Seven years after its release, Red Dead Redemption 2 just reached a sales milestone that very few games in history have achieved. According to Take-Two Interactive’s latest financial report, Rockstar’s open-world Western has sold over 79 million copies worldwide, making it the fourth best-selling video game of all time. That puts it ahead of Mario Kart 8, PUBG, The Witcher 3, and nearly every other game you can think of.
To put this achievement in perspective, only three games have sold more copies than Red Dead Redemption 2. Minecraft leads with 350 million sales, Grand Theft Auto 5 sits at 220 million, and Wii Sports holds third place with 82.9 million. Everything else, including massive hits like Animal Crossing New Horizons, Hogwarts Legacy, and Elden Ring, falls behind Arthur Morgan’s tragic tale.
Breaking Down the Numbers
During Take-Two’s investor call on November 6, 2025, the company revealed that Red Dead Redemption 2 has pushed past several legendary titles to claim the fourth spot. With 79 million sales, it narrowly edged out Mario Kart 8’s estimated 78.02 million copies, a game that held the fourth position for years.
The complete top ten list shows just how elite this club is. After the big three and Red Dead 2, you have PUBG with 75 million sales, The Oregon Trail with 65 million, Terraria with 64 million, The Witcher 3 with 60 million, and the original 1985 Super Mario Bros with 58 million. These are all iconic games that defined their genres or generations, and Red Dead 2 has outsold every single one of them.
The Red Dead franchise as a whole has now surpassed 106 million total sales, which includes the original Red Dead Redemption and its expansion Undead Nightmare. That’s an impressive feat for a series that only has two mainline entries.
Still Selling After Seven Years
What makes this milestone particularly impressive is how consistently Red Dead Redemption 2 continues to sell. The game launched in October 2018, meaning it’s been on the market for over seven years. By May 2020, about a year and a half after release, it had already sold 31 million copies. By February 2025, that number jumped to 70 million. Now in November 2025, it’s hit 79 million.
That’s roughly 9 million additional sales just in 2025 alone. Most games see their sales drop dramatically after the first year or two, but Red Dead 2 keeps finding new audiences. Whether it’s players finally upgrading to current-gen consoles, PC gamers discovering it through Steam sales, or new fans coming from word of mouth, the game refuses to fade away.
Take-Two specifically noted that Red Dead Redemption 2 is the best-selling title of the last seven years in the United States based on dollar sales. That means it’s made more money than any other game released between 2018 and 2025 in the American market. Not Elden Ring. Not The Last of Us Part II. Not Spider-Man. Red Dead 2 tops them all.
What Makes Red Dead 2 So Special
If you haven’t played Red Dead Redemption 2, you might wonder what makes it special enough to sell 79 million copies. The game follows Arthur Morgan, an outlaw in the dying days of the Wild West as his gang falls apart and the world around them changes. It’s a story about loyalty, morality, and the inevitable march of progress crushing the old ways.
But the storytelling is just one piece. Red Dead 2 is renowned for its attention to detail that borders on obsessive. Your horse builds a relationship with you over time. NPCs remember previous encounters. The weather affects how you dress and how your weapons perform. Animals behave realistically based on their species. The world feels alive in ways that most open-world games can only dream of.
Critics loved it, with the game earning widespread acclaim and countless Game of the Year awards in 2018. Players connected with it emotionally in ways that few games manage. The ending left people in tears. The world invited hundreds of hours of exploration. Red Dead Online provided an ongoing multiplayer component, though it never reached the same heights as GTA Online.
The Current Gen Mystery
One fascinating aspect of Red Dead Redemption 2’s continued success is that Rockstar still hasn’t released a native PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S version. The game runs on current-gen consoles through backwards compatibility, meaning players are technically playing the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions with slight performance improvements.
Fans have been begging for a proper current-gen update with enhanced graphics, faster loading times, and improved performance. Other publishers have released such updates for games far less successful than Red Dead 2. Yet Rockstar has remained silent on the matter, leaving players to wonder if an upgrade will ever arrive.
The fact that the game continues selling millions of copies without a current-gen version actually makes its success even more impressive. Imagine what the sales numbers could be if Rockstar gave it the full next-gen treatment.
