Rockstar's Tony Hogg reflects on the impact of Red Dead Redemption 2's initial review score and the team's response
A review score of 6/10 for Red Dead Redemption 2 had a profound effect on the team at Rockstar, the studio behind the game. Tony Hogg, the lead writer, shares his thoughts on the review, how it impacted the team, and his current perspective on the game.
The release of Red Dead Redemption 2 was one of the year's biggest events, garnering mixed reviews upon launch. While many praised the game's expansive world, captivating story, and well-crafted characters, others found the game to be bloated and plagued by bugs and glitches. One particularly disheartening review gave the game a score of 6/10, which Rockstar states had a devastating impact on the team.
In a recent interview with Kotaku, Hogg, who led the development team, discusses the review score and its effect on the team.
"Devastating. Absolutely devastating. I think we all felt that deep down. It's not that we don't expect to be judged or welcome criticism, but a 6/10 is an overly broad judgment that isn't entirely fair," Hogg shares.
"There wasn't anything in the game that we hadn't carefully considered and thought through, and nothing we wouldn't do again. There were numerous remarkable aspects that didn't receive the attention they deserved in the review."
Hogg specifically mentions the game's "quiet moments" that are easily overlooked. These moments were intended to be noticed by the reviewer, but unfortunately, they were missed.
"We had elements that we were genuinely proud of, elements that we believed showcased our talents as developers, but they went unnoticed and unmentioned," Hogg adds. "And that's devastating. It's also devastating for the team. We don't shy away from that fact. We created something we're proud of, and it didn't receive the reception we had hoped for."
The team was "absolutely shocked" by the review, and its impact lingered with them.
"It's difficult to discuss because it's a personal experience. It's something that stays with you for a long time," Hogg reveals. "When you combine that with the fact that we're all human beings who aspire to create great things and collaborate with exceptional individuals, it becomes even more challenging."
Hogg now expresses his pride in the game, which has taken on a life of its own since its launch.
"When you play Red Dead Redemption 2 today and witness the vibrant communities that have formed around it, the support people offer to one another, the memes, the Twitch channels, the fan art, and the stories that have been written, you realize that we birthed something that has grown beyond our expectations," Hogg continues.
"Being a creator on the inside is a completely different experience from being a member of the audience. In order for us to improve as a team, make better games, and continue to evolve, we must acknowledge that the game didn't receive the reception we had hoped for. We must learn from it."
Hogg declares that the team will persist in evolving and growing as they embark on future projects.
"We will continue to do what we do best and continue to evolve and grow. I believe that is the best response," Hogg affirms.
"We won't change our approach. We won't suddenly create games that cater to others' desires. We will stay true to ourselves and continue making the games that we genuinely want to play."
