Red Dead Redemption Officially Returning May 29, GTA 6 Can Wait

3 weeks ago 22

Rockstar Games may be a bit preoccupied with a little project on the way later this year called Grand Theft Auto 6, but that hasn't stopped them from giving Red Dead Redemption players a ton of content to stay busy until GTA 6 drops this fall. With Red Dead Redemption 2 officially releasing for free to PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers this month and hype for an official RDR2 current-gen upgrade at an all-time high, it's an exciting time to be a Red Dead fan.

After Red Dead Redemption 1's surprise current-gen upgrade that released somewhat out of the blue last year, Rockstar fans have been waiting with bated breath for an in-kind upgrade for the sequel. While there's still no official announcement on that front to date, it's among one of the most-anticipated projects from the studio aside from GTA 6.

However, with fans on the edge of their seats, there's a brand-new Red Dead Redemption release slated to drop in just a matter of days, and we're marking our calendars for the official launch on Friday, May 29, 2026 (via X).

John Marston from Red Dead Redemption 1 pointing a pistol while riding a horse.

Red Dead Redemption 1 is officially making a return later next week with a new physical release for Nintendo Switch 2 consoles, though it doesn't come without its criticisms among fans of the iconic Rockstar western. While digital versions of RDR1 have been available since December 2025, the physical release has taken a bit of time to roll out. However, it's a somewhat controversial "code-in-box" physical release, which has become common practice for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 releases as of late, much to the chagrin of players.

The new physical "code-in-box" releases are set to launch next Friday in Europe at select retailers, but it's debatable among players whether this really even constitutes a physical release if they're not even getting an actual cartridge in the case. Players on social media have already started roasting the RDR1 Switch 2 physical release, saying that "code-in-a-box is just the most disrespectful thing a game company could do" (Estrella).

Further, this isn't exactly the Red Dead Redemption upgrade that Rockstar fans are waiting on either, given there's been insistent demand for a 60fps upgrade for Red Dead Redemption 2 for what feels like forever now. With Grand Theft Auto 6's release coming up and the Take-Two earnings call scheduled for later today (May 21), gamers are keeping a close eye on Rockstar for any major announcement, and while it seems unlikely, there's still hope for an official reveal for Red Dead Redemption 2's current-gen upgrade.