Red Dead Redemption 3 protagonist concept looks incredible

While Red Dead Redemption 3 is unlikely to be with us any time soon (I'd be genuinely amazed if we saw it this generation), some fans are already daring to dream what the next instalment will look like.

Most of us are content to simply lie around imagining where and when the next game will be set, coming up with brand-new stories and adventures in our heads. But one superfan has taken it a step further by using the power of science to bring Red Dead Redemption 3's imaginary hero to life.

Check out some of the best Red Dead Redemption 2 wins and fails below!

Using an AI image generator, Reddit user Captain-Kula has created a very intriguing take on the star of Red Dead Redemption 3.

As you can see below, this enigmatic new hero looks the business. I'd certainly follow him on an all-new adventure across the Wild West. Quite how the AI arrived at this look I do not know. I don't presume to know the AI's business, frankly.

I should also stress, should it need stressing, that this is just a fan mockup and as far from official as it's possible to get. We're a long, long way from the next Red Dead game - although it is coming.

Speaking with the Jefferies Virtual Global Interactive Entertainment Conference last year (via, VGC), Zelnick compared his company’s major franchises - including Red Dead Redemption and Grand Theft Auto - to James Bond, in that they’ll keep going for many, many years to come. 

"If it's really, really great, it will keep going," the CEO said. "I don't know if you saw it, I just saw the new Bond film, that was great. You would like every franchise to be James Bond. There are precious few entertainment franchises of any sort that fall into that category, but they do exist. And I think GTA is one of them, I think Red Dead is one of them, NBA is obviously one of them because the game will continue to exist.”

While it’s obviously great to learn Red Dead Redemption will continue, Zelnick stressed that it’ll be a long time between entries. He reasons that’s part of what makes Rockstar single-player games so special. 

"It also requires you to be thoughtful and willing to rest the titles, so you have a sense of, 'wow, this is a rare event,'" Zelnick explained. "I've always said that annualizing non-sports titles runs the risk of burning out the intellectual property, even if it's good. So we take the time to make something we think is incredibly phenomenal, and we also rest titles intentionally so that there's pent-up demand for that title, so it's a special event."