Red Dead Redemption 2 PS4 controls guide (2024)

If you’re going to survive in the harsh, brutal lands of Red Dead Redemption 2’s 60+ hour campaign, you’ll need to master the game’s basic controls. A cowboy who can’t aim or ride a horse is as good as dead, but thankfully all you need to master is your trusty PS4 controller. Our handy guide will cover all of Red Dead Redemption 2's PS4 controls, so be sure to read up if you're unsure of what to do.

So, what are the controls for PS4?

Red Dead Redemption 2’s control scheme is very similar to those used in other Rockstar games and they're pretty much the same as the original Red Dead Redemption controls. However, if you’re unfamiliar with Rockstar’s previous open-world titles, then you can find a list of Red Dead Redemption 2 controls for PlayStation 4 below.

• Left analog stick - Move
• Left analog stick (in cover) - Peek
• Left analog stick (horse) - Steer
• Left analog + X - Hold to run, tap to sprint
• X (horse) - Tap to change speed; hold to match the speed of your companion; double tap to move up in formation
• Right analog stick - Look/aim
• L3 - Crouch
• L3 (horse) - Calm horse
• R3 (weapon wheel) - Maintain weapon; hold to look behind
• L3 + R3 - Eagle Eye
• Square - Tap to jump, climb, or vault over obstacles; hold to pick up collectibles or search furniture; while hunting, hold to draw animal attention
• Square (while aiming) - Tap to dive; tap to block melee attacks
• Square (in cover) - Move to next cover spot (with Left analog stick)
• Square (horse) - Tap to jump, climb, or vault over obstacles; hold to pick up collectibles or search furniture; while hunting, hold to draw animal attention
• Triangle - Interact with the environment, loot bodies, skin animals; hold to rest; (in melee combat) grapple opponent
• Triangle (horse) - Tap to mount or dismount; while stationary, hold to hitch horse; while on foot, tap to command to follow or lead horse
• Circle - Reload weapon/melee combat
• Circle (horse) - Kick a target to either side; stop leading horse
• L1 - Tap to draw/holster weapon; hold to display wheel menu, tap to pick up weapons or objects, or select weapon with Right analog stick and release to equip weapon
• L1 (horse) - hold to view weapons stored on mount
• R1 - Take/exit cover; hold to study animal or tap to show/hide animal information
• R1 (horse) - Tap to slow down; double tap to move down formation
• L2 - Hold to aim equipped weapon; hold to lock on to nearby characters or animals
• L2 (hold) + R2 - Aim and shoot
• L2 (hold) + R3 - Activate Dead Eye while aiming
• L2 (hold) + Square - Combat dive
• L2 (horse) - Hold to lock on to nearby targets
• R2 - Tap to draw weapon, fire weapon, or co*ck weapon between shots (if applicable); rapid tap to shoot from the hip
• R2 (horse) - Tap to draw weapon, fire weapon, or co*ck weapon between shots (if applicable)
• D-Pad Right - Hold to open satchel or horse cargo
• D-Pad Right (horse) - hold to check horse cargo; feed horse (while locked onto horse)
• D-Pad Left - Tap to display log; hold to check journal
• D-Pad Left + L2 - Toggle shoulder view (while aiming)
• D-Pad Left (horse) - Brush horse (while locked onto horse)
• D-Pad Left + L2 (horse) - Toggle shoulder view (while aiming)
• D-Pad Up - Whistle/call horse
• D-Pad Up - Raise your gun to the sky to fire a warning shot (while aiming)
• D-Pad Up (horse) - Whistle/call horse; remove saddle (while locked onto horse); raise your gun to the sky to fire a warning shot (while aiming)
• D-Pad Down - Tap to view current objective (while on mission), expand radar, display honor rating and environmental information; in camp, tap to show status of camp supplies and savings; hold to change radar type
• Trackpad - Press to toggle camera view; press and hold to trigger cinematic view
• Options - Display pause menu; hold to open the map

Once you’ve mastered all of the PS4 controls and various functions listed above, you should be able to beat even the hardiest of foes.