Key Highlights:
- Rockstar has released Strange Tales of the West Volume 1, the first major Red Dead Online update since 2022.
- The free update includes four supernatural Telegram missions, including a zombie-infested Armadillo.
- Rockstar hints at Red Dead Online revival, even amid GTA 6 development.
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After three years of near silence, Rockstar Games has returned to Red Dead Online with its most substantial update since support wound down in 2022.
Titled Strange Tales of the West Volume 1, the free July 2025 update introduces new supernatural missions, limited-time challenges, and a jolt of fresh energy into a live service many had presumed abandoned.
Take a look at the announcement trailer below:
RDR2 Strange Tales of the West Volume 1 Trailer
As per Gamerant, the headline addition is a set of four new Telegram missions built around eerie Western folklore. Players take on the role of paranormal troubleshooters hired by Theodore Levin, an author obsessed with the occult.
Each mission carries a macabre tone, but none more so than Strange Tales of the Plague – a mission that sends players into a zombified version of Armadillo, now crawling with the undead.
The mission is more than just fan service. It’s a deliberate throwback to Undead Nightmare, Rockstar’s 2010 cult-favourite expansion for the original Red Dead Redemption.
Its structure, ambience, and infected NPCs evoke the same mood, tapping into a style of horror-western storytelling fans have long hoped to see return.
Though this is not a full expansion, the level of detail suggests Rockstar has invested more effort than in previous event content.
Dialogue, custom environments, and bespoke enemy behaviour elevate it beyond routine filler.
Volume 1 Suggests More Content Is Coming
Perhaps the most significant hint about Rockstar’s future plans comes from the update’s official branding. Strange Tales of the West Volume 1 implies that at least one follow-up is in development.
Rockstar has not announced a release window for Volume 2, but its use of serialised titling suggests an intention to create an anthology-like format within Red Dead Online.
Given the studio’s current focus on Grand Theft Auto 6, the update is unexpected, particularly after Rockstar declared in 2022 that no further major content would be developed for Red Dead Online.
Rockstar’s sudden interest in revitalising Red Dead Redemption 2’s online component may be part of a broader strategy. Reports in May 2025 claimed that a next-gen patch for RDR2 – optimised for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, has been in the works for some time, with a potential release later this year.
If true, the Strange Tales content may be the first step in synchronising Red Dead Online with that updated version.
Graphical upgrades, faster load times, and quality-of-life improvements could reignite interest in the game, particularly if paired with regular themed updates.
For now, Rockstar remains quiet on the matter, and no official announcement has been made as of this writing. Though, the structure and timing of this update, combined with its narrative framing and volume-based naming, all hint at a renewed content pipeline.
What’s Included in the July 2025 RDR2 Update?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| New Missions | 4 Telegram missions from Theodore Levin |
| Signature Mission | Strange Tales of the Plague (zombies in Armadillo) |
| Rewards | Limited-time cosmetic and XP bonuses for completing challenges |
| Story Style | Supernatural, horror-themed investigations |
| Price | Free update for all Red Dead Online players |
Although this latest update is a major one, trailer an all, Rockstar have still been supporting Red Dead Redemption 2 with casual updates. Back in July last year, Red Dead Online added new missions and rewards, including Sample Sales with triple wildlife rewards, weekly bonuses like exclusive gear, and double rewards in Featured Series and Telegram Missions to boost progress.
There have been plenty of new missions released but no full-on featured event until now.
While it may not be the long-requested Undead Nightmare 2, Strange Tales of the West Volume 1 is a bold and welcome surprise for a game many considered abandoned.
With spooky storytelling, clear production value, and hints at more to come, Rockstar’s Western sandbox may yet have a few ghost stories left to tell.
The question now is whether Volume 2 arrives before the year’s out, or if this revival fades back into the desert dust.