Red Dead Redemption 2 features a surprisingly nifty companion app for its players, and the list of all the things it can do is actually pretty thorough.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is finally out, and players are now able to completely immerse themselves in one of the most detailed worlds ever achieved in video game history. However, the menu system can be a bit sluggish at times, which can be frustrating when fully immersed in the game.
Luckily, Rockstar has released a companion app similar to that of GTA 5, and it packs a bunch of really neat features that can help avoid the bloated menus. Here’s everything players can do with the addition of a second screen.
Arguably the most useful feature of the companion app is the built-in map. It’s a more convenient way of navigating around the massive open world of Red Dead Redemption 2, largely due to the lack of brief load times, which can get frustrating while in-game.
With the map, players are able to place and remove waypoints and markers with a tap on the screen. The delay between the app and the actual game itself is negligible, so it’s definitely worth checking out for players that want to avoid surfing around the menu and map screens. It also updates as Arthur discovers more locations within the world, so it’ll always be up to date with the towns and shops players discover.
The app also grants players remote access to the game’s store catalogs, which features a full shop inventory. With the app, players are able to browse all of the potential wares of the many stores in one spot. The app will even let you purchase items for in-game use through the app, and update the contents of Arthur’s wallet accordingly. The items will be available the next time players load into the game’s single-player mode, so it’s a convenient way to get things while stranded in the middle of nowhere, or otherwise blow Arthur’s hard-earned cash.
The journal portion of the app doesn’t have much of a functional use in the game, but it is great for players looking to learn a little bit more about Arthur’s thoughts when they’re away from the game. The journal is updated as players work their way through the 60-hour campaign and offers some insight into how the character feels about the world around him. There are also some surprisingly great sketches done by Arthur himself, proving that he may have a life as an artist should he ever decide to leave the shooting-people-in-the-face-for-money business. The journal is also available in-game, but it feels much better on a handheld device.
Finally, the app allows players to view their profiles. This allows players to track a ton of information about their version of Arthur, including weight, honor, and perks. This information can also be viewed in the game, but the app can make it easy to compare playthroughs with a group of friends.
The app is completely free, so it’s definitely worth downloading for players looking for an extra layer of convenience while the work their way through the game. It also doesn’t take up much storage space, so there likely won’t be any need to erase another app. Most companion apps are fairly unimportant, but Rockstar has done a good job of making a nifty little tool for their magnum opus.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available now for PS4 and Xbox One.
