Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Pokemon Winds and Waves
  • New Games for 2026
  • GamesRadar+ Replay
  • Mario Day deals
Don't miss these
Ghost of Yotei gameplay showing Atsu sitting on her horse between bright pink cherry blossoms, looking at a distant fortification built against a mountain
Open World Games Best open world games to play in 2026 and completely forget real life exists
Red Dead Redemption 2 cheats
Red Dead Red Dead Redemption 2 cheats and every code available
Red Dead Redemption
Red Dead All Red Dead Redemption cheats for single-player
A brightened screenshot from Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes.
Metal Gear Modders achieve Kojima's original vision for Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain by fully integrating Ground Zeroes
Resident Evil Requiem On the Radar screenshot of Leon leaning on a desk
Resident Evil 12 Resident Evil Requiem Easter eggs that had me pointing at my screen like Leo DiCaprio
Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2
Adventure Games 25 best adventure games in 2026 to get swept up in
Black Flag Resynced
Assassin's Creed Assassin's Creed: Black Flag remake finally out in the open as Ubisoft acknowledges its worst-kept secret
Resident Evil Requiem trailer
Resident Evil Resident Evil Requiem out of bounds sleuths uncover a horrifying truth about Grace Ashcroft: she uses Reddit
Light No Fire
Survival Games No Man's Sky player discovers new planet that looks a whole lot like Hello Games' upcoming survival sandbox
A screenshot from a Resident Evil Requiem how-to video by Kyro shows Marie's Doll
Resident Evil Resident Evil Requiem's ungodly final puzzle is solved after stumping players for days, and it all came down to a toilet
GTA 6 reveal trailer screenshot showing a young blonde woman standing near a sunny rooftop pool, wearing a white and gold bikini
FPS Games GTA 6 devs "must be quaking" over so much hype, Hell Let Loose lead says: "Is there too much that people are expecting?"
A screenshot of Red Dead Redemption protagonist John Marston.
Red Dead After 16 years, Red Dead Redemption's John Marston actor completes Rockstar's epic Western, and breaks down crying
Crimson Desert: Macduff looking out into the distance during the new game, Crimson Desert.
Open World Games Crimson Desert devs aren't "hiding anything," will show console versions of the RPG "ahead of launch," says PR lead
A close-up of Grace talking with someone through glass in Resident Evil Requiem
Resident Evil Resident Evil Requiem's final puzzle is so elaborate there's an entire subreddit dedicated to solving it
Oblivion Remastered
The Elder Scrolls This Oblivion Remastered fan has now spent 300 days following an Imperial Palace Guard "until I can loot his armor"
  1. Games
  2. Action Games
  3. Red Dead
  4. Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 developer never thought the newly uncovered mystery would be found, says it's "absolutely wild" fans have gotten this far

News
By Kaan Serin published 9 January 2026

Not just a wild goose chase

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Best games like Red Dead Redemption 2
(Image credit: Rockstar Games)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
0
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Red Dead Redemption 2 devotees have been knee-deep in an in-game mystery that's only just been discovered a whole seven years after the blockbuster's original launch. But the sweeping puzzle – which sounds more like a cultish conspiracy – seems to have been somewhat of an open secret in the Rockstar Games' offices, according to one former developer.

Red Dead Redemption 2 QA tester and current Remedy Entertainment dev Adam Butterworth recently threw a bone to the cowboys strapped into this wild easter egg hunt.

"Absolutely wild people have found this," he tweeted recently, before recalling that Red Dead developers were once discussing this very same mystery while at the company. "I remember hearing about this and thinking it would never be discovered."

You may like
  • Red Dead Redemption 2 Red Dead Redemption 2 players almost solved a puzzle hidden for 7 years before finding they missed the actual start
  • Red Dead Redemption 2 Red Dead Redemption 2 players discover new easter egg after 7 years, and they're trying to figure it out before GTA 6
  • Red Dead Redemption 2 New Red Dead Redemption 2 mystery takes ominous turn with a previously unnoticed mountain carving

So, yes, this is our first confirmation that the newly-unearthed mystery isn't just a wild goose chase and isn't simply the community making theories based on patterns. There's actually something going on.

