Red Dead Redemption 2 Free PC Remaster Proves Why We Need A New-Gen Update

We're approaching six years into the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S generation, and yet, Red Dead Redemption 2 is yet to receive a new-gen update.

Rockstar Games' open-world Wild West adventure is easily one of the greatest games to have come out of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One era; heck, it's one of the greatest games of all time.

It's not exactly a title in dire need of improvement, but that's not to say that a few adjustments that take updated technologies into account would be unwelcome.

At this stage, many of the previous generation's most popular games have been updated by their respective developers, as studios typically opt to release free updates that unlock higher framerates, with 60fps being the common new-gen feature.

READ MORE: Red Dead Redemption 2 Free Add-On Introduces New Nightmare-Inducing Feature

The Assassin's Creed franchise has been working through its hits of yesteryear with Ubisoft issuing 60fps updates for Unity, Syndicate, and more.

For several years now, gamers have remained convinced that Rockstar Games will issue the same treatment to Red Dead Redemption 2.

So-called insiders have made the problem worse by offering clearly incorrect assurances that a new-gen patch is coming. Those promises have remained fruitless for years.

Red Dead Redemption 2 continues to sell well, but there's no ignoring the vast untapped potential that a game as incredible as this one still holds.

Feast Your Eyes On Red Dead Redemption 2 Running In 8K

YouTuber Digital Dreams has provided evidence of that in their new free modded overhaul of the rootin' tootin' title.

Digital Dreams has applied over 100 mods to the game, running the PC version in 8K on an RTX 5090. That means that what you see in the tech demo below is achievable at home as long as you have decent enough hardware.

Would a free official 60fps upgrade make Red Dead Redemption 2 look quite this next-gen? Perhaps not, but this does arguably look crisper than the base game, proving that there is space for refinement within Red Dead Redemption 2.

READ MORE: Red Dead Redemption 2 Feels Like A Whole New Game With These 3 Free Expansions

Rockstar Games surely wants to continue boosting the game's sales, and something as simple as unlocking 60fps would draw the crowds back in, most definitely.

NateTheHate is the leaker who's most recently offered an update on Rockstar's supposed new-gen update, claiming that it's been delayed due to Grand Theft Auto VI, which launches on 19 November with pre-orders open now.

PLAYSTATION PRE-ORDER: Playstation UK | Walmart | Amazon UK | Amazon US

XBOX PRE-ORDER: GAME UK | Loaded | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Walmart

"Plans changed once GTA VI maintained its release for Nov. The game can sit in a finished state and release whenever Rockstar needs/wants," he said of the new-gen port.

"If GTA were delayed, RDR2 could have been used to soften the blow. With no delay... they can hold RDR2 now."

Do take this with a pinch of salt. If NateTheHate is onto something, you have to wonder how much longer Rockstar is going to make us wait. Isn't six years into the next generation long enough?