Red Dead Redemption 2 Next-Gen Update Price Has Gamers Concerned

3 weeks ago 12

Arthur Morgan fires his revolver in Red Dead Redemption 2.

Published Feb 16, 2026, 6:30 AM EST

Known as 'Cyberpunk 2077's' biggest fan, Angharad is a Welsh games writer who thrives in anything related to digital storytelling. If a video game explores the intricacies and horrors of womanhood, she is there.

Thanks to previous work at GAMINGbible, GameByte, The Loadout, Game Luster, Angharad has built a strong understanding of both the digital world and what fans want from it and is eager to share her thoughts and expertise with readers.

According to a recent leak, Red Dead Redemption 2 is the next major title to receive a next-gen upgrade, and if rumors are true, it could be arriving as early as this year. However, with fans concerned about its potential price tag, it remains to be seen if Rockstar will be charging full AAA price for graphical improvements, or if there will be much more to the suspected upgrade.

In recent weeks, eight different insiders at Rockstar have each confirmed the existence of this Red Dead Redemption 2 PlayStation 5 remaster, so could one actually be on the horizon? If so, will it break the bank?

Red Dead Redemption 2's Next-Gen Update May Arrive This Year

If true, the next-gen update for Red Dead Redemption 2 is expected to launch later this year and will arrive on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and even the Nintendo Switch 2. With the title going on to become the fourth best-selling game of all time, it makes sense that it should be available on all platforms, especially as it will see major profit for Rockstar, but what does that mean for us?

Put simply, Red Dead Redemption 2 is currently only seven years old and so, by all truth, it is not in desperate need of a remaster. You only need to boot up the game for five minutes to see that it still pushes the boundaries of performance and graphics, making it one of the most stunning games of all time. That being said, we do all love a remaster, but at what cost?

Gamers Are Already Bracing To Pay Through The Nose

arthur morgan looking curious in red dead redemption 2

Following reports of the Red Dead Redemption 2 remaster, fans over on r/reddeadredemption have recently been discussing what Rockstar could potentially add with the upgrade. As such, a discussion kicked off when one user posted, "If the rumors are true and RDR2 is getting a PS5 upgrade, are you expecting them to also fix epilogue John's character model?"

Over the years, there has been criticism of John's model during the events of RDR2's epilogue, as some players have reported him being a "Frankenstein's monster-like mix of both John and Arthur." Although I have not witnessed this myself, it is a common complaint and an issue that players understandably want fixed. That being said, it seems as though players have bigger concerns, and they center around the upgrade's potential price tag.

"I am expecting the bare minimum with a full price tag," one user shared. "If I am proven wrong, I'll be delightfully surprised." For user IneptFortitude, there are high hopes mixed with some doubt. "I’m expecting absolutely nothing besides a 4k mode and 60fps patch," they shared. "But my "hopium" tells me that it’s taking so long because the game wasn’t complete on release, and the cut content is being partially restored, and it will be branded as a “Director’s Cut”. Of course, something that consumer friendly never happens anymore."

As the Red Dead Redemption 2 remaster has not been officially announced by Rockstar just yet, all of this remains a mere rumor and so its highly debated price will remain a mystery for now. Hopefully, however, Rockstar will bear its fans in mind when it is inevitably revealed later this year.