Red Dead Redemption 2 is the biggest example ever of the old way of building video games. It builds on top Rockstar’s foundation, but it does nothing to shake up or question those underlying elements.
Red Dead Redemption 2 mod turns the game into Elden Ring, adding spells, boss fights, and Uncle as the final boss.
Take-Two announced its financial results for Q2 of fiscal year 2026, and shared an update on the sales of GTA5 and Red Dead Redemption 2.
You think Rockstar views Red Dead 2 as a failure because it didn't sell 150m copies?
I am pretty sure they don't. It was profitable and made them a lot of money. Not GTA5 money but far from failure. Maybe it is lower priority franchise, due to being smaller, but that is about the lowest they would put it as. Only thing they do consider failure is RDR2 Online, unlike GTA5 Online, that RDR2 Online flopped. Hence why it got less support. And when it come to profits, sales for both combined don't come close to GTA Online microtansactions. Hence why everything very quickly got canceled and GTA Online was top priority, so no GTA6 for a long time, no DLC for GTA5, despite there being 5 DLCs planned, at least I think it was 5, give or take one. But as I see it, they needed to rejuvenate interest and all, hence why GTA6 eventually is getting made. But what they are really looking forward to is refresh of Online.
Only in terms of the online aspect of the game. They didn't support it as much as they did GTA V Online. I remember people being pissed about that.
Boring and overrated. Red Dead Redemption is pretty good though. The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is my personal GOAT. We need more stuff like that from TooKyo.
I must be one of the few who are fine with the GTA6 delay. People treat that game like it’s the 2nd coming lol.
My daughter asked me how I felt about I shrugged and said I don't care gives me time to finish up games I already have. It's all good let them make the best game they can.
Dan Houser opens up about Red Dead Redemption 2’s rocky development, calling it behind schedule, massively over budget, and full of pressure to prove doubters wrong.
The world they built is pretty amazing. Unfortunately, the game was mostly boring to me. I definitely had fun in some parts, but it didn't do it for me as a whole like the first one did. I loved RDR so much.
The budgets and time it takes to make games these days is out of control. Such a big risk. If a game isn't a huge hit, it is often it for a studio. Scary. I really miss the PS2 and PS3 days where studeios could make 4 games in a generation and take risks in making something new. And so many were using their own engines. Those were the days.
Agreed. I love RDR but couldn't get into RDR2. The animations take forever and game slows you down on purpose. It won't let you have fun because R* want us to play the game they want to. I know millions love RDR2 and I even bought and own it. But just wasn't for me.
It's like comparing GTA4 to saints row 2. One game was about fun while the other was about realism and that's coming from someone who beat GTA4 many times. I much rather a game be fun to play than chase realism
GTA IV’s realism is what made it so much more fun for me. I loved experimenting with the physics.
I bought RDR2 also. Put 100+ hours into it and beat it our of respect for Rockstar and all the people saying it was the greatest game ever. RDR blew my mind but might also have been the best time in gaming for me personally. l loved that PS3 gen so much.
I am excited to see what GTA6 is like.
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Nice article, the title does disservice to it though.
"I thought Rockstar was going to define the future of games with this, and I don’t think it did. This is still the same game it’s always made." - I thought so too, since they actually said something like that prior to release. I would finish the above quote "... its always made" with > just a lot more of it.
That is what overhyping things does to game experience.
That is why i tried ignoring the over-the-top quotes from numerous reviewers and some fanboys/fans.
To mention some:
"With Red Dead Redemption 2 Rockstar Games has set the bar so high that other games of this nature seem infinitesimally lesser because of its existence."
"'Red Dead Redemption 2' is unrivaled in design, gameplay, and storytelling."
^ With scores of 9s and 10s all over the board, while still criticizing the very same elements they praised in those very same quotes (namely gameplay and narrative).
And as such, ignoring those hyped up reviews, im having a much pleasant experience while clocking somewhere around 45 hours in the game. It's a really well done cowboy-simulator i always wanted, and even tho it may not win a GOTY 2018 in my book it will still go hand-in-hand with the rest of the masterpieces in my personal list.
Good article. And i agree. But it's still a very addictive and amazing game.
Interesting opinion, however, I think that the game will gain popularity
Well, I agree and disagree. It's exactly what I thought it would be. I like it, and am not even a huge western buff. This is what happens when people expect ridiculous things. R* Makes amazing games, but what the hell were some expecting? A life altering experience? It's a cowboy game. Great story, certainly enough content, and online isn't even hatched yet. I think some need to lower their expectations to a reasonable level. Or find other ways to enrich their lives.