Red Dead Redemption 2 may be the most anticipated game of the year, but Rockstar Games are still keeping a lot of details about the blockbuster surprisingly close to their vests. For instance, we’ve been mostly kept in the dark about the game’s plot and characters – we know the game is a prequel that focuses on Arthur Morgan, one of the core members of the Van der Linde Gang, but beyond that, it’s a touch vague.

　　Well, in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Rockstar art director Josh Bass delved a bit deeper into the game’s plot. Nothing terribly groundbreaking is revealed, but Bass does drop a few new tidbits...

　　"In Red Dead Redemption 2 you get to see that gang, including [John] Marston, at the peak of their notoriety and at the very moment things begin to fall apart. This story focuses on Arthur Morgan, Dutch’s most trusted enforcer. Adopted into the gang by Dutch when he was a young boy, Arthur considers the gang to be his family — Dutch has given his life some much‐needed purpose, and the gang has served as the one positive and constant in Arthurs life.

　　Things are changing — there’s not much room in a rapidly modernizing world for the gang’s way of life. Through Arthur’s eyes, you see events begin to take a toll on the gang as they are forced to flee across America, while at the same time, Dutch’s hold on the gang begins to slip. We’ve aimed to capture a wide slice of American life in 1899, a rapidly industrializing nation that would soon have its sights on the world stage — and would do whatever possible to ‘modernize.’ The contrast between rich and poor, between weak and strong and between civilization and the wilderness really spoke to us."

　　Rockstar has also released short bios of all the core members of the Van der Linde Gang. You can check them all out, below.

　　Dutch van der Linde pic.twitter.com/JChjsu6Ba5

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　The leader of a sizable gang of outlaws and misfits. Idealistic, anarchic, charismatic, well‐read, well‐ lived, but possibly starting to unravel under the pressures of the encroaching modern world.

　　Arthur Morgan pic.twitter.com/dDEZOceEBf

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　Dutch's most dependable and capable enforcer since he was a boy, the outlaw life is all Arthur has ever known. Sharp, cool‐headed and ruthless, but with his own sense of honor. A man who gets the job done.

　　John Marston pic.twitter.com/C6RvC42FnV

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　Once an orphaned street kid taken under Dutch's wing at the age of 12, John has always had to live by his wits. Shrewd, fearless and strong-willed, he and Arthur are Dutch’s proudest proteges.

　　Jack Marston pic.twitter.com/4eYK05ju01

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　Young Jack has grown up with the gang, although everyone has done their best to shield him from the more nefarious elements, especially his mother, Abigail. He loves everything about nature and the outdoor life, and is carefully watched over by his many aunts and uncles.

　　Bill Williamson pic.twitter.com/uEL8iYR3J6

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　An ex-soldier discharged from the army, possibly dishonorably. Hot-headed, he tends to act first and think later but is tough, dedicated and always ready to fight.

　　Javier Escuella pic.twitter.com/uqWXFDcblf

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　A notorious bounty hunter and Mexican revolutionary. Javier immediately had a strong connection to Dutch’s ideals. Very committed, passionate and loyal.

　　Charles Smith pic.twitter.com/e3CXmtgmLG

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　A relatively recent recruit to the gang, Charles is quiet and reserved but extremely competent in everything he does and virtually unbeatable in a fight. A decent, honest man who also happens to be deadly.

　　Micah Bell pic.twitter.com/UEq2HzaoPS

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　A career criminal and hitman. Wild and unpredictable but he lives for the action.

　　Sadie Adler pic.twitter.com/ce0btUIoka

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　A widow who is hell-bent on taking revenge upon those who killed her husband. Relentless and afraid of nothing and no one. The wrong woman to cross, but very loyal to those she loves.

　　Hosea Matthews pic.twitter.com/1fVEimJAeZ

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　A master con artist, gentleman and thief, Hosea has been Dutch's closest friend and right‐hand man for over 20 years. Intelligent and quick-witted, he can talk his way into, or out of, just about anything.

　　Abigail Roberts pic.twitter.com/opWWjtTysu

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　An orphan who grew up scraping out a living in dive bars and brothels in the West, Abigail is a strong, straight-talking woman who has seen a lot of life and knows what it takes to survive against the odds.

　　Uncle pic.twitter.com/Te6JagHPvP

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　A hanger-on and good-time guy, Uncle is always around when the whiskey is open and never around when there’s any work to be done. If he wasn’t so entertaining, Dutch would have cut him loose years ago.

　　Josiah Trelawny pic.twitter.com/TambuqgpRi

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　A flamboyant conjurer, conman and trickster, Trelawny is a very hard man to pin down but he’s always able to bring good leads.

　　Lenny Summers pic.twitter.com/hFLWPHxpui

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　Young Lenny has been on the run since he was 15 years old after killing the men who murdered his father. Smart, educated, competent and ambitious, he is always ready to do his part.

　　Sean Macguire pic.twitter.com/JeXhmDESIo

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　A cocky young Irish thief and stick-up man who comes from a long line of criminals and political dissidents. He always wants a piece of the action and believes in himself...perhaps a little too much.

　　Karen Jones pic.twitter.com/cdiaFuKgYN

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　A consummate scam artist and trigger woman who can drink pretty much anybody under the table. Bold and full of fun, she loves the outlaw life and wouldn’t have it any other way.

　　Tilly Jackson pic.twitter.com/cnx5GSpAc8

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　An outlaw from the age of 12, Tilly ran with another gang before joining up with Dutch. Savvy, resilient and dependable, she can more than handle herself and isn’t afraid to speak her mind.

　　Leopold Strauss pic.twitter.com/TLc6PEHBmf

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　Originally hailing from Austria, Herr Strauss is responsible for keeping the gang’s books and running their money lending operation. A serious, somewhat shifty and unemotional man, he has all the qualities a loan shark needs.

　　Reverend Swanson pic.twitter.com/LbpyfPl7As

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　An ex clergyman now lost to debauchery, Swanson has fallen a long way from the standards he once set himself. If he hadn’t saved Dutch’s life in the past, it’s unlikely the gang would have kept him around for this long.

　　Susan Grimshaw pic.twitter.com/65ru13ZaKG

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　The undisputed boss and arbiter of justice in the camp, everything would have fallen apart years ago without Susan in charge. Tenacious and iron-willed, she stands for no nonsense.

　　Molly O'Shea pic.twitter.com/SDpQQ3L0TF

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　A Dublin girl and the object of Dutch’s affection, for now at least, Molly is too high‐strung for a life on the run and it’s all starting to take a toll on her.

　　Mary-Beth Gaskill pic.twitter.com/FyNwqCoCqk

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　A kind, good‐natured young woman, which makes her the perfect criminal. By the time people realize they’ve been duped, Mary‐Beth is already on her way home with the money.

　　Pearson pic.twitter.com/AyRM3x5mME

　　— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 6, 2018

　　The camp’s butcher and cook, Pearson served a short stint in the navy that he likes to talk about at length. A loud, jolly degenerate who is somewhat in denial about the turn his life has taken.

　　Phew! That’s a lot of characters! Who do you think will end up being your favorites? Hosea Matthews basically looks like a cross between Paul Newman and Clint Eastwood, which makes him automatically the coolest guy in the gang, and Karen seems like a good drinking buddy.

　　Read Dead Redemption 2 rides onto Xbox One and PS4 on October 14.