Profanity filters in games are nothing new, but they are typically relegated to online features where other players may find certain words offensive. Single-player experiences are a bit looser with what's allowed, and there has been a long tradition of players naming characters something obscene just for the laughs. The profanity filter in Red Dead Redemption 2 is notable as being one of the strictest, even in Story Mode. This has led to players being baffled by what's allowed and what isn't.
There's a long list of examples of the Red Dead Redemption 2 profanity filter being overly sensitive. Most recently, Reddit user u/YourBuddyBrak posted a system message he got for trying to name his horse "Switchblade." They pointed out the irony of the name apparently being too risque for a game that allows players to slaughter a lot of people with similarly dangerous weapons. Protagonist Arthur Morgan has a fairly large kill count by the end of the game. The comments section chimed in with similar experiences, with other players saying names like "Marshall" and even "Sarah Jessica Parker" weren't allowed either.
It makes some sense that a profanity filter would be overzealous in an online mode, but it is understandably confusing when it is this strict in single-player, especially since Red Dead Online has had to deal with much worse than an offense name for a horse. Some players have taken to masquerading as KKK members in-game. Originally, KKK NPCs appeared in the game as a reflection of the period, and players had the opportunity to feel the catharsis of taking them out through a side quest chain. However, some are now utilizing the NPC character models for racist trolling and harassing other players.
Really?! I can't name my horse," Switchblade???? All while I've been slaughtering people in cold blood with tomahawks and fire bottles. from RDR2
While Rockstar Games works on a viable solution, the community is taking matters into its own hands. One player has gone viral for hunting KKK roleplayers in Red Dead Online. They have made it their mission to hunt down racist players and either kill them or let players they're harassing get away. The player posts their successful hunts on TikTok, where others have been quick to voice their support.
Another feature in the game is also quite disturbing. A player recently made a gruesome discovery in Red Dead Redemption 2 after the fifth playthrough that they hadn't noticed before. They stumbled upon a decomposing corpse they were certain was in fine condition a few days prior. After sharing the find with the community online, they found that this is an intended feature of the game and different environmental factors affect how a corpse decomposes. The game, however, apparently finds this less disturbing than a horse named "Switchblade."
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available now on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.