Can It Catch Wii Sports
With 79 million sales, Red Dead Redemption 2 is now just under 4 million copies away from overtaking Wii Sports for third place. That might sound achievable given the game’s momentum, but Wii Sports benefits from being bundled with nearly every Wii console sold in most regions. Its 82.9 million sales weren’t all traditional purchases.
Still, if Red Dead 2 maintains its current pace of roughly 9 million sales per year, it could potentially reach third place by late 2026. Whether it can ever threaten GTA 5’s 220 million or Minecraft’s staggering 350 million is another question entirely. Those numbers exist in a different stratosphere altogether.
What This Means for Rockstar
The financial report that revealed Red Dead 2’s milestone also confirmed the second delay of GTA 6, now scheduled for November 19, 2026. While that was disappointing news for fans, the continued strength of Rockstar’s existing titles shows why Take-Two can afford to be patient.
Between GTA 5’s ongoing dominance and Red Dead 2’s relentless sales, Rockstar is printing money with games that are years or even over a decade old. They don’t need to rush GTA 6 to market in an unfinished state. The company’s track record speaks for itself. When Rockstar finally releases a game, it tends to become one of the best-selling titles in history.
Red Dead Online Gets Thanksgiving Update
Coincidentally, Red Dead Online just launched a Thanksgiving event that runs from November 4 through December 1, 2025. Players can earn bonuses on hunting activities, with 10X RDO dollars on turkey sales during Thanksgiving week specifically. There are also multiplied rewards for trader sales, featured series, and special events.
While Red Dead Online never achieved the cultural phenomenon status of GTA Online, Rockstar continues supporting it with seasonal events and content updates. The Thanksgiving celebration is a nice reminder that even though the game is seven years old, it still has an active community and ongoing development.
FAQs
How many copies has Red Dead Redemption 2 sold?
As of November 2025, Red Dead Redemption 2 has sold over 79 million copies worldwide, making it the fourth best-selling video game of all time. The Red Dead franchise as a whole has sold over 106 million units.
What are the best-selling games of all time?
The top four best-selling games are Minecraft with 350 million sales, GTA 5 with 220 million, Wii Sports with 82.9 million, and Red Dead Redemption 2 with 79 million. Red Dead 2 just overtook Mario Kart 8 which had approximately 78 million sales.
When did Red Dead Redemption 2 release?
Red Dead Redemption 2 launched in October 2018 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The PC version released in November 2019. Despite being seven years old, the game continues selling millions of copies annually.
Is there a PS5 or Xbox Series X version of Red Dead Redemption 2?
No, Rockstar has not released a native PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S version. The game runs on current-gen consoles through backwards compatibility, playing the last-gen versions with slight performance improvements.
Why is Red Dead Redemption 2 still selling so well?
The game earned widespread critical acclaim for its storytelling, attention to detail, and immersive open world. It was the best-selling title of the last seven years in the U.S. based on dollar sales, and continues attracting new players through word of mouth, sales promotions, and its strong reputation.
Could Red Dead Redemption 2 reach third place?
Red Dead 2 is about 4 million copies away from overtaking Wii Sports for third place. If it maintains its current sales pace of roughly 9 million units per year, it could potentially reach third place by late 2026.
How does Red Dead 2 compare to other recent games?
Red Dead 2 has outsold massive hits like Animal Crossing New Horizons, Hogwarts Legacy, Elden Ring, The Witcher 3, and PUBG. Take-Two noted it’s the best-selling title of the last seven years in the United States based on dollar sales.
Is Red Dead Online still active?
Yes, Red Dead Online continues receiving seasonal updates. A Thanksgiving event is currently running from November 4 through December 1, 2025, offering special bonuses for hunting and trader activities.
Conclusion
Red Dead Redemption 2’s ascent to fourth place on the all-time best-sellers list is a testament to Rockstar’s ability to create games that transcend their release windows. Seven years later, Arthur Morgan’s story continues resonating with millions of new players while maintaining its existing fanbase. Without a current-gen upgrade and with minimal marketing in recent years, the game sells purely on reputation and quality. As the industry increasingly focuses on live service games and quick sequels, Red Dead 2 proves that a single, exceptionally crafted experience can generate sales and revenue for nearly a decade. Whether it eventually catches Wii Sports or continues climbing the all-time charts, it’s already cemented its place as one of gaming’s most successful and beloved titles.