Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic story in the most literal sense of the world but those who find the fate of Arthur Morgan a little too depressing are in luck because a happier fate can now await the outlaw. It’s arguably one of the most tragic deaths in the video game medium as Arthur, forced to reconcile with his nature following his tuberculosis diagnosis, ultimately attempts to right all his wrongs by sacrificing himself to save the rest of the gang. It’s a beautiful moment, but that doesn’t mean his story has to end there.
Posted to Nexus Mods by creator RedPed, the “Arthur’s Redemption” grants fans an alternative ending that doesn’t result in John Marston setting out on a quest to avenge the death of his friend.
The add-on begins with Arthur’s health taking a turn for the better as he’s also informed that some of his closest confidants managed to survive Dutch’s wrath, setting up camp near Beaver Hollow. While the narrative may not continue in a traditional sense, it does allow users to continue exploring the world and completing side-quests as though Arthur was never at risk of succumbing to his illness.
While this reworked conclusion is obviously not canon, it’s still a fun opportunity to continue playing as Arthur Morgan without having to worry about the calamity caused by Dutch and Micah Bell. Of course, to achieve this, there are a few requirements such as the aforementioned duo and Lenyy needing to be absent to further the reworked narrative without their presence. To make the experience a little deeper, it doesn’t touch any of the collectibles, activities, or side quests so players should be kept busy for many more hours.
Of course, electing to avoid Arthur Morgan’s death means users won’t be able to step back into the dusty boots of fan-favorite outlaw John Marston, who takes center stage during the epilogue. In one of Red Dead Redemption 2‘s bolder narrative choices, players assume control of the ex-outlaw as he attempts to make a life for himself and his family by holding down a steady job and investing in a ranch. This being a Rockstar game though, things don’t necessarily go according to plan as he’s roped back into the life of a criminal for one last act of revenge.
While Red Dead Redemption 2 may be nearly 6 years old, the community that’s built itself around the game continues to thrive. Aside from a healthy modding scene that’s constantly creating some exceptional additions to the experience, the online mode still has a solid player base even though Rockstar has acknowledged that it has no plans to continue supporting it with future content updates. Whether or not a third game is planned remains unknown, so fans will just need to hold their hats and wish.
Source: RedPed/Nexus Mods