Grand Theft Auto 6’s whirlwind of preorders and no physical release may be eclipsing everything else going on right now, and understandably so, due to it being one of the most highly anticipated games ever, but Red Dead Redemption 2 will go down swinging. It’s a testament to how truly adored and special Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption franchises are that both have their own unique and shared communities, and neither can fully outweigh nor snuff out the other.
For example, fans are still holding out hope each day for an official next-gen Red Dead Redemption 2 update eight years later. Moreover, like Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption 2 has inspired a handful of ‘clones,’ so to speak, with a new one indulging wholly in Valheim’s brand of survival/crafting gameplay while wearing its Red Dead Redemption 2 inspirations on its sleeve.
Scheduled to be released in early access on August 25, 2026, Western Rye is an “open world survival crafting adventure game” that takes place in—you guessed it—the Wild West’s American Frontier. On its Steam store page, similarities between Western Rye and the Red Dead Redemption series are instantly discernible, and fans might be convinced that they were looking at Red Dead Redemption 2 gameplay for a moment if they weren’t already aware that it was a completely different game.
On Reddit, user NixalonStudios (the indie team behind Western Rye) has expressed their gratitude to fans, reiterating that the game “features a rich, compelling story” and “zero AI usage.” The love shown for Red Dead Redemption 2 is palpable:
“A while back, I shared the game I’m building, inspired by RDR2. Honestly, without it, this project wouldn’t exist it was my sole inspiration. Thank you so much for the incredible support so far.”
Red Dead Redemption 2 isn’t a survival game itself, but its simulation features do more or less emulate that kind of atmosphere in gameplay. Still, Western Rye could be a dream game for anyone who’s wished that the Red Dead Redemption franchise dove more into survival/crafting features and inherited mechanics that wouldn’t be out of place in a game like Valheim.
Western Rye plans to be in early access on Steam for at least a couple of years, meaning that fans who choose to be along for the ride will watch as it evolves further. This is probably the best sort of boon that Rockstar fans could hope for, as it might be a long while until we hear anything of substance about Red Dead Redemption 3 or are given any more significant updates for Red Dead Redemption 2.
- Released
-
October 26, 2018
- ESRB
-
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Engine
-
RAGE
- Multiplayer
-
Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
-
N/A
- Cross Save
-
N/A