts to ride in Free Roam and some competitive matches.

This table shows what rank all mounts are unlocked at, in all ranking modes.

Challenges
In multiplayer, a large selection of challenges are available for players to complete. More challenges unlock as a player progresses through the ranking system. Completing a challenge earns the player experience. The status of a current challenge can be seen by a player by looking in the journal.

Ranks
When playing multiplayer, a player can gain experience by killing other players, completing challenges and clearing hideouts. When the player gains enough experience to be promoted to the next rank, they can unlock new characters, weapons, mounts and titles.

A player can be promoted through fifty ranks. When they reach Rank 50, they have the option to return to Rank 1 to gain Legend status, which builds towards unlocking legendary characters and mounts. They can do this up to five times in addition to the original ranks, which means a player could progress through a total of 300 ranks to reach the highest level in multiplayer.

Characters
In multiplayer you can choose your character model in the Outfitter. There are 12 categories of characters, each based on characters taken from the single player game:

Walton's Gang

Pat O'Flanagan

Benjamin Earl

Mac Backman

Knobby Tom Alwin

Markus Barnes

David Anthony

Tricky Pat Dampson

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Cattle Rustlers

John Kelby

Ian Connors

Wayne Daniels

Michael Reese

Bo Schram

Shep Thomas

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American Army

Slick Nick Funtz

Tall Trees Ty

Gaptooth McGee

Big Bob Moorcock

Frederick Littlefield

Stephen Paul

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Federales

Jose Falotico

Gustavo Andares

Cristo Francisco

Ramon Zapata

Mark Rafael

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Lawmen

Seth LaValley

AJ Peart

Fred Everts

Rowan Babcock

Heath Michaels

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Misc Women

Madam Herandez

Carrie Boudicca

Nicole Louise

Melissa Rose

Arlene Dunn

Allie Dickey

Alice Thayer

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Misc Mexicans

Alajandro Cruz

Jefe Rocha

Roberto Gatos

Antonio Xavier

Esteban Morales

Juan Vargas

Jose Rodriguez

Billy Sanchez

Misc Criminals

Jason M. Bright

Garett Comstock

Dr. Lane Davies

Stuart B. Wilson III

Charley Bullock

Dirty Dan Pister

Nick Klein

Abraham Marsh

Legendary

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Downloadable Content
Outlaws To The End: A downloadable set of 6 co-op missions that is to be released in June 2010, completely free of charge.

Multiplayer Achievements
There are several achievements that can only completed by participated in multiplayer game modes:


 * Go Team!: Be on the winning team for four consecutive victories in any team based game in public match.
 * Hit the Trail: Get from Blackwater to Escalera before sundown in a public Free Roam session.
 * How the West Was Won: Reach the top rank for multiplayer experience.
 * Most Wanted: Maintain a max wanted level for 10 minutes and escape alive in a public Free Roam session.
 * Posse Up!: Create a posse and get the maximum number of members.
 * Red Dead Rockstar: Kill a Rockstar or someone with this achievement in a public multiplayer match.
 * Slow on the Draw: Get 10 assists in a single Hideout in a public Free Roam session
 * The Quick and Everyone Else...: Be the top scoring player in any three consecutive FFA games in public matches.