'Red Dead Redemption 2' Release Date, Gameplay, Mechanics: How the Developers Are Using Horses to Further Immerse Players in the Game

“Red Dead Redemption 2” is being made by Rockstar Games with the intention of fully immersing a player in its world. In order to do that, the studio incorporated a lot of details into the game, including eating, playing mundane games, and having Arthur Morgan keep his hygiene in check.

But one particular task that gamers should look forward to is the mechanics involving horses. The previous trailer of “Red Dead Redemption 2” already mentioned that horses are an important aspect of Arthur’s journey since caring for the animal provides several advantages, Comic Book reported.

Among these is the horse’s ability to stay calm in tense situations such as during a shootout. During such an altercation, the animal is less likely to be skittish, which will then increase a player’s aim. The developers of “Red Dead Redemption 2” already said that apart from being a major means of transportation, they want their fanbase to develop a bond with their horse.

“The personality of the horse will come through in its behavior, reacting to the world in a way that’s unique to its breed and your bond with it. Your horse should feel like a living creature with a mind of its own, and we spent a lot of time tagging elements of the world so the horse knows where it wants to go, and what it wants to avoid, as much as the player,” art director Aaron Garbut said. Indeed, gamers who were given the chance to play “Red Dead Redemption 2” noticed that their horses refused to move forward if they encountered something dangerous such as a snake.

While a gamer might not keep an eye out for such a detail, Rockstar Games added this element in order to further immerse an individual in its vast open world. And it is vast indeed. The required minimum space for installation on the PS4 is 105GB, while Xbox owners will need to free up 88.57GB worth of space in order to accommodate “Red Dead Redemption 2.”

Going back to the horse mechanics, the developers said that although they did want to make an emphasis on the players' bond with the animals, they also said they designed this aspect in such a way that it doesn’t hinder the overall gameplay. However, they did mention that neglected horses can die in “Red Dead Redemption 2” if they fall sick.

And while players can simply buy another horse in the game, they will have to start over with regards to bonding with the animal and the advantages that it offers. Of course, judging by how gamers approach a game, they’ll likely go to great lengths in order to take care of their horses in “Red Dead Redemption 2”.

Games such as “The Witcher 3” and “Fallout 4” have animal companions that gamers eventually fell in love with. And with the developers prioritizing immersion in “Red Dead Redemption 2,” players will undoubtedly develop the same obsession with the animals in the same way that they did in the abovementioned franchises. As for the release date, the game is slated to hit the market on Oct. 26.