Red Dead Redemption 2 Rumors are nothing new. They're practically a byproduct of the game's strange afterlife. Every year or so, the same hopes resurface: a 60FPS patch, a next-gen upgrade, some sign that Rockstar hasn't quietly sealed Arthur Morgan's story in amber. Most of the time, these whispers fade as quickly as they appear. But this latest wave of speculation feels different: not louder, just more attuned.
Several outlets have reported that Rockstar may be planning to include Red Dead Redemption 2 to next-generation consoles, which include Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. On their own, these claims would be easy to dismiss. Together, and coupled with what we already know about Rockstar, Take-Two and the current industry moment, they're starting to form a pattern worth paying attention to. If 2026 is set to be a big year for Rockstar, then a next-gen overhaul of this Wild West RPG makes perfect sense.
New evidence for Red Dead Redemption 2 upgrade surfaces
Gamers are discovering new evidence that suggests an upgrade for Rockstar's popular Red Dead Redemption 2 could be coming soon.
Why a next-gen port and update suddenly feels reasonable for Red Dead Redemption 2
According to multiple reports, Rockstar could be aiming for a Switch 2 release before the end of Take-Two's current fiscal year, which ends on March 31, 2026. The rumor also stipulates that a next-gen update would be coming for Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 players.
What has changed is not the desire to bring Dutch Van der Linde's gang to modern consoles. It's the timing. This potential release window is important. So does everything that happens around it. Consider the wider landscape:
- GTA 6 has been delayed (again) for a November 2026 release.
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Take-Two management publicly said they feel “really good” about the Nintendo Switch 2 earlier this year.
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Take-Two has promised investors four new iterations of previously released titles this fiscal year. Another rumored title is GTA 4 for this group of reissues.
The Switch 2 could be a rare W for Nintendo Console gamers
When it comes to next-gen ports or massive AAA titles, Nintendo's consoles have often been left out of the equation. The graphical and technical features of these games have historically not fared well with Nintendo. However, the Switch 2 introduced something never seen before: a Nintendo console with the performance to handle some of the most technically demanding games.
A Switch 2 port of Red Dead Redemption 2 would nicely satisfy three requirements: fill time, support for new hardware, and leverage a proven bestseller. So this wouldn't necessarily be completely unprecedented. It would be strategic.
The Red Dead Redemption 2 60FPS Patch Fans Have Been Hoping For
Too many fans of Red Dead Redemption 2the next generation patch conversation feels long overdue. The leaks also suggest that Rockstar is preparing an update that allows Red Dead Redemption 2 to take full advantage of PS5 and Xbox Series X|S hardware by enabling 60FPS, along with higher resolution and enhanced graphics settings. What makes this rumor resonate isn't just wishful thinking. Such is the game's continued relevance: it has sold 74 million copies worldwide, and is currently the most downloaded game for PS4.
That kind of sustained performance is rare, especially for a game released in 2018. Supporting it with a next-gen patch would not only please fans, it would extend the game's lifespan well into another console generation. Importantly, reports suggest this would be a patch, not a paid re-release like GTA 5's 2022 next generation version. If true, it would mark a rare gesture of goodwill from a studio often accused of moving slowly once a game leaves its launch window.
Reading Between Rockstar and Take-Two's Silence
Rockstar has not confirmed anything. That part is unsurprising. The studio has long advocated strategic silence, allowing speculation to build while focusing on projects behind closed doors. Overall, the rumors suggest something less dramatic than a full revival and more realistic than continued neglect: a cautious reintroduction of Red Dead Redemption 2 into the modern hardware ecosystem. Not a remaster. Not a relaunch. Just an acknowledgment.
Why 2026 feels like the right moment for a next-gen Red Dead Redemption 2 release – even if nothing is confirmed
None of this guarantees that 2026 will finally be the year Red Dead Redemption 2 gets its long-awaited next-generation upgrade. Rockstar hasn't said anything, and until they do, everything remains speculation. But for the first time in years, the rumors aren't floating in isolation. They are anchored on major hardware transitions, a big delay for the long-awaited releases GTA 6strong ongoing sales nearly a decade later and clear investor language about reissues. If Red Dead Redemption 2 would ever move forward – quietly, methodically, without fanfare – that's exactly what that moment would look like. And if it doesn't happen? The rumors will fade again, as they always do. But at least this time they made sense.
Red Dead Redemption 2
10/10
- Released
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26 October 2018
- ESRB
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M for mature: blood and gore, intense violence, nudity, sexual content, strong language, drugs and alcohol
