Key Highlights:
- Red Dead Redemption 2 has now sold over 79 million copies, making it the fourth best-selling video game of all time.
- It has officially overtaken Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, trailing only behind Minecraft, GTA 5, and Wii Sports.
- Fans are still waiting for native PS5 and Switch 2 versions, which could push its numbers even higher.
Seven years on, Red Dead Redemption 2 continues to defy expectations. According to Take-Two’s latest financial report, Rockstar’s western epic has officially sold more than 79 million copies, passing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to become the fourth best-selling video game ever made. It’s a remarkable feat for a title that isn’t a live-service juggernaut but a slow-burning, single-player masterpiece released back in 2018.
The details were revealed by the publisher Take Two in a recent earnings call. When I first saw the numbers, I wasn’t surprised. Few games command the same kind of enduring presence that Red Dead Redemption 2 does. Its combination of cinematic storytelling, meticulous realism, and emotional depth has given it a lasting cultural weight. Arthur Morgan’s journey still resonates with players, whether they’re returning for a replay or discovering the game for the first time on modern hardware.
It’s that longevity that makes this new milestone especially impressive. The western genre isn’t exactly mainstream, yet Red Dead 2 continues to bring in new audiences year after year. Many of those new players are coming from word of mouth, parents introducing their kids, streamers revisiting it between modern releases, and critics who still point to it as a high-water mark for world design. It’s one of the few games that encourages you to slow down, to sit by the fire or ride across the plains simply because it feels real.
I recently replayed it on PlayStation 5 through backward compatibility, and it’s clear that the experience is still held back by older hardware. The loading times, capped framerate, and lack of true HDR make it feel like a game begging for a proper next-gen release. Considering GTA 5 received multiple re-releases, it’s baffling that Red Dead Redemption 2 still doesn’t have its own native PS5 or Switch 2 version.
With the Switch 2 already running technically demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring, there’s little reason to doubt that RDR2 could make the jump.
That potential is huge. A properly optimised re-release could easily push another 10 million copies.
There’s still an enormous audience waiting for a modernised version that offers 60fps, faster loading, and improved HDR lighting. Red Dead Redemption 1’s recent Switch port proved how well Rockstar’s older titles can perform when handled right. I tried that port while travelling, and even with its visual limitations, the immersion was incredible, it just worked. If Rockstar brought that same treatment to Red Dead 2, the result could be one of the definitive open-world experiences on the new consoles.
It’s ironic that a game known for its slow pace is now racing past one of Nintendo’s most successful franchises. Arthur Morgan just left Mario eating dust. Beyond the sales figures, this record cements Red Dead Redemption 2’s reputation not just as a commercial success but as one of the most significant artistic achievements in gaming. In a landscape dominated by live-service models and battle passes, it stands as proof that a meticulously crafted single-player story can still thrive long after its release window closes.
And with GTA 6 reportedly delayed again, there’s no better time for Rockstar to bring Red Dead 2 into the spotlight once more. The audience is there. The demand is there. After seven years, players aren’t asking for a sequel, they just want the definitive version of one of the best games ever made.