How can I prevent the camp glitch where NPCs disappear in Red Dead Redemption 2?

The camp glitch where NPCs disappear in Red Dead Redemption 2 is a common issue that can disrupt gameplay, especially during story missions or interactions with key characters like Dutch, Hosea, or Sadie. This glitch often occurs due to save file corruption, fast travel mechanics, or the game failing to load NPCs properly. To prevent this issue, it’s essential to understand the game mechanics and take proactive steps to avoid triggering the glitch.\n\nOne of the primary causes of the disappearing NPC glitch is fast travel. When you fast travel away from camp and return, the game sometimes fails to load NPCs correctly. To avoid this, limit your use of fast travel, especially when you’re in the middle of camp-related missions or activities. Instead, ride your horse manually to and from camp. This ensures the game has enough time to load all assets, including NPCs, properly.\n\nAnother common trigger is saving and reloading the game while inside the camp. If you save your game while in camp and then reload, the game may struggle to spawn NPCs correctly. To prevent this, always save your game outside of the camp area. For example, ride a short distance away, such as to the nearby town of Valentine or a quiet spot in the wilderness, before saving. This reduces the risk of NPCs disappearing when you reload.\n\nIf you’re already experiencing the glitch, there are a few steps you can take to resolve it. First, try leaving the camp and riding a significant distance away, such as to a different region like Saint Denis or Strawberry. Once you’re far enough, set up a temporary camp using your inventory and sleep for a full day cycle. Afterward, return to your main camp. This often forces the game to reload the camp and its NPCs properly.\n\nAnother solution is to restart the game entirely. Close Red Dead Redemption 2 completely, including any background processes, and then relaunch it. This clears the game’s memory and can fix issues with NPCs not spawning. Additionally, ensure your game is updated to the latest version, as Rockstar frequently releases patches to address bugs and glitches.\n\nFor players on PC, verifying the integrity of game files can help. If you’re using Steam, right-click on Red Dead Redemption 2 in your library, select Properties, then Local Files, and click Verify Integrity of Game Files. This checks for corrupted or missing files and replaces them, which can resolve the disappearing NPC issue.\n\nFinally, avoid overloading the game with too many tasks or missions at once. The camp glitch is more likely to occur if the game is struggling to manage multiple active missions or events. Focus on completing one mission or activity at a time, and avoid starting new missions until the current one is resolved. This reduces strain on the game’s systems and helps prevent glitches.\n\nBy following these steps, you can minimize the risk of encountering the disappearing NPC glitch in Red Dead Redemption 2. Remember to save your game outside of camp, limit fast travel, and keep your game updated for the best experience.