Red Dead Redemption 2 dog Einstein, who played ‘Cain’ in the Rockstar Western epic and became one of the most loved characters in the game, has sadly passed away. Einstein’s owners and coworkers celebrate his life and mourn his passing in touching social media posts, with the pooch’s role in RDR2 also detailed.
First, the news, if you hadn’t heard. Einstein, owned and trained by RDR2 animator Jason Barnes, known by the name Hero when Jason first encountered him as a puppy at a shelter, was a service dog before being selected to play the RDR2 canine character Cain. For some – like me – hearing the tale behind Einstein’s role as Cain in one of the best games of 2023 was a touching factor in regards to the game, bringing a canine’s personality to the world.
In an Instagram post Jason writes, “I didn’t want to say anything right away because I didn’t want to worry everyone unnecessarily, but unfortunately I have some heartbreaking news.
“Einstein, aka Hero, aka Cain, aka the RDR2 Dog, has passed away. He was 13 years old, and he passed away peacefully with me and his best friend Rita (another amazing dog!) by his side. I’m really struggling to know what else to say…he was truly one of a kind, and his memory will live on forever, and the lessons he taught will never be forgotten. Thank you for everyone’s love and support – sifting through messages, DMs, and emails has been incredibly difficult, but it means so much to me.”
From the responses and replies to Jason’s post, it’s evident that Einstein was a treasured member of the RDR2 development team, with his mo-cap time primarily focused on the Cain moments and performance. Jason writes, via a follow-up, “he would often nail every shot, and we would celebrate like crazy – he loved that.”
Einstein – or at least his character – also registers in the RDR2 credits, but Jason’s Instagram post attracted some additional reminiscences from perhaps lesser known team members. “It was obvious that he and Jason loved each other so much, especially when you’d come back from breaks and see them happy to see you again,” another animator writes, “they made me feel super welcomed! Thanks, Einstein!!!”
From me, the condolences to Jason and his loved ones. He is certainly missed. But one reason Red Dead Redemption 2 is such a great game is that the memory of Einstein, Cain, and this story will live on through it. He is listed in the RDR2 credits, and Einstein is certainly not the first main character pet to appear in Rockstar’s games, but I think there is something quite special about just how warmly and genuinely he is presented in Red Dead Redemption 2. The game itself is like a dream come true for many dog owners, but discovering that Einstein was held so close by his coworkers made his part of game all the more dear for those dog lovers out there playing the open-world game.
Take a listen to our RDR2 2-year anniversary special, where we discuss the game’s highlights, lowlights, and all the drama surrounding Rockstar’s latest.