BitSnark

Developer Rockstar today unveiled the sequel to its 2004 western themed shooter Red Dead Revolver, now known as Red Dead Redemption. Billed as the first proper sandbox adventure for the Wild West, Red Dead Redemption appears to echo the team’s other free-roaming franchise Grand Theft Auto in many ways, promising a ‘seamless combination of breathtaking beauty and intense action, all woven together with strong plotlines in a massive vibrant, rural environment that pushes the limits of what an open-world gaming experience can be’.

The title also shares a more technical lineage with the Grand Theft Auto series, specifically the latest installment Grand Theft Auto IV, as Red Dead Redemption utilises the R.A.G.E graphics engine that was the driving force behind Rockstar’s crime epic opus.

I am very excited by the possibilities on offer here. Being a great fan of the Western setting, there isn’t nearly enough Western games out there (you can count them on one hand), and even less truly great ones. With the developer and tech behind this title, not to mention the lessons learned from last time, I do have high hopes for this.

Red Dead Redemption is due for release on XBOX 360 and PS3 in Fall/Autumn 2009.