Very little, much less sarcasm, should be beneath gamers of today, but seeing Red Dead Redemption re-released for the third year in a row does elicit a chuckle or two. Regardless, Rockstar Games’ Wild West classic, inspired by the likes of Unforgiven, The Wild Bunch, and many more, launches on December 2nd for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2. It’s also available for iOS and Android users who have subscribed to Netflix, but seeing the open-world title make the jump to current-gen platforms, one has to wonder what’s in store.
For that matter, what is it about this re-release that spurs some manner of debate, even among those who love the original? We’ll dive into all that later, but for now, you can look forward to…
4K/60 FPS on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S
As you’d expect, the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S can deliver up to 4K resolution and 60 frames per second. They also benefit from improved image quality, and since Double Eleven, who worked on the PC port, has returned, you can more than likely expect the same level of draw distance, shadow quality, and other fidelity settings, if not better. And much like the PC version, which is currently the best possible representation of the game, it should look amazing.
DLSS and Mouse Controls on Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 players, thankfully, aren’t left out in the cold. While docked and handheld resolutions remain unknown, you still get 60 FPS performance and DLSS benefits along with an exclusive feature: Mouse support. Not that aiming was the biggest problem on consoles, but there’s finally an option for finer-tuned aiming.
HDR Support
Whichever your console of choice, each will benefit from high-dynamic range support. Despite its age, this fictionalized version of 1911 America is absolutely gorgeous, whether you’re admiring the sunrise or galloping across the open plains at sunset. HDR makes it look that much more natural, which in turn immerses you all the more.
Free Upgrades
If you own Red Dead Redemption on previous-generation consoles, such as the PS4 or Nintendo Switch, when it was re-released back in 2023, there’s good news. The current-gen version is a free upgrade. If you’re subscribed to PlayStation Plus Extra or Premium, then both the PS4 and PS5 versions will be available at launch, which is nice.
The Xbox version is a bit trickier – you’ll need the backwards compatible version of the game made available for Xbox One. But the fact that it’s supported for a free upgrade is still nice.
Cross-Gen Saves
To sweeten the deal even further, PS4 and Nintendo Switch save data will transfer over to the PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2. If you started two years ago and suspected that a free current-gen upgrade would arrive eventually, congratulations – you’ve been vindicated. Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to apply to Xbox. Rockstar doesn’t mention it, and it’s not even listed on the Microsoft Store.
What the Heck is Going on?
So obviously, there are many questions about why Red Dead Redemption is being re-released yet again, especially after all those rumors about its sequel’s current-gen update. And while we may never know, for those who don’t know, this is essentially a sequel to Red Dead Redemption 2. It stars John Marston, as he’s coerced by the Bureau of Investigation to hunt down his old allies from the Van der Linde Gang. We won’t go into further details, since that would spoil the surprises, but suffice it to say that it’s an epic journey.
The Good Ol’ Days
Former lead writer Dan Houser breaks down Red Dead Redemption quite succinctly – no machine guns (aside from the fixed turrets), no cars, no cities, and no large crowds of pedestrians. Just a dude riding a horse around the desert, and yet, it’s one of the most endearing open worlds of all time. You’ll explore fictionalized versions of the Western US, which fans estimate is about 11.984 square miles. It seemingly pales in comparison to Red Dead Redemption 2’s map (which is reportedly 29 square miles), but it’s still fairly sizable.
Robbing, Hunting, and Shooting
Exploration is the biggest appeal, especially as you encounter random events through the countryside, tame different horses, or take in the scenery. But Red Dead Redemption features side missions, hunting and collecting flowers (sadly, there’s no fishing). John can also partake in some arm wrestling, treasure hunts, showcase his mastery in Sharpshooter challenges, herd cattle, rob trains, clear out hideouts occupied by gangs, and, my favorite, Five Finger Fillet.
The (Bounty) Hunter and The Hunted
There’s also bounty hunting, where you can hunt down wanted criminals and take them dead or alive. The latter is a great way to showcase your lassoing skills and even offers a larger payout. However, bounties can also be placed on your head if you commit enough crimes. The more rampant your crime spree, the more bounty hunters come after you unless you pay the fine or use a letter of pardon, which brings us to the…
Honor System
Depending on your actions, the public will either view John Marston as the good guy or a no-good scoundrel. If your Honor is high, then you’ll be welcomed by townsfolk and won’t even have to worry about stealing a horse. But if it’s low, people will treat you with suspicion and even avoid offering their services. It plays into the kind of outlaw you want to be, and works quite well.
Combat and Dead Eye
Though it doesn’t boast as extensive a gun selection as Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption still offers old-school revolvers, shotguns, rifles, and the like for gunfights. While you can take cover and peek out to aim at enemies, blind-firing is also available. Aiming at a target’s legs or arms is a good way to incapacitate them, but the main calling card of the series is Dead Eye – a slow-mo mechanic where you can individually mark enemies. Once it ends, John unleashes a hail of bullets, taking down all marked targets simultaneously. It truly is high noon everywhere in the world.
What’s in This Re-Release?
So you know what to expect from Red Dead Redemption, but what about the re-release? As Rockstar noted, it’s based on the Game of the Year Edition, which includes the base game, the non-canon Undead Nightmare expansion, and additional outfits from DLC like Hunting and Trading. You can also access single-player extras like the Golden Guns (which confer more Fame on kills), the Deadly Assassin outfit (which causes Dead Eye to recharge faster), the War Horse, and so on.
What’s Not Included
The downside is that there’s no multiplayer support, which is a problem because the original release was pretty robust in that department. So no competitive modes, no co-op posses of eight players that can assault gang hideouts, etc. That also means no additional maps or Red Dead Revolver characters from the Legends and Killers pack, or the six additional co-op missions introduced in Outlaws to the End. And no, not even challenging other players to horse races.
Playtime
If you’re cruising through the story, Red Dead Redemption will take about 18 hours or so, which can easily go up to 26 if you play the side content (while a completionist run is about 46 hours on average). Chuck in Undead Nightmare, which is about six to eight hours for the story and all side content, and you have a pretty extensive amount of content overall.
Why You Should Play it
Whether you should pick it up, given the price and age of the title, is really up to you. But should you set aside the time and experience Red Dead Redemption if you haven’t before? Absolutely. It doesn’t boast as many features or as big a world as most modern triple-A open-world titles, but the sheer heart and quality of the writing still shine, after all these years.
