Rockstar Games has a reputation for taking its time and not rushing any of its newest games. The gap between major releases can be years, with the company's last two games (being Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2) launching at the end of their respective console generations. With rumors of Grand Theft Auto 6 still being years away, this subsequently implies that the next installment in the Red Dead Redemption franchise is possibly even further down the road.
Based off past release dates and estimated release schedules, if Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 were five years apart, that should provide a hint of what to expect going forward. Following this cycle, Grand Theft Auto 6 wouldn't be ready until at least 2023, and then Red Dead Redemption 3 around 2028. Considering that console generations tend to last around seven years, this would place the next Red Dead Redemption at the tail end of the current PS5/Xbox Series X lifecycle. While this would certainly result in gorgeous graphics and amazing technological feats, Rockstar may be better suited to hold off and take pursue a different course of action.
Red Dead Redemption: Raising an Already High Bar
When all stacked side-by-side, Red Dead Redemption 2 is arguably among the most impressive games of the PS4/Xbox One generation. It's story was grand and emotionally gripping, the characters well realized and open-world activities incredibly addictive. The first game was already a stellar experience, but the second game ramped up the quality to an unprecedented level, placing the title among the best open-world games of all time.
After making such a splash within the gaming industry, and still being talked about to this day, Red Dead Redemption 2 has set an extremely high bar to live up to. This not only applies to a third installment, but open-world games in general. Red Dead Redemption 2 fine tuned the open-world western experience to be as near flawless as it could be, crafting a fully living world for players to become fully lost in. The question remains what Rockstar could possibly do to add to the formula or even possibly enhance what is already a stellar package.
Outside of gameplay additions, the obvious upgrade would be in the graphical department. Each new generation brings with it a new level of detail unachievable by the last, and that is already proving to be no different with the current PS5/Xbox Series X release. Recent demos for Unreal Engine 5 have featured incredible visuals, promising wondrous things to come for gaming in the next few years. In fact, with the gunplay, exploration, and writing already extremely polished, graphical fidelity remains the one thing to consistently improve.
Red Dead Redemption Skipping a Generation
It's hard to gauge exactly what games will look like years from now, but as it stands almost four years after release, Red Dead Redemption 2 is still a gorgeous looking game. Its detailed character models and stunning vistas, even after a few years into the current console generation, the title is likely still to be considered a looker by many gamers. Additionally, while an even older game, Grand Theft Auto 5 also still looks quite good for an open-world action game, and its nearing its 10th anniversary on the market.
For this reason, and considering just how long it takes to make these games in general, it may be worth holding off until the generation which follows the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Rockstar could surely work its magic on the PS5/Xbox Series X from a visual standpoint, but with Grand Theft Auto 6 likely to fill that position, waiting a few more years won't hurt.
Expectations are sky high for Rockstar games to always push the envelope, and with Grand Theft Auto 6 already sure to tap into make the most of the power in this gen, there is little Red Dead Redemption 3 could do to further "wow" audiences after that. Couple this with the aforementioned idea that even in a few years, Red Dead Redemption 2 will still be a fine looking game, and some huge steps may need to be taken to deliver an even more impressive third outing.
For this reason, skipping the PS5/Xbox Series X generation entirely in favor of whatever comes next could be the most hugely beneficial choice for the franchise. The game likely won't be ready for several more years, so what's a few more to really heighten the game to the cutting edge, blockbuster status it truly deserves. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a pretty game, but add on a level of near-photorealism with how quickly gaming hardware is advancing and that will be something special. The immersive gameplay already works wonders with bringing players into that world, but combining that with truly lifelike graphics will only help push the game that extra mile.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available now on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One