Jack Marston in Red Dead Redemption 3 May Be a Mistake for the Franchise; Here Is Why

Jack Marston in Red Dead Redemption 3 is something that many RDR fans are taking about. Here we take a look at five reasons why it is not the best idea for RDR 3 to have Jack Marston as the protagonist.

Long before GTA 6 has even released, fans are already speculating, debating, and theorizing about the future of Rockstar’s western saga. The hype around Red Dead Redemption 3 feels almost unreal, but it makes sense. Red Dead Redemption 2 is still widely praised as one of the most detailed and immersive games ever made, especially for its realism, world design, and character writing. From mud sticking to boots to NPCs remembering past interactions, RDR 2 set a new benchmark for what a cinematic open-world game could be. Naturally, expectations for the RDR 3 story are enormous, and with that comes intense debate about its protagonist. One of the most common ideas floating around is about Jack Marston in Red Dead Redemption 3. But Jack being the protagonist in RDR 3 is a direction that may be a bigger mistake than many fans realize. Here, we shall discuss in detail why.

1. Jack Marston’s Character Arc Is Already Complete

Jack Marston’s journey, while short, is deliberately final. By the end of the original Red Dead Redemption, his transformation is complete. Though he got his revenge, he becomes the very thing his father tried to protect him from, closing the circle in a tragic but powerful way. That ending works because there is nothing to be expanded or softened later. Bringing Jack Marston in Red Dead Redemption 3 back as a full protagonist risks undoing the emotional weight of that conclusion. Red Dead has always respected consequences, and Jack’s final choice already serves the narrative purpose of the game. Stretching his story further would feel less like evolution and more like dilution.

2. He Represents the Aftermath of the Wild West, Not Its Decline

One of the biggest issues with having Jack Marston in Red Dead Redemption 3 is the timeline he brings with him. Jack’s adult life pushes the series forward into the 1910s and beyond, slowly moving towards the First World War, Prohibition era and even the Great Depression. That period may be historically interesting, but it no longer represents the Wild West. The Red Dead Redemption 3 setting works best when the frontier is still breathing, when outlaws exist or are becoming obsolete but not extinct. Jack exists in a world where that battle is already lost. A game centered around him would feel more like a historical crime drama than a western, stripping the franchise of its core identity.

3. Revenge Stories in Games Are Already Overused

Revenge has been done. Not just in Red Dead, but across gaming as a whole. The industry is filled with revenge -driven narratives, from the early God of War games, to multiple Assassin’s Creed games, to Ghost of Yotei to Hitman World of Assassination. Jack’s defining motivation was vengeance, and that motivation has already been fulfilled by the time his story ends. Revisiting Jack Marston in Red Dead Redemption 3 would mean leaning on the same emotional engine yet again, but without the freshness it once had. Players today are more aware of narrative repetition, and considering how much expectations we have for the game, another revenge focused RDR 3 story would feel safe and predictable rather than bold. Red Dead has always stood out because it explored guilt, loyalty, decay, and moral compromise, not because it chased simple payback arcs.

4. Rockstar’s Best Protagonists Are Unknown Quantities

One of the reasons Red Dead Redemption 2 worked so well is that players went in knowing almost nothing about Arthur Morgan. His personality, beliefs, and eventual transformation were discovered gradually. That sense of mystery is crucial to Rockstar’s storytelling. With Jack Marston in Red Dead Redemption 3, that mystery is gone. Having already spent time with him in both games, we already know his trauma, his anger, and the general direction his life takes. A predictable protagonist weakens player investment, especially in a franchise built on slow, character-driven storytelling. The excitement of the RDR 3 story should come from discovery, not from watching a familiar path play out again.

5. Red Dead Redemption 3 Should Be a Prequel Set at the Peak of the Wild West

Instead of moving forward, Red Dead should move backward once more. The strongest direction for the Red Dead Redemption 3 setting is a prequel that takes players to the peak of the Wild West, not its ashes. Who wouldn’t love to see Dutch van der Linde’s early years, his ideals, and the formation of the gang. This would align perfectly with the franchise’s themes. It would allow us to show how noble ideas slowly rot under pressure. We would see what led a Robin-Hood like figure to start losing his sanity. “Asking Should Jack Marston return” becomes less relevant when a richer, more thematically powerful option is on the table. A prequel preserves the soul of Red Dead while still offering something new. This is something players would love to see much more than Jack Marston in Red Dead Redemption 3

What Could Work Instead

Instead of going into a full game about Jack, a far more sensible approach would be a modern remake of Red Dead Redemption with a DLC. The modern remake of the 2010 game built with today’s technology and design standards woul update it with modern visuals, refined gameplay, and deeper world detail. This would preserve the Wild West atmosphere while making it accessible to a new generation of players. On top of that, giving Jack Marston a self contained story DLC would be the ideal compromise. It allows Rockstar to explore Jack’s adulthood, inner conflict, and the changing world around him without forcing him into the role of a full franchise lead. This keeps John Marston’s ending intact, avoids stretching Jack’s arc unnaturally, and gives Rockstar the freedom to later make Red Dead Redemption 3 as a true prequel set at the peak of the Wild West, where the series truly belongs.

When Will Red Dead Redemption 3 Release

There is no official confirmation yet, but realistically Red Dead Redemption 3 is still far away. Rockstar is fully focused on GTA 6, and historically they do not overlap major flagship releases. Considering how long RDR 2 took to develop and how long GTA VI is taking, RDR 3 should likely come in the late 2020s at the absolute earliest. If full development begins only after GTA VI launches, the early 2030s is more likely. That long gap is also why the hype feels strange. People are already debating the RDR 3 story and asking Should Jack Marston return years in advance, which shows just how massive the franchise has become.

You might also want to check out 5 Things RDR 2 gets wrong about the Wild West . If you haven’t played the game yet, check out 5 Reasons to play RDR 2 in 2026.