No, the RDR2 PS5 upgrade has not been cancelled
Despite rumors in 2022 claiming Rockstar shelved plans for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S upgrades of the monumentally successful Red Dead Redemption 2, I have found no evidence to suggest these enhanced editions were officially cancelled.
While additional major updates for the base game and Red Dead Online multiplayer mode have ceased as resources shifted to Grand Theft Auto VI development, hope remains for a dedicated current-gen release. Let‘s analyze why:
Quantifying RDR2‘s Ongoing Popularity and Sales Potential
With over 50 million copies sold to date globally, Red Dead Redemption 2 remains one of the highest selling PlayStation 4 titles of all-time years after its 2018 debut.
| Year | Estimated Sales |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 23 million |
| 2019 | 6 million |
| 2020 | 4 million |
| 2021 | 3 million |
| 2022 | 2 million* – 10 million |
*2022 figure not confirmed by Rockstar
Demonstrating remarkable longevity, in 2022 listings RDR2 was still found among the top 20 highest grossing games on both PlayStation Store and Steam every month. This sustained player engagement years post-release indicates clear enthusiasm for the game ahead of any potential re-release or upgrade.
The below graph further illustrates the game‘s monetary momentum, generating estimated revenue rivaling modern Call of Duty titles despite its advanced age. This underlying consumer appetite gives Rockstar incentive to unveil a comprehensive current-gen upgrade.
Rockstar‘s Track Record Supporting Past Hits
Another bullish indicator for hopes of an enhanced iteration: developer Rockstar Games‘ proven tendency to revisit past successes rather than abandoning titles post-launch.
Grand Theft Auto V has been repackaged across three console generations since its 2013 release, recently crossing 200 million sales partly buoyed by reworked visuals and content for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and new consoles.
The Witcher 3 similarly received a native PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S upgrade in late 2022, giving the game new life seven years removed from its original debut. Developers CD Projekt Red cited fan requests as motivation for the updated version, which became a best-seller again thanks to the time and care put into the overhaul.
Drawing on these examples, both Rockstar’s inclination to support past mega hits and vocal RDR2 fan requests for improvements could compel them to greenlight PS5 and Xbox Series X enhancements.
Likely Next-Gen Upgrade Features and Technical Capabilities
As a PlayStation 4 Pro enhanced title displaying upscaled 4K resolution, RDR2 already demonstrates strong technical foundations to build upon rather rely strictly on brute-force remastering efforts.
By embracing the PS5 and Xbox Series‘s power, a hypothetical upgrade could deliver:
- Native 4K textures for sharper environmental details and characters
- Targeting 60 FPS for dramatically smoother performance
- Faster loading via SSD to streamline transitions
- Enhanced physics and particles for added immersion
- Ray tracing for more realistic lighting effects
These fairly straightforward yet transformative upgrades mirror those seen in last-gen games elevated for new hardware, like Ghost of Tsushima on PS5. And given Red Dead Redemption 2‘s sprawling frontier is already acclaimed for its visual splendor, current-gen capabilities could make it one of the most striking open worlds ever crafted.
The Bottom Line
In closing, labeling next-gen iterations of Red Dead Redemption 2 outright cancelled appears preemptive given Rockstar‘s strong post-release dedication towards past successes.
RDR2‘s dominance on sales charts years later demonstrates lasting value ripe to convert even more new fans should the title receive PS5/Series X/S enhancements. And rumors alleging scrapped plans notably lacked direct confirmation from developer Rockstar Games.
So for now, cowboys and cowgirls yearning to see Arthur Morgan‘s epicquest fully restored in 4K60FPS glory still have reasons to keep their frontier dreams very much alive as we await official word on return trips to America’s heartland.
