BREAKING: Red Dead Redemption 2 Next-Gen Upgrade and Nintendo Switch 2 Port Coming This Fall
Last Updated on September 20, 2025 by Jhonni Jets
Seven years after its groundbreaking debut, Rockstar’s western masterpiece is finally getting the current-gen treatment fans have been desperately waiting for
After months of speculation and industry whispers, multiple reliable sources have confirmed that Red Dead Redemption 2 is receiving a next-gen upgrade for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, with a release planned for fall 2025. This news has sent shockwaves through the gaming community, reigniting passion for Arthur Morgan’s legendary tale just as the industry prepares for the holiday season.
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The Long-Awaited Liberation from 30 FPS
Red Dead Redemption 2 remains a visual masterpiece nearly seven years after launch, but the console experience is starting to show its age. The game still runs in backwards compatibility mode, locked to PS4-level performance. For millions of players who have been experiencing one of gaming’s most acclaimed titles at a stuttering 30 frames per second, this upgrade promises to unlock the full potential of modern hardware.
Reliable insider Nate the Hate has corroborated the rumor that Red Dead Redemption 2 is getting a next-gen upgrade, with a release planned for Nintendo Switch 2, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S later this fall. Nate the Hate, who previously correctly predicted the unveil date for the Nintendo Switch 2, that being January 16, 2025, revealed during a podcast episode that he originally expected Nintendo to announce this during a Direct presentation.
What to Expect from the Next-Gen Experience
Industry sources suggest the upgrade will deliver substantial improvements across all platforms. For PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S users, expectations include:
Enhanced Performance: The most significant change will be the jump to 60 FPS gameplay, finally allowing players to experience the fluid gunfights and horseback riding that the game was designed for. A patch that taps modern CPUs and GPUs could halve frame times, sharpen textures, and push native 4K in Quality mode.
Visual Improvements: Enhanced lighting systems, improved texture quality, and potentially ray-traced reflections could make the already stunning vistas of the American frontier even more breathtaking.
Loading Performance: With SSD optimization, players can expect dramatically reduced loading times when traveling between regions or starting the game.
Nintendo Switch 2: Portable Wild West
Perhaps the most exciting development is the confirmed Nintendo Switch 2 port. The Switch 2 is expected to be a powerful handheld, but it still falls behind current-gen consoles when it comes to raw hardware. Because of that, we don’t see RDR2 running at a stable 60FPS on the system. A more likely scenario is something similar to Cyberpunk 2077, with the game targeting 1440p at around 40FPS, possibly upscaled using Nvidia’s DLSS.
This represents a monumental achievement in portable gaming. Red Dead Redemption 2’s massive open world, featuring hundreds of hours of content, will be playable anywhere for the first time. Rumors include 1080p docked and 30 FPS handheld with DLSS-style upscaling, thanks to the Switch 2’s stronger chip.
Industry Timing and Strategic Positioning
The timing of this announcement isn’t coincidental. The Verge confirmed on May 2, 2025, that GTA VI now targets May 26, 2026. That extra year frees bandwidth inside Rockstar’s QA, localization, and marketing teams. Rather than letting 2025 lie fallow, management can repurpose those resources to modernize an already beloved release.
Take-Two told investors it plans to release four “new iterations of previously released titles” within the current fiscal year. Slotting a next-gen RDR2 upgrade into that roster makes fiscal sense, landing well before GTA VI monopolizes the marketing department.
The Numbers Game: A Proven Success Story
Red Dead Redemption 2 has sold over 65 million copies worldwide as of February 2025. This makes it one of the best-selling video games of all time. RDR2 is sure to get a surge in new sales if it indeed gets a next-gen patch later this year, with the game having sold over 60 million copies, the juggernaut could be a holiday hit once again.
The game’s enduring popularity extends beyond sales figures. On PC, the modding community has kept the game alive and evolving. In 2025, mods like Homestead Robberies and Bank Robbery Missions offer players new reasons to return. There’s also a wave of visual overhaul mods that improve lighting, textures, and performance even further, effectively remastering the game from the inside out.
Red Dead Online Gets New Life
In a surprising twist, a new Red Dead Online update appeared out of the blue in July 2025, marking the game’s first major content drop in years. The release caught many fans off guard and even sparked speculation that Rockstar may have additional plans for Red Dead Redemption 2 and its online component in the near future.
The inclusion of zombie-themed content has sparked some isolated calls on social media for Red Dead Redemption 2 to receive its own version of Undead Nightmare. The timing of this update, coming just months before the rumored next-gen upgrade, suggests Rockstar is positioning Red Dead Online for a potential revival.
Voice Actor Teasers Fuel the Fire
The speculation reached fever pitch when Rob Wiethoff, the voice actor behind Red Dead Redemption protagonist and sequel side character John Marston, could barely contain his excitement on Twitch when talking about an upcoming announcement coming presumably from Rockstar Games. “I’ve got such exciting news, I can’t share it with you right now,” he told his viewers, adding that whatever is in store would be revealed by the end of the week. “It’s absolutely killing me.”
While Wiethoff later clarified that “I do not make announcements for Rockstar Games. Rockstar Games makes announcements for Rockstar Games”, his initial enthusiasm aligned perfectly with the timing of industry insider reports.
What This Means for the Future
Alex McKenna, who voiced Sadie Adler, has publicly expressed interest in returning for a sequel. Fans have long speculated that Red Dead Redemption 3 could follow Sadie’s adventures or even explore new characters in an earlier era of the Wild West. Though Rockstar has not officially confirmed a new installment, the continued popularity of RDR2, along with GTA VI’s near-complete focus through 2025, suggests that a third Red Dead game could be a post-GTA VI priority.
The next-gen upgrade serves multiple purposes: it keeps the franchise in the public consciousness, introduces the game to Nintendo’s massive portable gaming audience, and generates revenue while Rockstar focuses on GTA VI development.
The Waiting Game Continues
Recent leaks suggest the announcement could come as early as August 2025, with some sources pointing to a fall release window. However, Rockstar has not confirmed a single byte of the rumor, but the confluence of reports, Take-Two’s fiscal messaging, and GTA VI’s postponement form a plausible picture.
Seven years on, Red Dead Redemption 2 isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving. Whether through modding, revisiting Arthur’s story, or hunting for clues in Rockstar’s evolving universe, there’s still no shortage of reasons why players continue to saddle up in 2025.
For fans who have been waiting nearly seven years to experience Red Dead Redemption 2 at its full potential, the wait appears to be almost over. Whether you’re looking to revisit the Van der Linde gang’s tragic tale in silky-smooth 60 FPS or experience the Wild West on the go for the first time, fall 2025 could mark the definitive way to play one of gaming’s greatest achievements.
As the gaming world holds its breath for official confirmation from Rockstar Games, one thing is certain: Arthur Morgan’s story is far from over, and his next chapter might just be his most beautiful yet.
