Rockstar Games: 'Red Dead Redemption 2' Delayed To 2018

Fans of the original Red Dead Redemption have been waiting for years for a new entry in the series. Unfortunately, they’ll have to wait a little longer.

In a statement Monday, developer Rockstar Games confirmed Red Dead Redemption 2 would be delayed until Spring 2018. Rockstar said the game requires additional development time and would miss its initial fall 2017 targeted release date.

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"This outlaw epic set across the vast and unforgiving American heartland will be the first Rockstar game created from the ground up for the latest generation of console hardware, and some extra time is necessary to ensure that we can deliver the best experience possible for our fans.

"We are very sorry for any disappointment this delay causes, but we are firm believers in delivering a game only when it is ready. We are really excited to bring you more details about the game this summer."

Investors showed disappointment with the planned delay, as Red Dead Redemption 2 looks to be a flagship release for Rockstar Games. Shares in publisher Take-Two Interactive dropped to $61.83 in trading Monday.

Historically, the move is hardly out of the ordinary for Rockstar, which is notorious for being perfectionist about its releases. Games like the Grand Theft Auto series and other original intellectual properties from Rockstar saw periodic delays before being released. Rockstar initially confirmed the Red Dead sequel last fall with a trailer release and other teasers.

Originally released in 2010, Red Dead Redemption put players into the role of John Marston, a former outlaw who returns to a life of combat to save his family. The third-person open-world adventure title lets players perform a variety of tasks in a heavily Western-influenced world. The title also originally came out on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

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Rockstar Games eventually followed up the original game with Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare, a downloadable standalone expansion pack that added zombies and additional missions to the game. The series was also preceded by 2004’s Red Dead Revolver, a third-person Western shooter released for the original Xbox and PlayStation 2.