It is actually kind of wild when you think about it. Rockstar Games sits on what many consider the greatest open-world achievement in history, yet the Red Dead Redemption 2 next gen update remains the industry’s most persistent ghost. We are years into the life cycle of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, and players are still stuck riding through the heartlands at 30 frames per second. It feels heavy. If you swap from a modern title back to Arthur Morgan’s boots, the input lag is palpable.
People want it. They really do.
Look at the numbers for Grand Theft Auto V. That game has been ported across three console generations, receiving a dedicated "Expanded and Enhanced" edition that brought 60fps, ray tracing, and faster loading times to modern hardware. Meanwhile, the community is left wondering why Red Dead Redemption 2, a game that is technically more demanding and visually superior, hasn't received the same love. It’s a strange situation for a company that usually maximizes the value of its intellectual property.
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The Technical Reality of the Red Dead Redemption 2 Next Gen Update
If you’re playing on a PS5 today, you are essentially playing the PS4 Pro version via backwards compatibility. That means a checkerboarded 4K resolution that looks a bit soft on modern OLED displays. On Xbox Series X, the situation is slightly better because you get the native 4K output from the old One X code, but you're still locked to that cinematic 30fps cap.
The hardware can do more. We know this because the PC version exists. On a high-end PC, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a revelation. When you unlock the frame rate, the world stops feeling like a sluggish diorama and starts feeling like a living, breathing place. Combat is snappier. Horseback riding feels less like steering a boat and more like navigating a trail.
A proper Red Dead Redemption 2 next gen update wouldn't just be about resolution. It’s about the RAGE engine being allowed to breathe. We are talking about:
- Haptic Feedback: Imagine feeling the kick of a Sawed-Off Shotgun through the DualSense triggers or the rhythmic gallop of your horse on different terrain.
- SSD Loading: Taking the initial load time from a minute down to ten seconds.
- Draw Distance: Pushing the LOD (Level of Detail) out so the Grizzlies look sharp even from the flatlands of Lemoyne.
- Ray Tracing: While the global illumination in RDR2 is already world-class, ray-traced reflections on the water in Saint Denis would be breathtaking.
Honestly, the lack of an official patch has led to a massive modding scene on PC. Modders like SergeantJoe and others have worked tirelessly to fix things Rockstar hasn't touched, from FOV sliders to restoring cut content. But for the millions of console players? You're just waiting.
Why hasn't it happened yet?
There is no official word. Rockstar is famously silent until they aren't. However, we can look at the timeline of Rockstar North and Rockstar San Diego. The massive "Grand Theft Auto VI" leak in late 2022 changed everything. Since then, it’s been all hands on deck for the next GTA.
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Reports from insiders like Tez2—who has a pretty solid track record with Rockstar leaks—suggested that plans for a Red Dead Redemption 2 next gen update might have been shelved or paused to focus resources on GTA 6 and the Red Dead Redemption 1 port (which eventually came out for PS4 and Switch, and later PC).
It sucks.
But it makes business sense in a cold, corporate way. GTA Online is a money-printing machine. Red Dead Online, by comparison, was a beautiful experiment that never quite found its monetization footing. Rockstar officially "sunset" major content updates for Red Dead Online in 2022 to shift developers to the next GTA. If the online component isn't generating recurring revenue, the incentive to update the base game for free—or even for a $10 upgrade fee—diminishes in the eyes of Take-Two Interactive’s shareholders.
The Red Dead Redemption 1 Port Controversy
Last year, when Rockstar announced Red Dead Redemption was coming to modern consoles, everyone expected a remake. Or at least a remaster. Instead, we got a port. It was a very good port—running at 4K/60fps on PS5 via a post-launch patch—but it wasn't the "next gen" experience people craved.
The irony is that the original RDR now runs at a higher frame rate on consoles than its sequel. That is objectively hilarious and frustrating. It proves that Rockstar is willing to update their older titles to 60fps, but for some reason, the Red Dead Redemption 2 next gen update is being treated like a "break glass in case of emergency" asset.
