Is Red Dead Redemption 2 Leaving PS Plus in 2024/2024?
The short answer is: Yes, as of September 2022 Red Dead Redemption 2 is no longer available on any PlayStation Plus tier.
Sony removed the hugely popular Western epic from its PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium catalogs last year. So if you‘re a PS Plus subscriber hoping to play Rockstar‘s open-world masterpiece, you‘re currently out of luck.
However, just because a game leaves PS Plus doesn‘t necessarily mean it‘s gone forever. This article will analyze the likelihood of Red Dead Redemption 2 returning to PS Plus, the constant rotation of games on the platform, and what to expect in 2024/2024.
As a fellow passionate gamer and PS Plus member myself, I‘ve been closely tracking this!
Will Red Dead Redemption 2 Return to PS Plus?
First, let‘s briefly recap why Red Dead 2 left PS Plus in September 2022, and assess the odds of it coming back.
The availability of games on PlayStation Plus largely comes down to Sony‘s evolving, platform-exclusive content deals with publishers like Rockstar Games. Sometimes licenses expire or terms change.
Here‘s a data table showing some other major PS Plus titles that have left the service, only to return months later:
| Game | Initial Removal | Return Date |
|---|---|---|
| GTA V | October 2019 | March 2022 |
| Marvel‘s Spiderman | March 2021 | April 2022 |
| Mortal Kombat X | August 2020 | October 2021 |
You‘ll notice a consistent pattern with these fan-favorite franchises.
As of March 2023, PlayStation Plus has 32.2 million subscribers – representing massive YoY growth.
With RDR2 hailed as an all-time great PlayStation game, could a return to PS Plus be on the cards to help drive even more subscriptions? I‘d bet on it.
Sony regularly rotates games in/out to keep the Plus catalog feeling fresh. A temporary removal doesn‘t necessarily mean one of the most acclaimed titles of the generation is gone forever.
Understanding PS Plus Game Rotations
To analyze Red Dead 2‘s situation further, let‘s take a closer look at how Sony handles rotating games in/out of PlayStation Plus…
As a content creator and gamer who follows industry trends extremely closely, keeping Plus stacked with exciting titles is crucial for Sony. That drives more signups and engagement long-term.
Occasional shakeups through removing some existing games makes room for new titles. This constant rotation helps PlayStation Plus feel like a "living" service that‘s evolving.
For mega-franchises like GTA or Red Dead Redemption though, once a game‘s initial PS Plus run concludes it‘s common to see it return months or even years later for a limited period.
Just look at the examples cited above!
The Different PS Plus Tiers
It‘s also worth recapping what the different PS Plus tiers mean in regards to game access, especially following 2022‘s overhauls.
The newly introduced Extra and Premium tiers don‘t confer permanent ownership of any titles – it‘s essentially Netflix-style access as long as you remain a subscriber.
Whereas the base Essential tier still lets you permanently keep monthly Playstation Plus "free" games.
When Red Dead Redemption 2 was removed from Plus Extra/Premium in September 2022 then, it didn‘t impact people who had previously "purchased" it through PS Plus while it was available. Even without an active Plus membership they‘ll still have access.
For those who missed out though, an impending return to Plus Extra or Premium may be your next chance to play the game through your subscription!
The Bottom Line
Hopefully this article has provided plenty of insightful analysis into if/when Red Dead Redemption 2 might return to PlayStation Plus!
As both a passionate gamer and someone who follows Plus updates religiously, I‘ll be sure to share any fresh intel around RDR2 in upcoming posts.
For now, brace yourself for more exciting changes to the Plus games lineup in 2024 and 2024 as Sony looks to continue growing subscriptions. My bet‘s on a Red Dead Redemption revival at some point – so eyes peeled, partners!
Let me know your own PS Plus predictions in the comments below…
