“We’ve waited 14 years for this game” The story of the Red Dead Redemption PC remaster mod looking to bring RDR2 to classic New Austin

“We have all waited 14 years for this sport,” modder Badass Baboon says of the unique Red Dead Redemption, when it lastly arrived on PC at the end of last month.

“My pleasure was by way of the roof, although with the datamined data from the Swap/PS4 model, we just about had affirmation {that a} PC model existed someplace. Nothing may spoil my pleasure after I lastly received to play and mod the sport on PC.”

For this modder, who tells me that “the compelling story and character improvement” of the trendy Pink Lifeless collection, in addition to “the ‘ultimate frontier’ vibes” each John Marston and Arthur Morgan’s adventures share are what draw them most to Rockstar’s westerns, RDR1 lastly arriving was an opportunity to convey ‘Reality Redemption’ to a contemporary platform. Badass Baboon had began work on this overhaul mod again in 2023 for the Xbox 360 model of RDR, and has since created variations for each the Nintendo Swap and now PC variations as they’ve been launched.

Their objective with the mission is to remaster the sport in their very own approach, bringing it nearer to trendy requirements. They’ve been busy revamping the visuals by tweaking issues like “textures, fashions, and climate cycles”, in addition to “fixing continuity errors”, and searching for to offer “a extra fluid and real looking expertise” gameplay-wise. It’s nonetheless a piece in progress at present, however the modder’s already carried out sufficient substantial tweaks that the model of Actuality Redemption on Nexus Mods is presently probably the most endorsed RDR PC mod on the platform. Its simply over 10,000 whole downloads as of writing aren’t far off high spot both, solely trailing a few different in style works.

“I’ve beforehand modded Need for Speed and GTA games and was in search of a contemporary problem,” Badass Baboon tells me after I ask what impressed them to start out the mission. “I discovered the Pink Lifeless Redemption 1 modding neighborhood fairly area of interest and pleasant. Modding this sport was considerably acquainted since it is also on the Rage engine, which I’ve expertise with, having beforehand modded [GTA 4 and 5], however on the identical time very completely different since it is the San Diego department of the engine, and never the Rockstar North one. It was definitely a enjoyable problem studying and understanding how in a different way San Diego tailor-made the engine for his or her video games.”

One other problem they’ve confronted is hopping from platform to platform, with the 360 proving the hardest buyer. “The file codecs have been exhausting to analysis and perceive, not to mention mod, plenty of workarounds and tips had for use to make a functioning mod on the size of Actuality Redemption on Xbox 360,” they inform me. “[The] majority of texture replacements would both break or crash the sport, however enhancing configuration information labored superb.

“With the release of the Switch version, the file codecs have been nearly similar to GTA IV, and with much more analysis and understanding behind that, modding that model turned far simpler and streamlined, a single device may handle nearly the whole lot, each texture from character fashions to buildings turned doable to edit. And the PC model turned out to be a 1:1 copy of the Swap model, as information that I’ve beforehand modded for the Swap model may very well be interchangeably used between PC and Swap.”

Like plenty of high-profile builders, Rockstar has an fascinating and sophisticated historical past on the subject of the way it’s chosen to work together with these modding its video games. There’s been some takedowns, some full-blown lawsuits, after which final yr, the corporate electing to bring on board the workforce behind the favored FiveM and RedM roleplaying mods. Given Badass Baboon can also be growing for the Swap, which has had multiple emulators stop operation following motion from Nintendo this yr, I requested the modder whether or not both of these had influenced how they’ve approached or felt about their work on Actuality Redemption.

“I would at all times deliberate to maintain the mod below the radar till a PC model [of Red Dead Redemption] got here out,” they responded. “I may solely speculate what Rockstar and Take-Two would do, and figuring out their litigious background to the purpose of DMCAing a save file, I assumed the worst. At all times felt a shadowy presence, I did not know if what I am doing is taboo or not, however I by no means stopped engaged on the mission. I prevented together with any authentic sport information and refused to backport property from different Rockstar titles to keep away from any potential points. Fortunately, the mod remains to be up.”

Since that’s the case, the modder’s busy engaged on their plans for the mod, which embody making additions and alterations designed to assist fill the gaps that exist lore-wise between the unique Pink Lifeless, which famously doesn’t even point out Arthur Morgan’s identify, and its prequel Red Dead Redemption 2.

“I plan to change the sport world and the audio to incorporate extra references to the world and occasions of RDR2, with out taking something out of the unique sport’s really feel/environment,” Badass Baboon says. “It is going to be something from small references comparable to work of RDR2’s West Elizabeth, Grizzlies, and Lemoyne within the MacFarlanes’ home – which is within the newest model of the mod by the best way – to one thing main with AI voice performing the place characters will instantly reference occasions and characters [from] RDR2.”

Because the latter would seemingly contain utilizing the controversial tech to generate strains that mimic the voices of the sport’s established voice actors, one thing a lot of skilled VAs have voiced sturdy opposition to or concerns about, I requested the modder for his or her tackle the difficulty, in addition to whether or not they plan to think about any options. For instance, remixing current strains from the sport to type new ones, a technique plenty of further dialogue mods for video games like Skyrim – usually from AI-averse or sceptical modders – have used.

“For those who’ve seen, many content material creators have used AI instruments to make their favorite characters sing a preferred music or say sure issues on YouTube, Tiktok, and different locations, with very correct outcomes,” they responded, “Contemplating they’ve by no means gotten into sizzling water for any of that, I do not assume individuals would complain for a number of voice line edits. After all, there may be additionally the likelihood to make use of voice property from RDR2 and blend new strains, or simply the strains from the unique sport, however to various ranges of success. Whereas there are various strategies like I discussed, I nonetheless have to check and see if AI may even ship the genuine tone that I am in search of. If not, then I am going to look into remixing current recordings.”

We’ll must see what the longer term finally ends up holding for Actuality Redemption and the Pink Lifeless Redemption’s PC modding scene as a complete. In any case, the port hasn’t been right here lengthy in any respect, and little doubt loads of cowboys are nonetheless both nostalgically making their approach up its trails whereas deciding what they could need to strive including, or are downing their final rounds in one other sport’s saloon earlier than hopping on the practice to Armadillo.