Red Dead Online Receives Surprise Zombie-Themed Content Update With New Missions and Triple Rewards

In a rare and unexpected move, Red Dead Online has received new narrative content in the form of Strange Tales of the West, a zombie-themed update featuring four new Telegram missions. The update goes live on July 1, 2025, at 5:00 AM Eastern Time, marking the first substantial content addition to the game in months. This new content, themed around supernatural elements, includes missions involving undead plagues, rogue automatons, and swamp beasts—clearly evoking the spirit of Undead Nightmare, the acclaimed horror expansion for the original Red Dead Redemption.

Strange Tales of the West: Horror Returns to the Frontier

In these new missions, players assist Theodore Levin, the author familiar to players from the single-player campaign of Red Dead Redemption 2, in chronicling bizarre and supernatural events. The missions are accessible via the Telegram Missions menu, or by retrieving Levin’s letters from any Post Office or Camp Lockbox. Each mission is centered on a different supernatural mystery, including:

• The spread of undead plagues

• The rise of rogue mechanical automatons

• The appearance of mythical swamp creatures

While Rockstar has not officially confirmed this as a full-fledged expansion, the horror-themed direction is a notable departure from recent content cycles and has sparked renewed enthusiasm in the community.

Substantial Reward Multipliers and Discounts for July

Accompanying the new missions is a generous set of July bonuses across several in-game activities, particularly rewarding players engaged in Telegram Missions and the Naturalist role. The full breakdown is as follows:

Triple Rewards (3X Gold, RDO$, and XP):

• All Telegram Missions, including Strange Tales of the West

• Naturalist Sample Sales

• Legendary Animal Sighting Missions (also 3X Role XP and XP)

Double Rewards (2X RDO$ and XP):

• Wildlife Photography

Discounts:

• Naturalist Sample Kit – 10 Gold Bars off

• 50% Off:

  • Novice and Promising Naturalist Role Items

• 40% Off:

  • Sedative Varmint Cartridge Pamphlet

  • Legendary Animal Pheromone Pamphlet

  • Potent Bait Pamphlets

  • Clothing at Gus’ Store

  • Gypsy Cob and War Horses

  • Ammo

• 30% Off:

  • Pistols and Pistol Customizations

  • Hats, Coats, and Gloves

These bonuses and discounts will remain active throughout the month of July and offer meaningful incentives for players to return to the game.

A Welcome Revival for Red Dead Online

Red Dead Online has long played second fiddle to GTA Online, with Rockstar openly acknowledging its reduced support in recent years. However, this latest content update suggests that the studio is willing to explore creative narratives within the online frontier—especially when they tie into fan-favorite themes. While it remains to be seen whether this signals a broader return to content development for Red Dead Online, the quality and thematic depth of Strange Tales of the West have already reignited interest among the game’s dedicated community.

The supernatural themes, combined with the familiar character of Theodore Levin and the narrative-driven format, make this one of the most substantial updates the game has seen in years.

Do you think this zombie-themed addition is a sign of renewed support for Red Dead Online, or simply a seasonal one-off? We welcome your thoughts and impressions.