Red Dead Redemption 2 is a timeless title at this point. Almost seven years since its release, Rockstar Games’ grandiose Western is one of those games that can be explored and enjoyed nearly endlessly, and indeed players continue to spend bountiful time with its breathtaking setting and colorful characters to this day. The beloved prequel to 2010’s Red Dead Redemption will also be celebrating its birthday later this month, on October 26. As Red Dead Redemption 2 has enjoyed such longevity, there has often been a desire for it to finally and officially receive a version optimized for current-gen hardware.
Regarding that possibility, users have spotted some details pointing to a potential upgrade for Red Dead Redemption 2. This comes from its Steam page description being changed in subtle ways that some have taken as a hint that an enhanced version is coming soon. While it should be kept in mind that this is unconfirmed as yet, if it does indicate that such an update is forthcoming, it may actually be less impressive than it seems on the surface, and there are arguments to be made that the original RDR would be better served by one at this time instead.
Along with the rumored remastered version, other information recently provided by industry insider NateTheHate claims that Red Dead Redemption 2 may be getting a Switch 2 port, which would be cause for celebration for fans wishing to experience RDR2 on Nintendo’s latest console.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Getting a Potential Remaster Instead of the Original Would Be a Larger Missed Opportunity
It's Hard to Imagine Red Dead Redemption 2's Rumored Remaster Will Drastically Improve Its Graphical Quality
Approaching 10 years on, even by today’s standards, Red Dead Redemption 2 still looks gorgeous, outclassing some other high-profile AAA games that have come in its wake. Rockstar is known for its meticulous and lengthy development times that have involved the contentious issue of crunch, as developers reportedly put in grueling hours to ensure that every aspect of RDR2‘s world and characters looked as absolutely stunning and realistic as possible. The results of that hard work can’t be denied, though, and it’s one of the major reasons that RDR2 is so widely and fondly hailed.
And although a Red Dead Redemption 2 remaster could probably smooth out a few areas like frame rates and perhaps tweak the control scheme, it’s difficult to think that one will make a vastly noticeable difference in its overall visuals and fidelity. Given this, and that it’s been even longer since the original, it would arguably be a bit of a misstep if Rockstar is in fact preparing to provide an enhanced version of the former versus the latter.
The fan community remains active, and players have continued to create entertaining and interesting Red Dead Redemption 2 mods.
Why Red Dead Redemption Deserves a Remaster Now Much More Than Red Dead Redemption 2's Rumored One
After years of being locked on its release platforms, Red Dead Redemption was eventually brought to newer-gen ones. But these ported versions are still based on the original, with the visuals and presentation remaining clearly of that time. While a fully remastered current-gen version of Red Dead Redemption 2 would no doubt be widely embraced, it could result in diminishing returns for the reasons mentioned above.
On the other hand, Rockstar bringing the first Red Dead Redemption up to par with the second’s quality through a full remaster would be a much bigger leap, and has the potential to improve more of its aspects compared to RDR2. On top of the expanded possibilities for a more meaningful and impactful overhaul of the main campaign, an RDR remaster could also bundle the popular Undead Nightmare DLC to create a complete package. While it’s still uncertain whether a Red Dead Redemption 2 remaster is actually coming, if one does appear, it would likely provide even more incentive for the original to receive the same treatment sooner rather than later.