You can now play Red Dead Redemption 2 with character designs much closer to the original concept art, thanks to a new mod. As it turns out, Dutch van der Linde and his gang were originally intended to look pretty different, according to earlier concept art by Rockstar. Although their designs evolved over time into what we eventually saw in the final game, there’s something to be said for the details that were lost along the way.
And now, you can experience them firsthand in-game: the Concept Gang Overhaul mod, uploaded to Nexus by beniguess1899, restores several details from the gang’s early designs and concept art, creating a new look for your RDR2 posse. The mod includes new outfits for 19 gang members, ranging from simple tweaks to total fashion overhauls. Some of the most striking changes are documented here, in a post on the modder’s Reddit account (IRllyHateNewAccounts).
Rockstar’s Original Designs Looked Pretty Different
How Dutch & The Gang Have Changed
The Concept Gang Overhaul mod makes several major changes to RDR2‘s character designs. Perhaps the most noticeable changes are on Dutch, who dresses in a much more subdued manner in early concept art, his cardinal reds exchanged here for mellow maroons, and stark whites for bleak grays.
Micah’s new appearance is interesting, because it contrasts sharply with his personality: he dresses much more neatly, with a better-groomed haircut and beard. He also wears white leathers – typically associated with heroic cowboys, which Micah is anything but.
Javier’s redesign is interesting: now short a ponytail and some of his “fancy stylings,” per the mod description, he’s a little closer to the disgraced revolutionary we later meet in RDR1. By contrast, Uncle’s picked up a few new baubles, including a gold button, a bowler hat, and a well-groomed mustache.
Curiously, some characters’ outfits and appearances still change over the course of the game. Strauss’ hair starts off a lot lighter – closer to blonde – and gradually grays as the game winds on. Lenny shaves his facial hair in Chapter 2, and changes his outfit in later chapters to match the game’s cover art.
Some characters have seen minor changes: as for Arthur, black leather accents have been removed from his design, and he’s been given brown leather as part of his default outfit. Tilly, Molly, and Mary Beth have had the colors of some of their clothes altered.
Mods Make RDR2 Even Better
Not Just Character Designs
The updated character designs are pretty fascinating; I’m always curious to see how characters evolve from conception to final product, and there are a lot of fascinating revelations here.
These designs make me wonder what elements of each character’s personality were altered or dropped before they made it to the fiinal game. It’d be interesting to see how they affect my perception of the characters on another playthrough.
And really, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what mods can do. From totally redesigning characters to altering how horses work, mods can refresh and reinvent the Red Dead Redemption 2 experience, and are probably the best reason to play on PC.
Red Dead Redemption 2
9/10
- Released
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October 26, 2018
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Engine
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RAGE
