Look, I’m not saying Rockstar moves slower than a three-legged horse crossing the desert, but Red Dead Redemption is finally getting a proper Xbox Series X|S version on December 2nd. Yes, that’s right – a game from 2010 is getting the “new-gen treatment” in late 2025. At this rate, we’ll be getting a proper GTA VI port for the PlayStation 8 sometime around 2047.
Better Late Than Never (But Seriously, This Late?)
The announcement confirms that Red Dead Redemption will launch with 60 FPS, enhanced image quality, HDR support, and resolutions up to 4K on both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. What’s genuinely surprising – and frankly unprecedented for Rockstar – is that if you already own the digital Xbox One backwards compatible version, you’ll get the upgrade for free.
Let me repeat that because I barely believe it myself: Rockstar is giving away a free upgrade. The same company that charged us full price for GTA V three separate times is suddenly feeling generous. Christmas came early, my dudes.
The Xbox Situation Was Embarrassing
Here’s the thing that’s been quietly annoying Xbox players for years: while PlayStation users have been enjoying Red Dead Redemption at a silky smooth 60 FPS since the PS4 port dropped in 2023, Xbox Series X|S owners have been stuck with the crusty old Xbox 360 version running through backwards compatibility at a measly 30 frames per second. I still own the Xbox 360 version, so it’s probably jumped in value on the secondary market.
Think about that. Microsoft’s most powerful console couldn’t run a 15-year-old game better than Sony’s hardware because there simply wasn’t a proper port. It’s like owning a Ferrari but having to drive it in second gear because nobody bothered to connect the gearbox properly.
The new version is being developed in collaboration with Double Eleven and Cast Iron Games, which honestly makes sense because Rockstar’s probably got their entire workforce locked in a room somewhere working on the next GTA VI delay announcement.
What You’re Actually Getting
The full package includes the base game, the absolutely brilliant Undead Nightmare expansion (zombie cowboys never get old), and all the Game of the Year Edition bonus content. However, like many recent remasters, the multiplayer modes and DLC won’t be included.
I’ll be honest – I never touched the multiplayer back in the day, but I know there’s a dedicated community out there who loved it. For them, this is probably a bit of a gut punch. More on that trend in a moment.
The game will also be available on mobile devices through Netflix Games, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, iOS, and Android on the same day. Yes, you read that correctly – you can now play Red Dead Redemption on your phone before you can play GTA VI on anything. The timeline we’re living in is absolutely cooked.
The Subscription Game
If you’re part of the subscription economy (and let’s be real, who isn’t these days), the new version will be added to both the PlayStation Plus Game Catalogue and the GTA+ subscription service on December 2nd.
For those keeping track at home, GTA+ is Rockstar’s attempt to build its own little subscription empire. At this point, I’m pretty sure we’ll need a subscription service just to keep track of all our subscription services.
The Marketing Genius (or Madness) of It All
From a marketing perspective – and yes, this is where the Good/Bad Marketing hat goes on – what Rockstar’s doing here is actually quite clever, even if it’s taken them an absurdly long time to do it.
They’re simultaneously:
- Keeping the Red Dead franchise relevant ahead of whatever they’re cooking up next
- Testing the waters for Netflix gaming integration (wild move)
- Giving Xbox players what they should’ve had years ago
- Creating a news cycle during what would otherwise be a quiet period
And they’re doing it all without spending a cent on traditional advertising. This article? Free marketing. Every gaming news site covering this? Free marketing. The conversations happening right now on Reddit and Twitter? You guessed it – free marketing.
It’s the kind of move that works when you’re Rockstar and have built up enough goodwill (and iconic IP) that people will write about you just because you’ve decided to port a 15-year-old game to a console that’s been out for five years.
The Bottom Line
Is it great that Red Dead Redemption is finally getting the Xbox Series X|S treatment it deserved years ago? Absolutely. Will it look gorgeous running at 60 FPS in 4K? No doubt. Is it slightly ridiculous that we’re having this conversation in late 2025 about a game from 2010? Also yes.
But here we are. At least it’s free for existing owners, which in today’s gaming landscape feels like finding a twenty-dollar note in your old jeans. Unexpected and slightly miraculous.
No,w if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go play some Undead Nightmare and shoot zombie outlaws in glorious 60 FPS like it’s 2010 again, except this time my console won’t sound like a jet engine taking off.
