As Rockstar shifts more and more of its focus on Grand Theft Auto 6, there's still work to be done for Red Dead Redemption 2, specifically PS5 and Xbox Series X upgrades. Indeed, it would seem that Rockstar is going full steam ahead on the next iteration of its Grand Theft Auto franchise and has left behind other projects as a result. For example, Rockstar previously announced that Red Dead Online was, more or less, going on "autopilot mode" as Rockstar works to ensure GTA 6 hits its monumental expectations.
However, it seems Grand Theft Auto 5 is getting the axe too, in a way. Rockstar recently published Grand Theft Auto 5's credits alongside a "thank you" message on its website, which is a pretty endearing way to say goodbye to something. Rockstar didn't come out and say exactly this is what it meant, but it's hard to imagine what else it could be. So, this means that Rockstar has effectively said goodbye to Red Dead Online and Grand Theft Auto 5. Now, GTA Online probably isn't going anywhere quite yet, but it does seem clear that Rockstar is dropping as much as it can to be as much into Grand Theft Auto 6 as it can.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Still Needs PS5 and Xbox Series X Upgrades
All of that is good news for Grand Theft Auto 6, but obviously bad news for everything else for the foreseeable future, at least. Red Dead Online didn't take off like GTA Online, and it has seemed for some time that Rockstar wasn't willing to move forward with this title as a whole. After all, despite fan pleas, Red Dead Redemption 2 never received an Undead Nightmare 2 DLC, nor does it seem the original is getting any love. A Red Dead Redemption remaster was reportedly planned alongside GTA 4 before the largely negative reception of the GTA Trilogy remasters apparently threw those off the table. So, Red Dead isn't getting a remaster, Red Dead 2 isn't getting upgrades or DLC, and all of this is for a title years away, meaning Red Dead 3 is even further away.
At the very least, Red Dead 2 deserves its own PS5 and Xbox Series X upgrades. There's no doubt that Rockstar's western is absolutely gorgeous on PS4 and Xbox One, with Red Dead Redemption 2 having details so small and refined that the game simply seems like a current-gen release, but it isn't. Anyone playing it on PS5 or Xbox Series X is using a backward compatible version of the game, which is all fine and dandy, but imagining what it could do with stronger hardware is even more immaculate.
The PS5 and Xbox Series X are much stronger than their previous-gen counterparts, and Red Dead Redemption 2 definitely pushes them to their limits. Upgrading the game to PS5 and Xbox Series X has the chance to break those limits and then some, and if Rockstar is going to say goodbye to its previous games, Red Dead 2 deserves this before it's all said and done. GTA 5 re-released on PS5 and Xbox Series X, after all, but these two games are different in so many ways.
Red Dead 2 is a realistic, living open-world experience where the world changes and interacts with or without the player present, whereas GTA 5 is a beautiful satire with amazing characters and a fun story but rather standard-fare open-world elements. Both are gorgeous, but there was only so much Rockstar could do to improve GTA 5 anyway. Red Dead 2, on the other hand, has limitless potential.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
