Red Dead Redemption 2`s multiplayer mode, Red Dead Online, is beginning to come into focus. It appears to be borrowing from the highly successful model that Rockstar employed with Grand Theft Auto V`s online mode, GTA, in that fans can expect an expansive, open-ended playground filled with activities. Red Dead Online will also get regular updates to help players coming back--and presumably spending money. GTA Online has been a revenue juggernaut for parent publisher Take-Two, and while there are no solid details yet on how Red Dead Online will monetize players, you can absolutely expect microtransactions to factor in.We spoke with Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter about Red Dead Online and its revenue potential. He said he expects the game to be successful from a money perspective, though he doubts it will match GTA Online. That`s no surprise. With 95 million copies solid, GTA V is one of the most successful games in history, and that kind of success is unlikely to be repeated, especially for a relatively smaller brand like Red Dead. Even Take-Two itself does not believe Red Dead Redemption 2 will sell as well as GTA V.Still, Red Dead Online is expected to be a big-time money-maker. Pachter said said he believes the game can bring in around $10 per user each year. If the game sells 25 million copies, it could have 10-15 million monthly active users for Red Dead Online, which, assuming $10 per user, would come out to as much as $150 million per year in recurring revenue.That is short of GTA Online`s revenue, but it`s still a massive figure. Not only that, but the margins on microtransactions are excellent, and all of this is on top of the $60 or more people will pay for the game itself.`I think RDR Online will certainly be successful,` Pachter said. `Revenues from GTA Online peaked at around $125 million in the December quarter, and are still around $100 million per quarter through three quarters this year, so GTA Online is annualizing around $400 - 500 ...
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