After Rockstar announced that Red Dead Redemption 1 is getting a proper current-gen release on December 2, 2025, fans had one obvious question. What about Red Dead Redemption 2? The critically acclaimed sequel from 2018 still runs at 30fps on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S through backwards compatibility, with no native current-gen version announced. Reliable industry insider NateTheHate is reiterating that the RDR2 upgrade is still real and still coming, he just has no idea when.
What NateTheHate Is Saying
NateTheHate first revealed back in June 2025 that Red Dead Redemption 2 would receive a next-gen update for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, plus a port for Nintendo Switch 2, all supposedly launching later that year. He said he originally planned to save this information for a Nintendo Direct predictions video because he felt Nintendo would want RDR2 as a headliner for the Switch 2 launch window, which happened in January 2025.
In October 2025, as the year was running out without any announcement, NateTheHate reiterated that the ports and upgrades still exist. He emphasized that development is ongoing but admitted he has no information about when Rockstar plans to announce or release them. Now, following the November 13 reveal that RDR1 is coming to current-gen consoles first, he’s once again insisting the RDR2 upgrade is real despite zero official confirmation from Rockstar.
The Timeline That Didn’t Happen
When NateTheHate initially shared this information in June 2025, he suggested the releases would come a few months after Switch 2’s launch, putting them in the late summer or early fall window. That timeframe has obviously passed. The Switch 2 launched in early 2025, summer came and went, fall arrived and departed, and now it’s mid-November with December just around the corner and still no RDR2 announcement.
This puts NateTheHate in an awkward position. He’s built a solid reputation for accuracy, correctly predicting things like the Oblivion remaster shadowdrop, Microsoft Flight Simulator coming to PS5, and the exact date Nintendo would unveil the Switch 2. But the longer RDR2 goes without an official reveal, the more his credibility takes hits from skeptics who think he got bad information or misunderstood what he heard.
Why Rockstar Did RDR1 First
The announcement that Red Dead Redemption 1 is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, and even mobile platforms before RDR2 gets a current-gen upgrade is genuinely bizarre. RDR2 is the more recent game, released in 2018 versus RDR1’s 2010 debut. It’s also the more popular title, selling over 65 million copies compared to RDR1’s 20 million. From a business perspective, upgrading RDR2 should be the obvious priority.
One theory is that upgrading RDR1 requires less work. The game already received a port to PS4, Switch, and PC in recent years, so bringing it to current-gen hardware with performance improvements is relatively straightforward. RDR2, meanwhile, would need more extensive optimization to take full advantage of PS5 and Xbox Series capabilities, especially if Rockstar wants to add features like ray tracing or significantly enhanced visuals.
Another possibility is strategic timing. Rockstar just delayed Grand Theft Auto 6 from 2025 to fall 2026, creating a massive hole in Take-Two Interactive’s release schedule. By staggering the releases of RDR1 and RDR2 across different quarters, Rockstar can fill multiple earnings periods with revenue from relatively low-effort ports and upgrades while keeping fans engaged during the long wait for GTA 6.
The Take-Two Clue
Take-Two Interactive’s latest earnings briefing included a slide revealing the company has eight new iterations of previously released titles in development, scheduled for release by the end of fiscal year 2028. Only four have been confirmed so far, including Civilization 7, WWE 2K25 for Switch 2, and a couple of other sports titles. That leaves four unannounced projects that could include RDR2 ports and upgrades.
This financial guidance gives some credibility to NateTheHate’s claims. If Take-Two is publicly stating they have multiple unannounced re-releases in the pipeline, and RDR2 is one of their most valuable properties, it makes sense that a current-gen version is among those projects. The question isn’t whether it’s happening but when Rockstar will pull the trigger on the announcement.
What The Upgrade Might Include
While Rockstar hasn’t confirmed anything, fans and insiders have reasonable expectations for what a current-gen RDR2 upgrade should deliver at minimum. The most critical feature is a 60fps performance mode. Console players have been stuck at 30fps since the 2018 launch, while PC gamers have enjoyed smoother framerates for years. A performance mode targeting 60fps at 1440p or higher would be the baseline expectation.
Beyond framerate improvements, enhanced visuals could include higher resolution textures, improved draw distances for better environmental detail, enhanced lighting and shadow quality, and potentially ray traced ambient occlusion or global illumination. The game already looks phenomenal running backwards compatible on current-gen hardware, so Rockstar doesn’t need a complete overhaul. Subtle enhancements that take advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X’s extra power would be sufficient.
