Something must be added to the the leak-filled waters responsible for making the forever-active rumor mill churn every September because the biggest ones seem to find its way in everyone’s hands just as the holiday season begins in full earnest.
Case in point, last year’s massive GTA 6 leaks and now, a slew of unexpected reveals from Microsoft by way of a series of documents accidentally released to the public – FTC claims Microsoft is to blame for this.
Among the information leaked is a port of Red Dead Redemption 2 to the Xbox Series S/X and the PlayStation 5.
Rockstar Games’ award-winning open-world western action game, Red Dead Redemption 2, has been at the center of a ton of speculation and anticipation since its release in 2018, especially following the with fans eagerly awaiting a next-gen update for the title. The expansive game, acting as a prequel to the original Red Dead Redemption, was met with critical acclaim, but has since left a void for fans yearning for enhanced performance and visuals on newer consoles.
Although Red Dead Redemption 2 was initially launched on the Xbox One, PS4, and PC, the promise of its grandeur on a newer and more powerful console remains a powerful draw. This anticipation was further fueled by Rockstar Games’ move to release next-gen upgrades for Grand Theft Auto V and GTA Online just last year.
While Red Dead Redemption 2’s graphics still hold up five years post its debut, many fans still await the unlikely update to come – we say “unlikely” because Rockstar put Red Dead Online to pasture last year.
This void in next-gen updates wasn’t just felt by fans, but by industry giants too. The aforementioned leaked documents and emails recently revealed that Microsoft, much like many Rockstar enthusiasts, had been expecting an RDR2 next-gen release. These documents, part of a significant leak during Microsoft’s trial with the Federal Trade Commission, highlighted summer 2022 emails between Xbox head Phil Spencer and other executives. The content hinted at games they desired to add to the company’s subscription service, Game Pass.
Within this list was an entry for RDR2’s release for the current generation of consoles, which obviously still hasn’t come to fruition yet.
Microsoft’s anticipation was so detailed that they estimated Rockstar Games would unveil the “gen 9” version of RDR2 between October and November of 2022. Even their financial predictions were explicit. Microsoft speculated Rockstar, along with their parent company Take-Two Interactive, might charge approximately $5 million monthly to introduce the next-gen RDR2 version on Game Pass from the first day. Microsoft also predicted a massive 10 million gaming hours each month.
Yet, while Microsoft’s hopes were high, their confidence was not. They gauged their chances of securing RDR2’s next-gen version for a Game Pass debut as “very low”. Uncertainty also plagued the possibility of acquiring RDR2’s PC port as part of their Game Pass offerings.
Given RDR2’s success and reputation, it’s clear why there would be an appetite for a next-gen version. It’s lauded as an all-time great, possibly the best game Rockstar has produced. However, fans have expressed discontent with Rockstar for seemingly prioritizing GTA Online support over meaningful updates to RDR2. Despite the criticism, the sequel has remained popular, with over 55 million copies sold to date, which, begs the question, might Microsoft’s expectations speak the still-unreleased port into existence?
At this point, there’s no indication that Rockstar is working on anything BUT Grand Theft Auto 6. Then again, this was a “known fact” ahead of the surprise announcement of the Red Dead Redemption remaster and we all know how that turned out.
Two years following the release of the much-maligned GTA Trilogy, which, by the way, remains broken on Steam, it’s a more opportune time now for Rockstar to revisit older “canceled plans.”
So, while the initial backlash might have scared Rockstar off temporarily, recent events hint at possibly renewed faith in a remaster.
Given that many games have since been delayed and pushed back at least a year or two only to receive much critical acclaim, there’s reason to believe that Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games aren’t as completely all-in on GTA 6 as it claims.
Whether or not we’ll see Red Dead Redemption 2 ported over to the next-gen consoles remains to be seen, but don’t be surprised if it does indeed happen.
