Red Dead Online update (9th March): Full patch notes revealed
Red Dead Online's Outlaw Pass 4 is nearly over.
Red Dead Online has a weekly update every Tuesday, and today (Tuesday 9th March 2021) is no exception. The full patch notes have just dropped for today's update.
Ever since its launch in 2018 as the multiplayer component of Red Dead Redemption 2, Red Dead Online has become a constant source of wild west entertainment for its legion of fans. And in December last year, the game even launched its own standalone client, meaning you don't need to own Red Dead Redemption 2 to play Red Dead Online anymore.
Now that Rockstar Games has shared all the important details about today's update, here's everything we know about the 9th March update for Red Dead Online.
When is the Red Dead Online update?
Hardened fans of Red Dead Online will know that the weekly update tends to arrive every Tuesday, normally in the middle afternoon for players here in the UK. That seems to be the case today, as well, with Rockstar sharing these details midway through the afternoon for fans to pore over.
Red Dead Online update release date and time
This week's Red Dead Online update arrived on Tuesday 9th March 2021 at around 3pm GMT, just when you'd normally expect it to drop. For players in the US, that translates to 7am PT on your side of the pond. Wherever you are in the world, this update is now in the past, so you should be prompted to download it next time you try to open the game.
What is new in the Red Dead Online update?
Describing this week's Red Dead Online update in an official announcement blog, Rockstar says, "A wealth of new bonuses for Red Dead Online players, including a free Ability Card, await players this week as The Outlaw Pass No. 4 nears its last seven days, also bringing with it rewards and boosts for current Outlaw Pass owners and Bounty Hunters – perfect for ranking up."
Rockstar's official announcement adds, "This week marks the final seven days of Outlaw Pass No. 4, meaning a brand-new set of exclusive rewards is just around the corner. Current Pass holders have much to celebrate, with a free Treasure Map for playing this week as well as 5,000 XP to help push toward Rank 100, unlocking the coveted Morement Outfit. Meanwhile, all Red Dead Online players this week will receive a Reward for a free Ability Card to help them thrive in the wild."
Red Dead Online update patch notes
In the words of Rockstar, here's quick bullet-point list of what today's Red Dead Online update has to offer:
- Gifts for Outlaw Pass No. 4 owners: A free Treasure Map and 5,000 Club XP for playing any time this week
- A free Ability Card for all players who log in this week
- Gifts for Bounty Hunters: 2,000 Role XP and an Offer for 30% off any Established or Distinguished Bounty Hunter Item for playing any time this week
- Double Role XP on all Bounties, plus Double Ability Card XP on all Legendary Bounties and all 39 Infamous Bounties
- An Extra Bounty Hunting Bonus of 25 Poison Throwing Knives and 100x Express Rifle Ammo for turning in any Legendary Bounty
- An Offer for 30% off the Bounty Hunter Wagon for players that the complete the A New Source of Employment Mission, Outrider
- New Discounts: 40% off all Rifles, plus 30% off all Bounty Hunter Weapon variants, Off-Hand Holsters, Reinforced Lassos, Ability Cards and Ability Card Upgrades
- Ongoing Prime Gaming Benefits: Players who connect to Prime Gaming will receive Rewards for a free Bounty Hunter License, an Award for the Trimmed Amethyst Bounty Wagon Livery, plus 200 Shotgun Slugs, 5,000 Club XP, and an Offer for 50% off the Repeating Shotgun.
Red Dead Online Bounty Hunter Bonuses
Getting into a bit more detail about the Red Dead Online update patch notes, Rockstar says, "Bounty Hunters can make a killing several ways this week. Firstly, all licensed Bounty Hunters will receive 2,000 Role XP along with double Role XP for completing any Bounty, plus an Offer for 30% off any Established or Distinguished Bounty Hunter Item.
"Tracking down Legendary Bounties will yield rewards all their own: on top of the aforementioned double Role XP, head-hunters will also earn double the usual Ability Card XP for playing Legendary Bounty Missions over the next seven days.
"Those in possession of a Prestigious Bounty License can also mount up and reap those same benefits on all 39 Infamous Bounties. Head to the following Bounty Board locations and scroll to the third poster across, then hit up/down to begin tracking these Infamous Bounties:
- Annesburg — Tobin Anderson’s Wreckers
- Armadillo — The Butchers of Benedict Pass
- Benedict Point — “Los Pasajeros”
- Blackwater — Thaddeus Walter’s Men
- Emerald Station — The Three Widows
- Rhodes — The Bellingham Brothers
- Riggs Station — Bartholomew Brown’s “Gentlemen”
- Saint Denis — Hoare, Roache and Gault
- Strawberry — The “Initiates”
- Tumbleweed — “Addison Wye’s “Jailbreakers”
- Valentine — Allen, De La Mare and Fitch
- Van Horn — Bradshaw, Colt and Penn
- Wallace Station — Theodore Xavier’s Hunt
"Whether you gun these criminals down or apprehend them alive is up to you, but either way: in addition to the cash reward, turning in any Legendary Bounty will land you a gift of 25 Poison Throwing Knives and 100 rounds of Express Rifle Ammo. Head to your local Bounty Board to peruse the undesirables and launch your next skirmish.
"If you haven’t already added A New Source of Employment telegrams to your Satchel, be sure to check your mailbox — either at your Camp Lockbox or local Post Office — for word from your mysterious pen-pal J. Completing Outrider by successfully escorting a delivery wagon from Brittlebrush Trawl any time before March 15th will earn you an Offer for 30% off the Bounty Hunter Wagon."
Red Dead Online discounts this week
You can expect some special savings this week, too, with Rockstar promising the following: "Whether in hot pursuit of the ne’er-do-wells listed above or just looking to up your arsenal, gunsmiths across the states are offering 40% off the retail cost of all Rifles, plus 30% off all Bounty Hunter Weapon variants, Off-Hand Holsters and Reinforced Lassos. Experiment and try out some new Passive Abilities, as Ability Cards and Ability Card Upgrades are 30% off for the next seven days."
- For the latest news and expert tips on getting the best deals this year, take a look at our Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday 2021
Red Dead Online Prime Gaming Benefits
And finally, Rockstar has some benefits for Prime Gaming members. As the announcement explains, "Red Dead Online players who connect their Rockstar Games Social Club account to Prime Gaming will receive Rewards for:
- A free Bounty Hunter License
- An Award for the Trimmed Amethyst Bounty Wagon Livery
"In addition, players who connect to Prime Gaming before March 15th will receive a Reward for 5,000 Club XP, an Offer for 50% off the Repeating Shotgun and 200 Shotgun Slugs." So there's plenty to enjoy while we wait for next week's update!
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Authors
Rob Leane is the Gaming Editor at Radio Times, overseeing our coverage of the biggest games on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC, mobile and VR. Rob works across our website, social media accounts and video channels, as well as producing our weekly gaming newsletter. He has previously worked at Den of Geek, Stealth Optional and Dennis Publishing.
