In a turn of events that shocked absolutely no one with a functioning memory of the past five years, Rockstar Games announced that support for Red Dead Online would begin winding down. The reason? The company needs every available developer, coffee machine, and possibly a few office plants to work on the next Grand Theft Auto. And so, on the one-year anniversary of Red Dead Online's final major content update—Blood Money, for those keeping score—the game's dedicated community decided to mourn in the most fitting way possible: by holding virtual funerals. Because nothing says "we're sad" like dressing your cowboy in black and standing solemnly in a digital graveyard while a stranger plays a sad tune on a banjo. 🪦
The hashtag #RedDeadFuneral quickly began trending on Twitter (now X, but who's counting), with thousands of players sharing screenshots and clips of their in-game memorials. Many gathered in cemeteries across the frontier, forming impromptu processions, lighting lanterns, and even giving eulogies over voice chat. Others simply posted their favorite memories: that time they lassoed a bear, that time they accidentally shot their own horse, that time they spent three hours customizing a saddle only to realize they had no money left for bullets. It was a bittersweet tribute to a game that had so much potential, yet found itself perpetually stuck in the shadow of its outlaw sibling, Red Dead Redemption 2's single-player campaign.
Rockstar, for its part, tried to soften the blow. In a community update, the studio stated that while no major content updates are planned, monthly events will continue. "Alongside seasonal special events and experience improvements—plus other changes to enhance and maintain a healthy Red Dead Online environment—we plan to build upon existing modes and add new Telegram Missions this year," the developer said. Translation: the game isn't dead, it's just in a medically induced coma. A coma that still generates revenue from microtransactions, naturally. So if you were hoping for a new role, a new heist, or literally anything that isn't a Telegram Mission, you might want to sit down. And then keep sitting. For years.
| What Red Dead Online Still Gets 🎉 | What It Doesn't Get 😢 |
|---|---|
| Monthly events (wooo) | Major content updates |
| Seasonal special events | New roles |
| Telegram Missions (again) | New story missions |
| "Experience improvements" | A sequel, apparently |
| A healthy environment (vibes) | Bug fixes that matter |
Meanwhile, the news got even gloomier for fans hoping to see Red Dead Redemption 2 get a proper next-gen upgrade. Reports suggested that a PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S version was in the works, complete with visual improvements for the newer consoles. But those plans were reportedly scrapped following the less-than-stellar reception of the GTA Trilogy remakes. Because nothing says "we learned our lesson" like canceling a different remaster entirely. Rockstar seems to have adopted a philosophy of "if at first you don't succeed, bury the evidence and focus on GTA 6." Which, to be fair, is a strategy.
Speaking of GTA 6, Rockstar's recent blog post emphasized that the next Grand Theft Auto title must "exceed players' expectations." A noble goal, considering that expectations currently include a living, breathing city, a compelling story, multiplayer that doesn't collapse on day one, and perhaps a pony. As of 2026, fans are still waiting for a release date that doesn't get pushed back every time a Rockstar employee sneezes. The teaser trailer came and went, the hype cycle spun into overdrive, and yet the game remains a shimmering mirage on the horizon. But hey, at least Red Dead Online players got a funeral. That's more closure than most live-service games ever receive.
So what's the takeaway? Red Dead Online isn't shutting down, but its glory days are officially behind it. The virtual funerals were a creative, bittersweet way for the community to say goodbye to the game they loved—and a not-so-subtle jab at the corporate machine that left them in the dust. If you're still playing, enjoy those monthly events. Enjoy your Telegram Missions. And if you see a group of players standing silently in a graveyard, don't interrupt. They're not grieving for a game. They're grieving for what it could have been.
Now, if you'll excuse us, we have to go check if GTA 6 has a release date yet. (It doesn't.)