The Switch 2 version presents unique challenges. RDR2 is one of the most demanding games of the PS4 and Xbox One generation, pushing those systems to their absolute limits. Getting it running acceptably on Switch 2 hardware, even with DLSS upscaling and optimization, would be an impressive technical achievement. If Rockstar can deliver a portable version that maintains decent image quality and performance, it would be a major selling point for the console.
The Growing Frustration
Fan reaction to the RDR1 announcement has been mixed precisely because it highlights the absence of an RDR2 upgrade. Social media filled with comments questioning why Rockstar is prioritizing a 15-year-old game over its more recent, more popular sequel. Some see it as the company deliberately holding back RDR2 to maximize revenue by spreading releases over a longer period. Others view it as Rockstar taking the path of least resistance by upgrading the easier game first.
NateTheHate’s continued insistence that the RDR2 upgrade exists provides hope for frustrated fans, but hope without a timeline creates its own problems. If the upgrade is real but Rockstar won’t announce it for another six months or a year, that’s a long time to wait based purely on leaks and rumors. Every month that passes without official confirmation chips away at credibility and increases skepticism.
The GTA 6 Connection
Some analysts believe the RDR2 upgrade could serve as a technical testbed for GTA 6. Both games run on Rockstar’s proprietary RAGE engine, and a current-gen RDR2 release would give the studio valuable performance data from millions of players across PS5, Xbox Series, and Switch 2 hardware. This data could inform final optimizations for GTA 6, which launches in fall 2026.
From this perspective, releasing the RDR2 upgrade in early to mid-2026 makes strategic sense. It arrives far enough before GTA 6 to gather meaningful data but close enough to keep Rockstar and Red Dead in the conversation. It also prevents the RDR2 upgrade from competing directly with GTA 6 for marketing attention and player dollars, since they’d launch several months apart rather than simultaneously.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did NateTheHate say about RDR2?
NateTheHate originally claimed in June 2025 that Red Dead Redemption 2 would receive a next-gen upgrade for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S plus a Switch 2 port later that year. He’s since reiterated the projects still exist but admits he doesn’t know when Rockstar will announce or release them.
Why is Red Dead Redemption 1 getting upgraded before RDR2?
Rockstar hasn’t explained their reasoning, but theories include RDR1 requiring less development work since it was already ported to modern platforms, and strategic timing to spread releases across multiple fiscal quarters while GTA 6 is delayed.
What improvements would a RDR2 upgrade include?
At minimum, fans expect a 60fps performance mode on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Other likely improvements include higher resolution textures, better draw distances, enhanced lighting and shadows, and potentially ray traced elements. The Switch 2 version would need significant optimization to run acceptably on portable hardware.
When will the RDR2 current-gen upgrade be released?
There’s no official release date or even confirmation from Rockstar. NateTheHate initially suggested late 2025 but that window has passed. If the project is real, 2026 seems most likely, possibly in the first half of the year before GTA 6 launches in fall.
Has Rockstar confirmed the RDR2 upgrade exists?
No, Rockstar has not officially announced or acknowledged any current-gen upgrade or Switch 2 port for Red Dead Redemption 2. All information comes from industry insiders and leakers like NateTheHate.
Could RDR2 run on Nintendo Switch 2?
It would be technically challenging since RDR2 pushed PS4 and Xbox One to their limits, but with DLSS upscaling, significant optimization, and the Switch 2’s improved hardware, a portable version is theoretically possible. Whether it would meet Rockstar’s quality standards is the bigger question.
Is NateTheHate a reliable source?
NateTheHate has accurately predicted several major announcements including the Oblivion remaster shadowdrop, Microsoft Flight Simulator for PS5, and the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal date. However, his RDR2 claims haven’t materialized within his originally suggested timeframe, which has drawn some skepticism.
Conclusion
NateTheHate’s continued insistence that the Red Dead Redemption 2 current-gen upgrade is real keeps hope alive for fans who’ve been waiting years for a proper PS5 and Xbox Series version. The announcement that RDR1 is coming first only amplifies the frustration and confusion around Rockstar’s priorities. Either the company is strategically spacing out releases to maximize revenue over multiple quarters, or development challenges have pushed the RDR2 upgrade further out than originally planned. Take-Two’s financial guidance suggesting multiple unannounced re-releases in the pipeline supports the theory that RDR2 is coming eventually, but eventually isn’t a date fans can mark on their calendars. Until Rockstar makes an official announcement, everyone is stuck in limbo, relying on leaks and insider claims that may or may not reflect current plans. The safest bet is that a RDR2 upgrade will happen at some point before 2028, but beyond that vague timeframe, your guess is as good as anyone’s.