Amid affirmation that GTA 6 actually has been delayed once more, we’ve got phrase that Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2 has grow to be the fourth best-selling sport of all time.
As detailed in writer Take-Two’s investor call yesterday (November 6), the sequel has bought over 79 million items — making it the “best-selling title of the final seven years in the U.S. primarily based on greenback gross sales” — and taking gross sales of the total sequence to 106 million.
To provide that some context, assume of all the massively profitable video games which have been launched in the final seven years — Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Hogwarts Legacy, Elden Ring, to call however a couple of — in addition to every thing that is launched over the previous couple of a long time. Other than Minecraft, GTA 5, and Wii Sports activities, which have bought 350 million, 220 million, and 82.9 million copies, respectively, Red Dead Redemption 2 has outsold every thing.
With 79 million gross sales, that places Red Dead 2 simply forward of the prior fourth-place Mario Kart 8’s estimated 78.02 million gross sales, in addition to PUBG (75 million), The Oregon Path (65 million), Terraria (64 million), The Witcher 3 (60 million), and the unique 1985 Tremendous Mario Bros. (58 million).
You’d assume then, that Red Dead Redemption 3 is a lifeless cert. However Rockstar has but to announce a sequel. Earlier this week, Rockstar Video games co-founder and former lead author Dan Houser mentioned he’d really feel extra unhappy to study Red Dead Redemption 3 was in improvement with out him than he feels about GTA 6, however admits the sport “will most likely occur.” As lead author, Houser wrote virtually all of Rockstar’s video games, however having left the firm over 5 years in the past, Houser not too long ago confirmed to IGN that GTA 6 received’t have a narrative or a personality set he developed, however expects the sport to be nice nonetheless.
“After all, letting go of one thing I labored on in a method or one other for like 20-odd years, and wrote on them for the final 10 or 11 that got here out, wrote all of them, or you recognize, lead author on all of them, no matter it was… letting go of that could be a large change. And unhappy in a manner,” Houser mentioned.
“As a result of every of the [Grand Theft Auto] video games was a form of standalone story it’s not fairly the identical as… I feel most likely it will be in some methods sadder if somebody continued on Red Dead, as a result of it was a cohesive two-game arc. That could be extra unhappy to listen to somebody engaged on that. However once more, that can most likely occur too. I do not personal the IP. That was half of the deal. It is a privilege to work on stuff, however you do not essentially personal it.”
In 2023, Roger Clark, who performed Arthur Morgan, the important playable protagonist of Red Dead Redemption 2, mentioned he was “sure” followers will see Red Dead Redemption 3 “in the future,” however certified that assertion by saying he had no concept when that might be. Clark additionally dominated out the return of Arthur Morgan in the sport, ought to it come to be. When you’ve performed Red Dead Redemption 2, this may seem to be stating the apparent, however there’s at all times the likelihood Rockstar could take into account one other prequel of some variety.
“I’m sure we’ll see Red Redemption 3 in the future,” Clark mentioned. “When that will probably be — I’ve completely no concept. Don’t depend on Arthur’s involvement both. His story has been advised, I really feel.”
In a subsequent interview with IGN, Clark expanded on his ideas: “Yeah, that acquired actually picked up! I might have thought that was apparent although. Wouldn’t you? And it’s not like I’ve any insider info in any respect, however of course there’s going to be one other Red Dead. It bought over 60 million copies!”
He continued: “Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of Take-Two mentioned it himself. He mentioned GTA and Red Dead are distinguished franchises for Rockstar Video games and that they are going to be returning to them in the future. So there’s little question there will probably be one other Red Dead. But when Arthur Morgan will probably be concerned? I extremely doubt it, to be trustworthy. And I feel it’s going to be fairly a while earlier than we even see a snifter of something new Red Dead associated. I do not know how it will pan out, however I wouldn’t guess on Arthur being an element of it.”
Right this moment, Red Dead Redemption 2 is extensively thought-about to be one of the greatest video video games of all time. We thought it was a masterpiece, too, with IGN’s overview returning a ten/10. “Red Dead Redemption 2 is a sport of uncommon high quality; a meticulously polished open-world ode to the outlaw period,” we wrote.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, in addition to a critic, columnist, and marketing consultant with 15+ years expertise working with some of the world’s greatest gaming websites and publications. She’s additionally a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually Excessive Chaos. Discover her at BlueSky.