It’s A Crime Red Dead Redemption 2 Never Got A 60 FPS Patch

A title like Red Dead Redemption 2 truthfully only comes along once in a considerably long while. Back when the game made landfall in 2019, people pounced on the experience like nothing else, thinking that it 

And while there are certain things left to be desired, Red Dead 2 is a complete package, and these are not just words. A game so polished and refined is seldom found in other areas of the industry, but the question still stands: In an era where high-profile releases are mostly treated to next-gen upgrades, why does Red Dead Redemption 2 continue to get ignored by Rockstar Games? 

It’s a crime at this point that the game in question is not able to live up to its full potential on the Xbox Series X|S or the PlayStation 5.  

The Case For Red Dead Redemption 2’s Console Upgrade

It’s beyond me why I even have to write this opinion piece in the first place, really. Cyberpunk 2077 got it. Control got it. Heck, even Hello Games’ No Man’s Sky was subjected to a free PS5 upgrade. It baffles me why the same cannot be said about one of the finest games Rockstar ever put out, despite the reasoning for it being clear as day. 

It’s an open-world masterpiece, loaded to the brim with crisp visuals, breathtaking sceneries, and, of course, a solid atmosphere that does the whole Wild West theme more than just justice. eXputer’s 4.5/5.0 review of the grand action-adventure holds it in high regard as well, with author Obaid ur Rehman labeling it the “best single-player game even in 2024.” 

The real problem here is unequivocally the performance, which is still seemingly stuck at 30 FPS on consoles. I mean, that’s nothing but off-putting to so many of us players out there, especially those who have become suited to 60 FPS gaming. Once you go that way, it becomes hard to accept fewer frames per second. That’s a given. 

Can't believe how fantastic Red Dead Redemption 2 still is
byu/Xerosnake90 inPS5

In simple words, Rockstar is in a league of its own when it boils down to AAA, open-world game development, but the untapped potential here is something that should be taken into account. We’re 67 million copies into it now, but looks like a next-gen patch is too much tough work. 

The Red Dead Redemption PC Port Could’ve Been The Perfect Excuse  

Fans and critics alike had their grave reservations about Red Dead Redemption’s forthcoming PC port, putting it alongside the former disaster that the GTA Trilogy was. Turns out, the port is the best way to play the game right now, no matter the system you’re on.

Rockstar bundling the first iteration in the franchise along with its DLC is great news and all for PC players, but the effort comes across as an alternative measure of sweeping Red Dead 2 under the rug and hoping players will forget about it. That’s not how it works. 

They made a 60FPS for RDR, but not for RDR II
byu/cookie_flash inreddeadredemption

The tragedy here is, Red Dead Redemption 2 feels like a completely different game on PC when you’ve got your RTX 3060 to help you get through the 30 FPS barrier all the way to 60 FPS heaven. It’s a shame what this boost in performance actually translates to in the grand scheme of things. 

Rockstar Now Has Its Eyes Set Elsewhere

With us Wild West fanatics still clinging onto the hope that Red Dead 2 will get its due justice someday, it’s a no-brainer what the rest of the industry is looking forward to. Rockstar plans on pushing out GTA 6 — the next iteration in the iconic Grand Theft Auto franchise — in fall 2025, and as per sources, all attention is directed toward this project at the moment. 

One piece of information that the internet was able to gather regarding the subject at hand comes from Tez2, a reliable Rockstar insider with a fairly accurate track record. Taking to GTA Forums, Tez2 informed that work was indeed underway for Red Dead 2’s next-gen update, but the team decided to halt work to focus on GTA 6’s development instead.

I’m fine if the devs turn their attention toward Red Dead 2 following GTA 6’s release — and it’s likely that this turns out to be the actual outcome — as long as they actually end up doing it instead of treating the project like an afterthought. 

For now, you might want to look into this mod that unofficially patches Red Dead Redemption 2 with a 60 FPS mod. Do note that the endeavor requires you to hack into your system, so it’s advisable to proceed with caution.