Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2026: Is It Worth Playing Before GTA 6? Price, Platforms and What’s Next

Red Dead Redemption 2 is still worth playing in 2026, especially if you care about story and atmosphere more than speed. The list price is $59.99, but it is often discounted. It runs on PS4, Xbox One and PC, and on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S through backward compatibility at 30 fps. It also leaves the PlayStation Plus catalog on November 17, just two days before GTA 6 launches. Here is what US players should know before they buy or start playing.

Red Dead Redemption 2 at a glance

• Console release: October 26, 2018 (PS4 and Xbox One)
• PC release: November 5, 2019 (on Steam since December 5, 2019)
• List price: $59.99 Standard, $99.99 Ultimate (Steam, US)
• PS5 and Xbox Series X|S: playable through backward compatibility at 30 fps, with no native next-gen version
• Reviews: 93 on Metacritic, and 92% positive on Steam
• Sales: more than 89 million copies as of September 30, 2026

Is Red Dead Redemption 2 still worth playing in 2026?

For most people who like big, story-driven games, yes. The game holds a 93 on Metacritic, and more than 800,000 Steam reviews put it at 92% positive. It is also still selling. According to Take-Two’s latest earnings report, it added two million copies in the quarter that ended September 30, 2026, and passed 89 million in total, even with GTA 6 only days away.

The honest catch is the pacing. Red Dead Redemption 2 is slow on purpose, and it asks you to spend time on camp life, hunting and long rides. If you want fast action from the first hour, it may not be for you. It is also a long game, so plan on dozens of hours rather than a weekend.

Red Dead Redemption 2 price and editions

On Steam in the US, the Standard Edition lists at $59.99 and the Ultimate Edition at $99.99. Sale prices are very different from list prices. During one big sale in April 2026, the base game dropped to $14.99, which is 75% off, and price trackers show it has gone lower on some authorized stores. Because sales change all the time, check the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Steam or the Rockstar Games Launcher before you pay full price.

Platforms and performance: the 30 fps catch

You can play Red Dead Redemption 2 on PS4, Xbox One and PC. On PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, the game runs through backward compatibility, and it is still capped at 30 fps. There is no native PS5 or Xbox Series X|S version.

Players have been asking for a native 60 fps update for years, and the complaints returned when the game turned eight years old on October 26, 2026. Rockstar has not announced an enhanced version. Some insiders have reported one is in development, but that is a rumor, not a confirmed plan, so do not buy based on it.

The PC version is the more flexible one. It supports 4K, HDR, ultrawide monitors and an unlocked frame rate.

PC system requirements

Both the minimum and the recommended specs call for 150 GB of free space, so clear room before you download. Rockstar Support lists Windows 10 64-bit.

Leaving PlayStation Plus, coming to Xbox Cloud Gaming

Red Dead Redemption 2 is available in the PlayStation Plus catalog until November 17, 2026. Reports give the removal time as 2 p.m. Brasília time, which is around noon Eastern, so check the catalog before you rely on it. GTA 5 leaves on the same day.

Microsoft has confirmed that Red Dead Redemption 2 and GTA 5 are coming to Xbox Cloud Gaming in the coming months, but it has not given a date. It has also not said that the game will be part of the Game Pass library, and cloud streaming and Game Pass are not the same thing.

Should you play it before GTA 6?

GTA 6 launches on November 19, 2026. If you have never played Red Dead Redemption 2, you do not need to finish it first. The two games are separate stories, and GTA 6 is set in a different world. If you want to play it anyway, the PlayStation Plus catalog is the cheapest way before November 17 for subscribers. Everyone else can wait for a sale.

A note for PC players: mods

Mods are a big reason people keep returning to the PC version. Rockstar published updated mod guidelines on September 10, 2026. In early November, Take-Two sent a cease-and-desist to the author of a popular mod that brought the original Red Dead Redemption’s Mexico into Red Dead Redemption 2, and the author pulled it from Nexus Mods. If you plan to use story-mode mods, read Rockstar’s guidelines first.

What’s next for Red Dead?

Rockstar has not announced a new Red Dead game or a native next-gen version of Red Dead Redemption 2. Until it does, everything beyond what is listed above is speculation. We will update this page if that changes.

Frequently asked questions

Is Red Dead Redemption 2 worth buying in 2026?

For fans of story-driven open-world games, yes. It scores 93 on Metacritic and is still selling, though its slow pace is not for everyone. Wait for a sale if you can, since the price often drops far below $59.99.

Does Red Dead Redemption 2 run at 60 fps on PS5?

No. On PS5 and Xbox Series X|S it runs through backward compatibility at 30 fps. On PC, the frame rate is unlocked.

Is there a PS5 version of Red Dead Redemption 2?

There is no native PS5 version. You can play the PS4 version on PS5, and Rockstar has not announced an enhanced edition.

When is Red Dead Redemption 2 leaving PlayStation Plus?

It leaves the PlayStation Plus catalog on November 17, 2026, along with GTA 5.

Is Red Dead Redemption 2 coming to Xbox Game Pass?

Microsoft has confirmed it for Xbox Cloud Gaming in the coming months, but has not announced it for the Game Pass library.

How much space does Red Dead Redemption 2 need on PC?

150 GB of free storage, for both the minimum and the recommended specs.

Is Red Dead Redemption 2 on Steam?

Yes. It came to Steam on December 5, 2019, after launching on the Rockstar Games Launcher on November 5, 2019.

Information in this article was compiled from Rockstar and Take-Two announcements and gaming news coverage, and may change. Prices are in US dollars and are list prices unless stated.