John Marston’s Journey Continues: Actor Reflects on Red Dead Redemption Playthrough as PS5 Edition Looms

Nearly two decades after first voicing the iconic gunslinger, John Marston actor Rob Wiethoff has completed his first playthrough of the original Red Dead Redemption, a deeply emotional experience he shared with fans through a livestream. This comes as anticipation builds for a potential PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S edition of Red Dead Redemption 2, which fans hope will address a long-standing character model inconsistency.

Wiethoff’s Emotional Playthrough

Rob Wiethoff, the voice and motion capture actor for John Marston, recently finished playing through Red Dead Redemption for the first time. After nearly a year of streaming the game, Wiethoff became visibly emotional as the credits rolled, reflecting on the impact of the game and his character. RDR2.org reported that Wiethoff was moved by the sheer number of people involved in the game’s creation, expressing his awe at the collaborative effort.

The actor’s journey resonated with fans, many of whom acknowledged the significance of Wiethoff finally experiencing the full narrative arc of the character he brought to life. He had previously discussed the emotional weight of recording scenes like John’s final stand, but experiencing the story as a player offered a novel perspective.

Hopes for a Red Dead Redemption 2 PS5 Edition

As rumors persist about a next-generation release of Red Dead Redemption 2 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, fans are hoping Rockstar Games will address a known issue with John Marston’s character model in the game’s epilogue. KickstartGame details how data miners discovered that the epilogue utilizes Arthur Morgan’s character model with John Marston’s textures, resulting in subtle but noticeable differences in John’s appearance compared to the main story.

These discrepancies include variations in face shape, neck thickness, and posture. Players have created mods to restore John’s original appearance, demonstrating the desire for a corrected model in a potential next-gen edition. A PS5 release could provide the opportunity to finally refine this detail and deliver a more consistent visual experience.

What’s Next for Red Dead?

While a Red Dead Redemption 2 remaster remains a strong possibility, Rockstar Games is currently focused on the development of Grand Theft Auto 6. Yet, the continued popularity of the Red Dead franchise, coupled with Wiethoff’s recent playthrough and the ongoing discussion surrounding the character model issue, keeps the possibility of future Red Dead content firmly on the radar. GameSpot reports that Wiethoff himself has teased “exciting news” coming soon, further fueling speculation among fans.

The enduring legacy of Red Dead Redemption and its characters continues to captivate audiences, and the prospect of experiencing the untamed frontier in stunning 4K HDR 60FPS on PS5, as showcased in YouTube gameplay, is a tantalizing glimpse into the future of the franchise.