Starting out as a bonus mode for Red Dead Redemption 2, Red Dead Online has forged its own path in the last six months or so. It was once a rather slim multiplayer mode for those who wanted to experience the world of RDR2 without playing as its lead characters. Then, Red Dead Online got a standalone release. At first, the decision by Rockstar Games and Take Two Interactive was met with some skepticism as it didn't seem wise to charge money for a mode that comes free with a game considered one of, if not the best title to be released in 2018.

Rockstar blunted some of the skepticism by offering Red Dead Online for just $5.99 after it first launched separately from RDR2. Since then, the game has gotten a higher price tag of $19.99, though as those who have purchased it pointed out that's cheaper than Red Dead Redemption 2's $59.99 price tag. There are people out who have no interest in the full western title, or perhaps they can't afford to drop $60 on a three-year-old game. Cost is just one of the reasons why offering Red Dead Online as a free-to-play game is the next step Rockstar Games should take.

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While some might find the idea of Red Dead Online giving up its upfront cost odd, this would not be the first time a big game has made that move. The base game of Destiny 2 has been free-to-play since June 2019. Now the game makes most of its money via big expansions that are about the size of a regular game, and generally carry a price tag of about $40. There are also "seasons" that require a fee in order to take advantage. It's "seasons" where Red Dead Online could follow suit. Because the RDR2 spin-off doesn't have the same kind of story Destiny 2 does, massive full-priced expansions would be more difficult to pull off.

Destiny 2 could also be used as a model when it comes to the items sold in a free-to-play Red Dead Online. In-game currency is nothing new to the western-themed multiplayer game. However, it would certainly play a bigger part if the game became free. Just about every free-to-play title has some kind of cosmetics players may want to buy. Red Dead Online has the added benefit of not needing to come up with a brand-new currency, because this is the old west so gold can stick around as the thing that players will need to buy. It's surprising just how popular emotes can be in these types of games, but there's certainly one free-to-play title that has set the world on fire with this system: Fortnite.

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One of the reasons Red Dead Online is popular is because players are able to customize their character. Unlike Red Dead Redemption 2, where everyone has to play as Arthur Morgan, in the multiplayer mode people can put a version of themselves in the game. There are also plenty of ways to make the character look like whatever someone wants. One Red Dead Online player even made their cowpoke look like The Penguin from DC Comics.

Those character models could go one step further if Rockstar wanted to follow the path already laid out by a game like Fortnite. Many players keep coming back to that game because of the skins that are on offer. Most of them are out in the Epic Games Store for a flat fee, using an in-game currency. However, in order to get that currency, players need to buy it with real money.

Epic recently took another step in guaranteeing the game's free-to-play model makes steady money. A Fortnite monthly subscription gets players one new skin a month, as well as some other cosmetics such as pickaxes with different appearances, gliders, and backpacks. It is this kind of monthly subscription that might make Rockstar sit up and take notice. Skins might not be Red Dead Online's cup of tea since the game already leans heavily into allowing players to create their own characters, and it seems unlikely that characters like Thanos are ever going to make an appearance in that particular world. However, offering up tools, clothes, or even emotes is something that makes more sense. Players are already looking for the next hat, pair of boots, or horse.

In order to get people to buy cosmetics at a level that makes sense to offer Red Dead Online for free, it's likely going to need even more players. The good news for Rockstar is that offering the game for free will almost certainly lead to more players jumping on. There's a reason Epic made Fortnite free-to-play so early in its existence. That game wasn't always free, nor was it intended to have the battle royale aspect be its most popular mode.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a good game that can still cost a pretty penny on most platforms - barring its stay on Xbox Game Pass. That's one of the biggest reasons for Red Dead Online to go free-to-play. The lower cost for the standalone version of the multiplayer mode is attractive to those who want to save a few bucks. Allowing users to play the base game entirely free is bound to be even more attractive for those who want a good-looking Wild West game, and it's something Rockstar should take a long look at in the near future.

Red Dead Online is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.

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