Rockstar has announced the official Red Dead Redemption 2 companion app for Android devices, iPhone, and iPad. The unexpected addition features a number of interesting aspects, each allowing for further immersion into the world of the wild west.
The developer had this to say about the app on their website:
The Red Dead Redemption 2 Companion App connects directly with your PlayStation 4 or Xbox One as you play, delivering real-time interactive information to your smart device. Available for download on October 26th on both iOS and Android, you can pan and zoom the map, set waypoints or mark areas of interest with a tap on your screen, aiding your exploration and discovery throughout the expansive world of Red Dead Redemption
The app will also show you Arthur Morgan’s core info and stats in real-time on your device, allowing you to completely remove the in-game HUD from your television should you choose. Additionally, the Companion lets you examine Arthur’s in-game Journal, provides stat tracking through Social Club, contains the full digital game manual, plus an optional digital version of the Red Dead Redemption 2 Complete Official Guide from Piggyback and more.”
The encouragement to remove the HUD and use your tablet as a map and journal sets a precedent for deep envelopment in the masterfully crafted world. Personally, I had never even fathomed this companion app as a possibility, and yet it seems so natural in its announcement like it was the way Rockstar intended the game to be played all along. This takes their dedication to giving players a deep and interactive world to get lost in to a whole new level. Companion apps are certainly nothing new, as Rockstar themselves dabbled in the concept with Grand Theft Auto 5’s iFruit app. But no matter who pioneered the idea and execution of companion apps, the one available for Red Dead Redemption 2 seems like it could very well perfect the mechanic, or at the very least innovate it to an entirely new degree.
Of course, we’ll have to wait until Friday to get our hands on it in tandem with the game, but the app is nonetheless an exciting and intriguing addition to an already astronomically hyped up game.
