'Red Dead Redemption 2' release date news: Sequel to have new but familiar protagonist? Game expected to be announced at E3

"Red Dead Redemption 2" is expected to be announced by developer Rockstar at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2016. Before that could even happen, there are already rumors circulating on what the sequel will be all about.

According to GameRant, it is possible that the western shooter will focus on Landon Ricketts, the well-known gunslinger from the Old West that "Red Dead Redemption" protagonist John Marston regarded so highly.

Since Ricketts was only a side character, not much is known about him. However, the first "Red Dead Redemption" game revealed enough details about him that could be potentially explored.

The legendary bandit had a wife that was taken from him too soon for a reason that the game kept a mystery. He had great adventures that became subjects of timeless tales. His past glimpsed in the game definitely could be explored in "Red Dead Redemption 2."

The adventures of Ricketts in his time such as duels with the Butcher Brothers were teased in "Red Dead Redemption," but the first game never really went into details about them. Perhaps in the sequel, they will be revealed in full detail.

This is plausible taking into account the previous rumor that "Red Dead Redemption 2" will be a prequel to the first highly-acclaimed title with a subtitle "Legends of the West."

A leaked map believed to be from "Red Dead Redemption 2" suggests that Blackwater will be open for exploration in the highly-anticipated shooter.

This location was infamous for a massacre, and this tragedy will be great to be told from the perspective of Ricketts assuming the site ends up being a setting of a mission in the sequel.

GameRant believes that "Red Dead Redemption 2" will be a great way to show how Ricketts became the man gamers saw in the first installment.

"Red Dead Redemption 2" is expected to be announced at E3. Rockstar's parent company Take-Two Interactive has already said that they will be in the event in a "big way" and that Rockstar is working on titles set to be revealed soon.

It's been six years since "Red Dead Redemption" first wowed gamers. Fans have been waiting for "Red Dead Redemption 2" ever since, but this agony might be over soon at E3, which will take place on June 14 to 16 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Mobipicker believes that an announcement would be made at the convention, but the game might not be out until next year.