You’ll never guess what the ‘Random Heart Attacks’ mod for Red Dead Redemption 2 does
AdminJanuary 9, 2026
Yeehaw varmints, have I got the most rootinest-tootinest shiny new mod for y-
That was the final sentence written by Rich Stanton before a 1 in 500 chance of a heart attack triggered and killed him. RIP.
Naturally I’m joking, although no doubt if you google me the AI summary will soon be telling everyone I’ve carked it. And the occasion for such self-sacrifice is one of the most inexplicable mods I’ve ever seen cross my desk: Random Heart Attacks for Red Dead Redemption 2.
Don’t go looking for any clues about the motivation behind this in the mod description. Creator IdontHaveAname clearly likes an element of mystery, and provides only the most basic and functional of outlines: “Every 5 minutes there is a 1 in 500 chance that the player will have a heart attack and die.”
That’s it, so I guess we have to fill in the blanks ourselves. Red Dead Redemption 2 is set in 1899, and main protagonist Arthur Morgan is roughly 36 years old. The University of Oregon’s Mapping History project has a handy life expectancy graph that suggests the average male in the United States of this period would make it to their early to mid forties before biting the big one, so it’s not inconceivable that Arthur in his late thirties could have a small chance of a cardiac event. In case you’re wondering, the game is surprisingly historically accurate.
(Image credit: Rockstar Games)
Spoiler alert: I mean, he’s gonna die at this age anyway, so from that perspective maybe this mod is just getting us from A to B a lot faster. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a fairly enormous game after all. Perhaps the real question is whether it also applies to John Marston in the game’s epilogue, because an early heart attack there would present some issues for Red Dead Redemption.
There’s clearly something going on with Red Dead modders at the moment, because only a few days ago we reported on one that essentially turns the game into Katamari Damacy, with the excellent reasoning: ‘Because why not.’ Last month? Another mad wizard modder turned Red Dead Redemption 2 into Super Monkey Ball, complete with gyro controls.
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
