Rockstar Games has transported players to some of the most immersive and mature worlds in modern gaming. Though the publisher has many hits under its belt, two of Rockstar's most robust offerings were Grand Theft Auto Online and Red Dead Online. Though set in different eras and maps, both offer players unparalleled freedom to do as they please, with most becoming notorious outlaws to some degree.
Due to their popularity, both GTA Online and Red Dead Online received various updates, some of which offered discreet parallels between the two properties. However, in December 2019 updates were released for both titles, one day apart, which saw their worlds converge. Unbeknownst to many fans, Rockstar had created a direct connection between GTA's San Andreas and Red Dead Online's fictitious United States through the release and implementation of a single weapon - the Navy Revolver.
Red Dead Online's Introduction of the Navy Revolver
On December 13, 2019, the Moonshiners Update was released for Red Dead Online, adding a new specialist role, various weapons, and new business ventures. While many players were focused on the new Moonshiner role in the build-up to the update's release, few could have expected the profound impact of a level 1 gun that had been added to the Handheld Catalogue, as well as most gunsmiths. This weapon, the Navy Revolver, was based on the real-life Colt-1851 revolver, popularly used in the US Navy. Upon release, the gun could be purchased for $275 or 11 gold bars by any player at any level.
The Navy Revolver would go on to become the best revolver in Red Dead Online. Due to its high damage and quick rate of fire, compared to other revolvers, it was the go-to choice for PvP interactions, killing any opposing player in three shots or less. Given the right upgrades, the Navy Revolver could become even more deadly. Since its release, the Navy Revolver stands as the best choice for gamers of any level. However, its greater impact doesn't stop there.
GTA Online's Killer Connection
On December 12, 2019, the Diamond Casino Heist Update was released for GTA Online. While a major new heist was its primary focus, the update also introduced the "Los Santos Slasher" plotline, which tasked players with scouring Blaine County for clues before confronting a serial killer head-on. The killer was said to use an antique handgun in his killings, and the act of bringing him to justice would reward players with this unique weapon. Upon completion of the plotline, players received none other than the Red Dead Online's Navy Revolver, stained with blood and tally marks.
While the Los Santos Slasher's use of the Navy Revolver created a link between Red Dead Online and GTA Online, its acquisition brought the connection full circle. By acquiring the Navy Revolver in GTA Online and getting 50 kills, a modified version, Lowry's Revolver, became unlocked in Red Dead Online for players with a Rockstar Social Club membership. Found in the cellar of a building south of Valentine, players could acquire this new Navy Revolver, bloodstains and tally marks included, for use in Red Dead Online. Few could have anticipated the role that the Navy Revolver would play in connecting two of Rockstar Games' biggest franchises. With GTA Online still thriving and GTA 6 on the way, fans hope that the future holds even more reveals as to how these immersive worlds collide.