For anyone out of the loop, our Anthony McGlynn broke down both the mystery's origins and recent developments quite nicely. The gist is that several telegraph poles across the open world contain odd spider-like symbols, and overlaying that symbol onto the world map makes them all connect. By following more clues involving guitars, feathers, bird carvings, and so on, YouTuber Strange Man recently found a massive question mark symbol etched into a mountainside that's somehow gone unnoticed for all these years, perhaps hinting that we're reaching the end of, ermm, whatever this all means.

Red Dead Redemption 2 modders unveil "ambitious recreation of the Mexican territory from RDR1" that "stays true to the canon" of Rockstar's sequel – and it's basically "a full-fledged DLC."

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
TOPICS
Rockstar Rockstar Games
CATEGORIES
Xbox Series X PS5 PS4 Xbox One PC Gaming Platforms Xbox PlayStation
Kaan Serin
Kaan Serin
Social Links Navigation
Freelance contributor

Kaan freelances for various websites including Rock Paper Shotgun, Eurogamer, and this one, Gamesradar. He particularly enjoys writing about spooky indies, throwback RPGs, and anything that's vaguely silly. Also has an English Literature and Film Studies degree that he'll soon forget.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 players almost solved a puzzle hidden for 7 years before finding they missed the actual start
 
 
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 players discover new easter egg after 7 years, and they're trying to figure it out before GTA 6
 
 
Red Dead Redemption 2
New Red Dead Redemption 2 mystery takes ominous turn with a previously unnoticed mountain carving
 
 
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2's enigmatic spider web puzzle is the first thing that's gotten me genuinely excited for GTA 6
 
 
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is now a "legally distinct" Pokemon RPG thanks to one creative modder
 
 
Red Dead Redemption 2 cheats
Red Dead Redemption 2 cheats and every code available
 
 
Latest in Red Dead
A screenshot of Red Dead Redemption protagonist John Marston.
After 16 years, Red Dead Redemption's John Marston actor completes Rockstar's epic Western, and breaks down crying
 
 
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 fan accidentally deletes his fiancée's save file, pays Arthur's actor to apologize on his behalf
 
 
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2's enigmatic spider web puzzle is the first thing that's gotten me genuinely excited for GTA 6
 
 
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is now a "legally distinct" Pokemon RPG thanks to one creative modder
 
 
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 players almost solved a puzzle hidden for 7 years before finding they missed the actual start
 
 
Red Dead Redemption 2
New Red Dead Redemption 2 mystery takes ominous turn with a previously unnoticed mountain carving
 
 
Latest in News
A woman in an underwater suit receiving a danger warning during the trailer for Subnautica 2.
Subnautica 2 devs say new base-building system uses "techniques that haven't been used in games in this way before"
 
 
Lego Tintin and Snowy figures with a red Moon Rocket, surrounded by a white outline
Fans agree that new Lego Tintin set is an "Instant-buy"
 
 
Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin unmasked in The Mandalorian and Grogu
Pedro Pascal was as surprised as us when Lucasfilm randomly announced The Mandalorian and Grogu on social media
 
 
Hades 2 character Dora, a feminine appearing shade with a grey face and long teal hair, smirking
Hades 2 studio doesn't want to make bigger and better games, but titles that might "be someone's favorite game from us"
 
 
Key art for Solasta 2.
"We're 2 different beasts": Studio behind CRPG Solasta 2 bought their team copies of Baldur's Gate 3 and they "love" it
 
 
Starlight in The Boys
Starlight actor is already anticipating "mixed" reactions to the "emotional gravity" of The Boys season 5 finale
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. A woman in an underwater suit receiving a danger warning during the trailer for Subnautica 2.
    1
    "I don't think we've seen anything like this in any other survival game": Subnautica 2 devs say new base-building system uses "techniques that haven't been used in games in this way before"
  2. 2
    "We're 2 different beasts": Studio behind CRPG Solasta 2 bought their dev team copies of Baldur's Gate 3 and they "love" it, but devs say comparisons to Larian's game aren't entirely accurate
  3. 3
    GTA Online Lucky Clover locations and how to find a Golden Clover
  4. 4
    Pedro Pascal was as surprised as everyone else when Lucasfilm unceremoniously announced The Mandalorian and Grogu on social media
  5. 5
    Starlight actor is already anticipating "mixed" reactions to The Boys season 5 finale: "The emotional gravity of it kind of caught me by surprise"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...