On November 11, Rockstar Games will once again be re-releasingGrand Theft Auto 5and its online component,Grand Theft Auto Online, which first launched in 2013. Rockstar Games has done a great job of extendingGrand Theft Auto 5’s lifespan, first by porting it to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One with some big enhancements, then by doubling down onGTA Onlineand supporting it with an endless stream of new content.
While some fans may rather see Rockstar focus onGrand Theft Auto 6instead of re-releasingGTA 5again, there’s no denying that the game will benefit from being ported to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. TheGrand Theft Auto 5next-gen portwill also mark the standalone release ofGTA Online, allowing gamers to jump in to the specificGTA 5experience that most appeals to them, and should prove to be the definitive way to experience the game.
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Of course,Grand Theft Auto Onlineisn’t the only live service that Rockstar is currently working on. Rockstar also has itsRed Dead Onlinegame as well, which is the online multiplayer component forRed Dead Redemption 2.Red Dead Onlinehasn’t seen quite as much support asGTA Online, but there’s no reason that can’t change, and just as Rockstar extendedGTA Online’s life by bringing it to new consoles, it can do the same withRed Dead Online.
WhenRed Dead Onlinefirst launched, it was not without its issues. As some fans may recall,Red Dead Online’s early days were plagued by technical problems and for its in-game economy, which seemed balanced in a way to force players into purchasing microtransactions if they truly wanted to have any fun with the game. This combined withRed Dead Online’s notorious griefing problemscaused many players coming to it from the single-player campaign to be underwhelmed and disappointed in their experience.
It’s safe to say that there are players whose first impression ofRed Dead Onlineleft a bad taste in their mouth, and so they didn’t return to the game. However, these players may be enticed to giveRed Dead Onlinea second chance if it means trying it out on the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. After all, there have beennumerousRed Dead Onlineupdatessince the game’s initial launch in 2018, and that combined with the added horsepower of the new console would put the game in a much better position to impress fans than it was at launch.
Red Dead Online’s proper next-gen debut could be a chance for Rockstar Games to release some more substantial new content for the game, making it worthwhile for lapsed players to give it another look. As illustrated byGrand Theft Auto Online’s Cayo Perico Heist update, it’s never too late forRed Dead Onlineto get more content, even if that content comes years after the game’s launch.
If Rockstar Games does decide to release a PS5/Xbox Series X version ofRed Dead Online, new DLC would be the perfect way to commemorate the occasion. While that DLC could take pretty much any form, there is one expansion that fans of the game may be especially excited for. As some may already know, there have beenRed Dead Onlineplayers glitching into an area of the game world that they aren’t supposed to be able to access, and that area could be perfect for DLC.
Red Dead Online’s Mexico areawould be the perfect place to start for a DLC expansion. It would giveRed Dead Onlineplayers a brand new area to explore besides the existing map, which should bring back lapsed players as well as invigorate the existing playerbase. Not only that, but it would also give Rockstar Games the perfect opportunity to introduce new characters toRed Dead Onlinealong with some new story content and missions that could potentially address some of the complaints fans have had about the existing game’s missions.
Even if Rockstar Games doesn’t add substantial new content toRed Dead Online, a PS5 and Xbox Series X port would still be worthwhile for other reasons. A big one would be the enhancements that the next-generation consoles would bring to the table in terms of general performance as well as graphical output. ARed Dead OnlinePS5 and Xbox Series X upgradecould up the resolution and frame rate, resulting in a more impressive-looking take on the game.
Red Dead Onlineon PS5 in particular would be exciting because it could take advantage of that console’s unique controller. The PlayStation 5 DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and other features could easily enhance theRed Dead Onlineexperience, and so hopefully a proper next-gen port materializes some day. In the meantime,Red Dead Onlinefans can still play the last-gen version of the game on their new consoles if they so desire.
Red Dead Onlineis out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
