Summary
While there have long been leaks and rumors indicating that Rockstar’s acclaimed Western title,Red Dead Redemption,is coming to PC, anincorrect description for the game on the PlayStation Storemay have just revealed its launch on PC is imminent. The game launched back on the PC3 and Xbox 360 in 2010, and while it is available on the Xbox consoles that followed through backwards compatibility, this wasn’t the case on PlayStation, where it could only be streamed as part of a PS Plus or PS Now subscription before being pulled to make way for a PS4 port by Double Eleven Studios in 2023. This port was also released on Nintendo Switch, butit’s always felt like the PC community has been shafted.
At the time of writing, the game’s description on thePlayStation Storesays, “Experience the epic western adventures that defined a generation - now on PC for the first time ever.” Rockstar hasn’t even announced a new release of the game, however, so it’s possible that this reveal may come pretty soon. While the PS4 and Nintendo Switch versionsweren’t the remake many had hoped for- although the PS4 version did include the improved textures that Xbox players had through patches already - it did enable players on those platforms to easily access the game again, even if it did technically have less content, as despite being bundled with theUndead NightmareDLC, the multiplayer mode from the original release was removed.
The PS4 version of Red Dead Redemption is playable on PS5 as well through backwards compatibility.
Complete Red Dead Timeline Before RDR3 - Revolver, Redemption, & RDR2
Rockstar’s acclaimed Red Dead series spans several decades in the Wild West with numerous protagonists across its three main Western titles.
Even If It Is The Same As The PS4 And Switch Port
It’s highly likely that the version that will be released on PC will be the same as last year’s PS4 port and that there has just been a staggered release for PC like there is with other Rockstar titles likeGTA 5orRed Dead Redemption 2, and most likely will be withGTA 6, as that is only due to launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in Fall 2025. Mike York, who worked as an animator at Rockstar New England from 2012 to 2017 onGTA 5,GTA Online,andRed Dead Redemption 2,previously explained on his YouTube channelYork Reactsthat a PC port takes so long because of its different architecture and components, which require a huge amount of testing due to the various potential hardware configurations players may have, especially for titles with open worlds known to be as feature-rich and vast as Rockstar’s.
Even so, the PC version ofRed Dead Redemptionalready has far more potential than any other version of the game. This is because of the modding community, which can elevate the game to new heights, essentially giving fans something closer to the remaster or remake experience they’d been hoping for.
5 Ways Red Dead Redemption On Switch & PS4 Is Better Than The Original
While many were left feeling underwhelmed by the Red Dead Redemption Switch port, there’s actually a few ways it improves on the original.
From Improved Weather To Better NPC AI, & More
To see just how the modding community could fully unlockRed Dead Redemption’s potential, players need not look any further than its prequel,Red Dead Redemption 2. WhenRed Dead Redemption 2launched in 2018, it was already highly praised, not only for its powerful storytelling but also for its rich and detailed world. Considering the next generation of consoles were still years away from launching, the sheer detail present inRed Dead Redemption 2really seemed to push the limits of what last-gen consoles were capable of.
WhileRed Dead Redemption 2is available through backwards compatibility on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, it still has yet to receive a next-gen patch like many other games from this generation. Rockstar opted away from doing this practice withGTA 5but opted for a full re-release for the newer consoles, something that was controversial at the time. There’s currently no word of aRed Dead Redemption 2next-gen update or release of any sort.
Red Dead Redemption 2was released on PC over a year later, in 2019, and the modding community really took the game to a whole new level. Not only was this the case with enhanced textures or character models like the mods for other games - asRed Dead Redemption 2’s default ones are already detailed enough, although there’s the likelihood modders could pull the models of John Marston and othermembers of the Van der Linde gangfrom the prequel-sequel intoRed Dead Redemptionupon its PC release - but this saw morechanges and modifications to how the game’s world was and how characters could interact with it.
One such example is theVestigamod, which overhaulsRed Dead Redemption 2’s open-world to enhance its weather mechanics with more gradual and realistic transitions between weather types and temperature, enhanced visuals to make the world look even richer and more detailed, with even more NPCs on screen at once, and improved AI to get them to interact with each other more often. The mod also brought enhancements to wildlife, making different animals spawn only in realistic locations, and upgrades to the world’s flora and terrain that allow for thicker underbrush in forests and the likes of creeks and rivers generating more bubbles and foam if a character jumps into or runs through them for even more realism and better overall reactions.
There have also been extensions toRed Dead Redemption 2’s map, with theNuevo Paraíso - Mexicomod bringing the Mexico section ofRed Dead Redemptioninto the game. Therefore, it’s possible thatwith bothRed Dead Redemptiontitles being on PC with all their assets available, modders could do more map expansions and essentially combine both games' worldsat some point to make theultimateRed Deadmap.
While it would be great to getRed Dead Redemptionon PC for the sake of having it readily available natively on every modern gaming platform, the fact that there’s so much more potential to push the beloved title to whole new heights makes the release all the more exciting. Hopefully, following the PlayStation Store’s listing, Rockstar will make an official announcement soon.
Sources:PlayStation Store,York Reacts/YouTube,Vestiga/Nexus Mods,Nuevo Paraíso - Mexico
Red Dead Redemption
Red Dead Redemption is an action-adventure western game from the developers at Rockstar San Diego. A sequel to Red Dead Revolver, Redemption, takes place in 1911 and follows former outlaw John Marston, who must now track down former posse members across the old west after the government kidnaps his family.