Misconceptions about "Next Gen" Patches
A lot of people think you just "flip a switch" to hit 60fps. It isn't that simple. RDR2 is a complex web of animations tied to frame timing. If you just unlock the frame rate without adjusting the physics, things can break. Clothes might jitter. Weather effects might speed up. On PC, these issues were ironed out over months of patches.
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Also, there's the "Remaster vs. Patch" debate.
Rockstar could easily drop a 60fps patch tomorrow—similar to what Ubisoft did with Assassin's Creed Origins—and everyone would be happy. But Rockstar doesn't usually do "simple." They want to sell you a product. If we get a Red Dead Redemption 2 next gen update, it will likely be a standalone $50-60 SKU that includes the Story Mode and a revamped Red Dead Online, probably marketed as a "Complete Edition."
The Impact of GTA 6
We are currently in the lead-up to the biggest game release in a decade. Grand Theft Auto VI is coming in 2025. Every single developer at Rockstar is likely grinding to ensure that game meets the impossible expectations set by the public.
Would they divert a team of 50 engineers to fix the lighting and frame rate on a 2018 cowboy game? Maybe not right now. But once GTA 6 is out the door? That is when the Red Dead Redemption 2 next gen update becomes the perfect "gap filler" to keep the studio's revenue high while they begin pre-production on whatever comes next.
What You Can Do Right Now
If you are tired of waiting, you have a few options. They aren't perfect, but they're what we have.
- The PC Route: If you have a decent rig, this is the only way to play the "next gen" version today. Use the "Hardware Unboxed" optimization settings to get the best visual-to-performance ratio.
- Xbox Series X Back-Compat: It’s still 30fps, but the native 4K resolution is significantly crisper than the PS5’s blurry reconstruction. It’s the best console experience available.
- The "Wait and See" Approach: Do not buy the game again on a different console hoping for an update. Rockstar rarely does shadow-drops for major titles.
There is a real chance that Rockstar is waiting for the rumored "PS5 Pro" or the next generation of consoles to truly show off what the RDR2 engine can do. It’s a masterpiece that deserves better than being locked in the 2018 amber of 30 frames per second.
Until then, Arthur Morgan remains frozen in time, waiting for the world to catch up to him. The demand isn't going away. If anything, the more people see of the dense, detailed world of GTA 6, the more they’ll want to return to the rugged, high-fidelity wilderness of the American frontier with the same level of technical polish.
The move for players now is to keep expectations in check. Don't fall for every "leak" on Reddit or 4chan that claims a 4K/60fps patch is coming "next Tuesday." When it happens, it will be a major announcement. Until that day, the best way to experience the game is to appreciate the artistry that is already there, even if it’s a bit choppier than we’d like.
Actionable Steps for Red Dead Fans
- Check for System Updates: Occasionally, Sony or Microsoft implements "FPS Boost" or similar tech at the system level. While RDR2 hasn't received this yet, it's worth keeping your console firmware updated.
- Adjust Motion Blur: If the 30fps feels particularly jarring on your TV, try turning off "Motion Blur" in the in-game settings. It can sometimes reduce the perceived "sludge" during camera pans.
- Calibrate HDR: Much of the "visual muddiness" people complain about in RDR2 is actually poor HDR calibration. Use the "Game HDR" setting and follow a calibration guide specifically for your TV model (like those from HDTVTest) to ensure the blacks aren't crushed and the highlights actually pop.
- Monitor Rockstar Newswire: This is the only source of truth. Ignore Twitter "insiders" who use the same three screenshots of Arthur in the snow to farm engagement.
The wait for the Red Dead Redemption 2 next gen update is a test of patience, but given Rockstar's history, they rarely leave a masterpiece unfinished forever. It’s a matter of when, not if.