Red Dead Redemption 2 has reached a new milestone, claiming the third spot on the all-time best-selling games list with 85 million copies sold as of March 2026. The Rockstar Games title now sits ahead of Wii Sports, trailing only GTA 5's staggering 230 million in sales.
What makes the achievement more striking is the momentum behind it. The game saw stronger sales in the past year than at any point since its 2018 launch, suggesting the seven-year-old western continues to find fresh audiences even as attention turns toward the highly anticipated GTA 6.
Yet success hasn't translated into the technical upgrades fans have repeatedly requested. Red Dead Redemption 2 remains locked at 30 frames per second on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, despite years of calls from players for a 60fps patch. Rumors of such an upgrade have periodically circulated, but Rockstar has not delivered one, leaving a significant gap between what current hardware could handle and what the game actually offers.
The disparity highlights a broader pattern with Rockstar's post-launch support. Red Dead Online, the multiplayer component, has consistently underperformed GTA Online in both content updates and revenue generation. That gap raises questions about what deeper investment in the multiplayer experience might have achieved for the franchise overall.
Talk of Red Dead Redemption 3 remains in the realm of speculation, though hints have emerged from inside and outside the company. Dan Houser, Rockstar's co-founder and former lead writer, stated late last year that a third entry "will probably happen." Roger Clark, who voiced protagonist Arthur Morgan in the second game, expressed certainty that fans would eventually see another installment, though he offered no timeline. Even actor Jack Black has weighed in, musing about roles he might like to play in a future Red Dead title.
For now, Rockstar's full focus remains on launching and supporting GTA 6. Whether the publisher circles back to the Wild West after that project stabilizes remains an open question, but the commercial performance of Red Dead Redemption 2 suggests there's a devoted fanbase waiting.
Author Emily Chen: "Red Dead's staying power is genuinely impressive, but Rockstar leaving a 60fps option on the table for seven years feels like leaving money and goodwill on the table."
Comments