Rockstar Games released the Agents of Sabotage update for GTA Online on December 10, 2025, and it arrives with the usual bundle of winter content. There are new missions, more vehicles to test out, and even the chance to own luxury mansions, which is something players have been casually hoping for over the years. As people wander through the glossy interiors of these new properties, a small but clever detail has started getting attention. It turns out Rockstar tucked in a direct reference to a memorable character from Red Dead Redemption 2, and it’s the sort of thing you might almost glance past unless you’re really looking.
Key Takeaways:
- The GTA Online Agents of Sabotage update adds a very specific reference to a Red Dead Redemption 2 character.
• Players can find a painting titled “In The Shade” attributed to the artist C. Châtenay.
• Charles Châtenay is a French painter known for his humorous side missions in Red Dead Redemption 2.
• The painting resembles artwork found in Braithwaite Manor, creating a fun link between the two Rockstar titles.
• This continues Rockstar’s long-running habit of placing subtle cross-game nods in GTA Online.
When players start decorating their mansion entrances, the reference shows up in the menu. Among the available artwork options is a painting called “In The Shade,” and the description credits it to an artist listed simply as C. Châtenay. It’s a quiet inclusion, perhaps even subtle enough to miss on a first browse, but it points directly to Charles Châtenay, the eccentric French painter who appears in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Châtenay’s storyline in RDR2 unfolds through a set of Stranger missions known as “The Artist’s Way.” He’s portrayed as a humorous, sometimes wildly dramatic figure whose scandalous lifestyle and controversial art often frustrate the people of Saint Denis. Seeing his supposed work appear in a modern Los Santos mansion is oddly charming. It almost suggests, in a roundabout way, that his art survived more than a century and somehow found value in the GTA universe. It’s hard not to imagine a fictional auction somewhere explaining how it wound up there.
Some players have pointed out another interesting detail. The “In The Shade” painting looks remarkably similar to artwork seen inside Braithwaite Manor in Red Dead Redemption 2. In the lore of that game, Châtenay isn’t explicitly tied to the Braithwaite family, so this connection doesn’t line up perfectly. That said, Rockstar does sometimes reuse assets, and maybe this is just one of those things. Still, it’s easy to wonder whether the developers were having a bit of fun by letting Châtenay claim a piece of the manor’s decor. It adds a small layer of mystery, even if it wasn’t intentional.
This isn’t the first time Rockstar has woven the Red Dead series into GTA Online. Earlier updates have included outfits reminiscent of John Marston’s clothing and treasure hunts that unlock Old West–themed weapons. The Agents of Sabotage update seems to continue that tradition, almost quietly, by placing a piece of Red Dead history inside the homes of Los Santos’ wealthiest criminals. There’s a playful continuity here, one that perhaps isn’t meant to be overanalyzed but is still enjoyable to discover.
Players who own one of the new mansions can check out this detail themselves by opening the interior management menu and browsing through the available artwork for the entrance area. It’s a small easter egg, but it’s the sort of thing that reminds fans how carefully Rockstar stitches its worlds together, even if some of those stitches feel intentionally loose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who is Charles Châtenay in Red Dead Redemption 2?
A. Charles Châtenay is a French artist and side character found in Saint Denis. Arthur Morgan helps him escape angry locals and critics in the mission strand “The Artist’s Way.”
Q. Where can I find the Charles Châtenay reference in GTA Online?
A. You can find the reference in the new luxury mansions added with the “Agents of Sabotage” update. Look for a painting titled “In The Shade” in the entrance artwork customization menu.
Q. Is the “In The Shade” painting a real painting?
A. In the game world, it is attributed to C. Châtenay. Visually, it uses the same asset as a painting found inside Braithwaite Manor in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Q. What else was added in the GTA Online Agents of Sabotage update?
A. The update introduced the Darnell Bros Garment Factory as a front for covert operations, new missions involving former FIB agent Jodi Marshall, new vehicles, and luxury mansion properties.
