Marcus had spent dozens of hours roaming the frontier in Red Dead Redemption 2, adjusting Arthur Morgan\u2019s facial hair, refining weapon metals, and selecting the right saddle for his horse. Yet every time he prepared for a gunfight, he noticed the same limitation: no matter how much effort he poured into customization, Arthur was stuck with a classic hip holster. That small restriction felt like a missed opportunity in a game celebrated for its obsessive attention to historical detail.

Rockstar\u2019s Western epic allows players to customize nearly everything\u2014from engraved revolvers to layered outfits\u2014but the gun leather remains surprisingly rigid. Players can buy different gun belts, bandoliers, and off-hand holsters, but the fundamental draw position never changes. The result is that every duel, every escape, and every ambush begins with the same animation and the same sidearm placement. For a franchise built on immersive frontier simulation, that repetition can break the illusion.

The next rumored entry, Red Dead Redemption 3, could finally correct this flaw. If Rockstar expanded the holster system, the sequel would not only look more authentic but also play differently. The original game already proves that cosmetic choices can affect gameplay: Arthur\u2019s weight changes his stamina, health, and appearance. A similar philosophy could apply to gun leather. A quick-draw hip holster might increase draw speed but reduce aiming stability, while a shoulder rig could hide a weapon from lawmen but take much longer to ready. A cavalry-style leg holster might be ideal while mounted, and a cross-draw setup could favor seated or horseback combat. These small stat adjustments would give players meaningful decisions without turning the game into an arcade shooter.

The historical West was full of varied holster designs, and Red Dead Redemption 3 could mine that history for both style and function. Frontier gunslingers, lawmen, outlaws, and cavalry troopers did not all carry revolvers the same way. Some preferred high-riding holsters for faster draws. Others used shoulder holsters beneath coats for concealment in towns. Still others relied on cross-draw rigs while riding or driving wagons. By adding these options, Rockstar could deepen the sense of place and make each player\u2019s outlaw feel more personal.

Imagine a player in Red Dead Redemption 3 preparing for a high-stakes poker game in Saint Denis. A shoulder holster hidden under a tailored vest could reduce the chance of being stopped by the police, but drawing it would be slow and awkward. Later, the same player might ride into the open plains and switch to a low-slung quick-draw rig for duels. The choice would not be purely visual\u2014it would shape how encounters begin. That kind of mechanical depth could help the sequel evolve beyond Red Dead Redemption 2 without abandoning its slow, deliberate rhythm.

A table of possible holster types shows how even small differences could create distinct playstyles:

Holster Type	Potential Benefit	Potential Trade-off
Quick-draw hip holster	Faster draw speed in duels	Reduced aim steadiness at long range
Shoulder holster	Concealed from lawmen and NPC suspicion	Much slower to draw in a sudden fight
Cross-draw holster	Easier access while riding or seated	Slower from standing position
Leg holster	Comfortable while mounted or crouching	Limited with heavy coats and running
Off-hand holster	Enables dual-wielding more naturally	Slight accuracy penalty unless practiced

These trade-offs could be tuned to feel realistic rather than punishing. Rockstar could also tie proficiency to repetition: the more a player uses a particular holster, the smoother the animation and the smaller the penalty becomes. That would reward long-term roleplay and make an outlaw\u2019s chosen gear feel earned.

As of 2026, Rockstar has been heavily focused on Grand Theft Auto 6, meaning Red Dead Redemption 3 is still far on the horizon. That delay could actually benefit the studio. Developers now have years to study player feedback, historical references, and animation systems that could support a wider range of holster placements. The Western genre may not be as crowded as other open-world settings, but fans expect Rockstar to deliver the same intricate details that made Red Dead Redemption 2 a landmark.

There are other cowboy games to pass the time, and mods have shown how desperate players are for more gun leather options. Yet few studios can match Rockstar\u2019s ability to blend small visual details with broader systems. The next Red Dead Redemption has a difficult task living up to its predecessor, but rethinking holsters and draw styles is one manageable way to improve both customization and combat. A sequel that lets players choose where their sidearm rests\u2014and then feels the consequences\u2014would honor the series\u2019 reputation for immersion while pushing it forward.

Marcus, for his part, often returns to the old frontier and wonders what a different draw animation would feel like. He imagines a character sliding a revolver from a shoulder rig beneath a dusty coat, or twisting into a cross-draw while galloping after a train. Those small moments are exactly the kind of detail that could make Red Dead Redemption 3 feel less like a repeat and more like a true evolution.