RDR2's Hidden Journal Entries Tease Arthur Morgan Missions In New Austin
Despite the expansive and detailed game world in Red Dead Redemption 2, Arthur Morgan is notably unable to explore New Austin, the fictional state in which most of the first game takes place. Some RDR2 players have uncovered hidden journal entries written and illustrated by Arthur in New Austin, suggesting at some point during development, it was intended for him to visit the location. New Austin is later explorable in the game's epilogue, when players take control of John Marston, but it may have originally been Rockstar's intent to have the region available earlier.
Arthur (and by extension, the player) is unable to enter New Austin because of the Blackwater Massacre prior to Red Dead Redemption 2 — the game's inciting incident. After the Van der Linde Gang failed to rob a ferry in Blackwater, the surrounding Great Plains and Tall Trees regions are guarded by the Pinkerton Detective Agency, who shoot Arthur on sight. Unfortunately New Austin ends up being rather sparse once players are able to visit as John, mostly due to a cholera epidemic, but it may have originally had a larger role in RDR2.
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New Austin's potentially lost importance is implied by the existence of journal entries that can be found if players use exploits or mods to bring Arthur into the territory without getting gunned down by Pinkertons. Throughout the game, Arthur sketches points of interest and accompanies the drawings with his written thoughts. A video from Basement Gamer Bros. on YouTube shows the nearly inaccessible journal entries, and how they differ from those found in John's RDR2 journal. Strangely, the two sets of New Austin entries are similar but not identical, with Arthur having better
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