'Red Dead Redemption 2' release date news: Expected in 2017; game map leaked

"Red Dead Redemption 2" is finally no longer just a rumor after Rockstar Studios confirmed its existence. Fans are now looking forward to the sequel after almost seven years since the original game. But they will have to wait a little longer as it won't come out until next year.

According to reports, "Red Dead Redemption 2" is slated to be released sometime in fall 2017. There is no specific date yet so fans will have to stay tuned for the actual release date of the game. Rockstar also released a short trailer for the sequel, teasing the fans the great things that they can expect from the open-world, action-adventure video game, which is said to have been in the works for some time now.

A Reddit post detailed that Joe Cavers, an active sound designer in the gaming industry, posted his portfolio online and he revealed that he has been working on the sequel since 2014. This means the game has been in development for three years. But so far, details about the game are scarce.

Rumor has it though that the second title of the franchise will follow life in "America's unforgiving heartland." Nothing is confirmed but it was suggested that it would feature an expansive single-player mode. There were also several speculations about the characters who will be included in the game.

First is "Red Dead Redemption" protagonist John Marston but fans who have finished the first game know that Marston met his demise. If he will return for the part two, it could mean that "Red Dead Redemption 2" is a prequel. The game may also feature Jack Swift, Dutch Van der Linde, Red Harlow, Bill Williamson, Landon Ricketts and Shadow Wolf.

Reports also say that a legit map for the game has leaked on the web. Rockstar did not make any comments regarding this but several insist that it's real. Until further confirmation, it must be taken with a grain of salt. Fans will have to stay tuned to get more updates.