Reliable insider Nate the Hate has corroborated the rumor that Red Dead Redemption 2 is getting a next-gen upgrade, with a release planned for Nintendo Switch 2, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S later this fall. The game has not seen any current gen console enhancements since the original release in 2018, on the PS4 and Xbox One systems.
Nate the Hate confirmed the rumours during a podcast episode on his YouTube channel, revealing he originally expected Nintendo to reveal it at a Direct: “I feel it’s a game Nintendo would want to have as a headliner for the Switch 2.” Previously the insider correctly predicted the unveil date for the Nintendo Switch 2, that being January 16, 2025.
Possible enhancements
Red Dead Redemption 2 remains a visual masterpiece nearly seven years after launch, but the console experience is starting to show its age. The game still runs in backwards compatibility mode, locked to PS4-level performance. That means no native next-gen enhancements: just 30FPS and checkerboarded 4K resolution. Fans have been begging for years for Rockstar to update it’s big flagship title only behind GTA V, and it now seems that wish might finally be coming true.
So what could a next-gen upgrade for RDR2 actually look like? For one, the PS5 and current-gen Xbox consoles are far more powerful than the hardware the game originally launched on. That means 60FPS should finally be on the table, something players have been waiting for since 2018. Resolution will likely get a boost too, with the PS5 Pro possibly using PSSR to get as close to native 4K as possible without sacrificing performance. We expect the next-gen version to match the PC release in many ways, with settings pushed to high or ultra and improved detail across the board. If that’s the case, the visual leap should be significant.
Switch 2 performance
The Switch 2 is expected to be a powerful handheld, but it still falls behind current-gen consoles when it comes to raw hardware. Because of that, we don’t see RDR2 running at a stable 60FPS on the system. A more likely scenario is something similar to Cyberpunk 2077, with the game targeting 1440p at around 40FPS, possibly upscaled using Nvidia’s DLSS. We do expect visual settings to be pushed beyond the PS4 and Xbox One settings, which are largely equivalent to low settings on PC.
RDR2 is sure to get a surge in new sales if it indeed gets a next-gen patch later this year, with the game having sold over 60 million copies, the juggernaut could be a holiday hit once again. Stay tuned to RockstarINTEL for any updates on this potential re-release and any other Red Dead news updates.
