Take-Two defends Red Dead Online as a success, despite lack of updates

In a recent statement, Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, strongly pushed back on claims that Red Dead Online has been a missed opportunity. According to Zelnick, the multiplayer component of Red Dead Redemption 2, which launched in 2018, has delivered both financial and operational success.

Key facts about Red Dead Online

Red Dead Online, part of the award-winning Red Dead Redemption 2, has struggled in recent years with a lack of major updates. The last significant update, Blood Money, was released in July 2021. Since then, Rockstar Games, the game’s developer, has shifted its focus to other projects, especially GTA 6 and GTA Online. Despite that change in priorities, Red Dead Redemption 2 continues to post impressive sales. The game has sold more than 85 million copies worldwide, making it the third best-selling video game of all time, behind Minecraft and Grand Theft Auto V.

Financial performance

Take-Two announced in its financial report that Red Dead Redemption 2 has recently surpassed 85 million copies sold. Zelnick’s comments underline his belief that nothing in those sales figures suggests a missed opportunity. In his words: "There is literally nothing about Red Dead that suggests a missed opportunity. Red Dead Online is immensely successful and long-lasting." The remark came amid ongoing debate over the contrast between Red Dead Online’s popularity and support compared with GTA Online.

Shift in focus

Rockstar’s shift toward GTA 6 and GTA Online has raised questions about the future of Red Dead Online. While Red Dead Online still reportedly has nearly 1 million weekly active players, the community has voiced concerns about neglect. The shadow of GTA Online, which reportedly brings in around $9.5 million per week on average, has contributed to the limited resources allocated to Red Dead Online.

Future possibilities

Despite current trends, there is speculation that Rockstar may have room for a new chapter in the Red Dead franchise. Recently, voices from the game industry and the player community have suggested that Red Dead Redemption 3 could be possible. Uncertainty remains over when that might happen, but recent comments from people involved, such as Roger Clark, who voiced Arthur Morgan, have given fans hope that there could be endless stories ahead.

As the focus on GTA 6 continues, many players are watching to see what Rockstar has in store for the Red Dead franchise next. The question remains, however, whether and when more content will arrive for Red Dead Online, or whether Rockstar will instead focus more heavily on a sequel to the franchise.