It appears fans’ hopes might have just become a reality. Rockstar Games, the mastermind behind the beloved western saga and the Grand Theft Auto franchise, has been said to be working on a remaster of Red Dead Redemption 1, with leakers all suggesting that a possible unveiling will happen soon. But, the recent addition of a new Red Dead Redemption logo on the Rockstar Games website, with an intriguing codename, is arguably the biggest piece of evidence of its existence yet.
The new logo update on the website, detected by Rockstar Games insider, Tez2, is titled, Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar Presents Ver), and is tagged under “RDR1RSP”.
Many believe this speculation stands for Red Dead Redemption 1 Remaster Single Player, which implies that the multiplayer component isn’t coming back, a move that mirrors what Naughty Dog did with The Last of Us Part 1. But, it’s also argued that the “RSP” standards for “Rockstar Presents”, but either way, both point towards the same thing.
Rockstar's new site update, live an hour ago, added a new reference within the games list.
"Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar Presents Ver)"
Codename:
– RDR1RSP (RDR1 Remaster SP?)New logo below#reddeadredemption pic.twitter.com/MbzmnieMlo
— Tez2 (@TezFunz2) July 27, 2023
Former IGN Editor Colin Moriarty lent credence to the remaster rumors on a Sacred Symbols podcast episode, declaring, “I have seen confirmation that this is real…I had someone reach out to me behind the scenes that showed me something that definitively shows this game is coming.” He further ignited expectations by stating that the remaster could be revealed soon, possibly in August.
However, since the rumors sprouted, players have questioned the form this remaster will take. Will it be a straightforward re-release of the 2010 title with slightly upgraded graphics? Or is it a more comprehensive remake? The recent GTA Trilogy remasters might be an indication that it’s likely the former. It’s worth noting, too, that the rumored porting to Switch – a console whose hardware can’t handle a full-blown remake treatment – lends further weight to the remaster direction.
On the other hand, Rockstar technically already has the assets necessary to give the original Red Dead Redemption more than a fresh coat of paint via Red Dead Redemption 2. Besides, it doesn’t make as much sense to re-release a game that’s already available to play at 4K on the Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X via backwards compatibility. Unless, of course, Rockstar simply wants to make the experience available for more people on today’s consoles.
The best-case scenario is Rockstar is re-releasing the original Red Dead Redemption, complete with Undead Nightmare, as a post-launch DLC for the current-gen port of Red Dead Redemption.
This is a massive undertaking in light of Rockstar’s all-in approach to Grand Theft Auto 6, which includes putting Red Dead Online to pasture. But, if the leaks are correct and GTA 6 is ready for release next year, Rockstar might be thinking about throwing audiences a bone before then.
A “definitive edition” of both Red Dead Redemption games that span the entire storyline and is designed to be played on the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series S/X would be a groundbreaking move that most fans won’t mind paying a premium for.
Given that Red Dead Redemption 2’s sales have more than doubled those of the first game, a Wild West bundle of sorts would certainly drive fan engagement and further amplify the franchise’s popularity.
Yet, all these discussions and speculations hinge on a “possible” remaster, which Rockstar has yet to confirm.
Nonetheless, it’s safe to say that an official reveal from Rockstar Games in the coming days or weeks.
Who knows? Rockstar might partner with Sony to announce the Red Dead Redemption remaster at an upcoming PlayStation Showcase.
