Red Dead Redemption 2 Rival RPG Confirms 2027 Launch Plans

It feels perhaps unlikely that any title will ever quite match the generational brilliance of Red Dead Redemption 2, but Westlanders looks primed to fill the hole left behind by the now-absent Rockstar Games franchise.

Westlanders was originally announced in December 2025, with the upcoming open-world Wild West RPG now having surfaced again with confirmation of its launch plans.

The game is being supported by Team17, who’ll be partnering up with developer The Breach Studios to handle publishing duties.

It’s officially been confirmed that Westlanders is targeting an “early 2027” launch when it’ll arrive on PC via Steam in early access.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with The Breach Studios to publish Westlanders - their unique take on the survival-crafting genre had us hooked from the get-go, and we know players will fall in love with the beautifully hostile world the team has created, just like we have,” said Team17 general manager Harley Homewood in a press release.

The Breach Studios CEO, Ferran Punti, added, “We could not be more excited to welcome Team17 to the Wild West. They are the perfect publishing partner to help our open-world dreams become a reality.”

They continued, “We also want to say thank you to Radical Theory for all of their support as our marketing partner over the last eight months. Westlanders would not be where it is today without their support.”

Westlanders Combines The Open-World RPG Formula With Survival Elements

Westlanders is a title that can be enjoyed alone or with friends - and it shares a lot in common with Red Dead Redemption 2 beyond its Wild West setting.

“Survive a wild-west open-world teeming with riches and fraught with perils. Alone or with your friends, brave unforgiving landscapes and conquer the wilds from your customisable mobile base: The Wagon,” reads the game’s synopsis.

“But don't just survive; thrive. Lay the foundations for bustling outposts and settlements, recruit loyal companions, and weave a powerful economic network to tame the wilderness and build your legacy.”

Team17

Whereas Red Dead Redemption 2 boasts a strong central narrative, Westlanders is more what you make of it.

Gameplay consists of similar elements as you explore vast landscapes, face off against both human and animal threats, discover hidden locations, skill up, and take back land from bandits.

Here though, there are some survival elements thrown into the mix, which is where Westlanders sets itself apart from Red Dead Redemption 2.

As alluded to, players will own a customisable wagon which they can freely upgrade and decorate with this essentially functioning as a portable base.

You’ll also be able to engage in farming, ranching, and mining, which means there’s plenty of resource collecting involved, too.

In time, you can build a large outpost, even achieving automation in certain areas as you hire workers.

That all sounds rather cosy, but this is a perilous and fearsome world.

“From soaring temperatures to fighting frostbite. Each biome has its own dangers that the player will have to face and fight. Waterborne diseases, bleeding bites or suffocating mines, each corner may be hiding new dangers to face,” devs warn.

It is, of course, worth pointing out that Westlanders is being developed on a much smaller budget than Rockstar Games’ behemoth Red Dead Redemption 2.

You have to acknowledge the fact, though, that very few games have attempted to tap into that Wild West magic since the acclaimed sequel arrived back in 2018.

Westlanders looks to be full of potential, albeit on a smaller scale, with the early access period ensuring that player feedback will be heard.

It’s definitely one to watch as we head into 2027.

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