Red Dead Redemptionreleased in 2010, and is regarded as one of the best open-world games of all time by many. With the equally impressiveRed Dead Redemption 2receiving higher praise in a lot of respects, the case for a remake of the original title is easy to make.
That being said, the likelihood of aRed Dead Redemptionremake is low with the current climate of the industry, especially from Rockstar Games. With the huge success of other ventures and the resources they necessitate, combined with recent controversies surrounding Rockstar’s remakes and remasters, the company might be dissuaded from aRed Deadremake despite how lucrative it could be.
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Rockstar’s Recent Remaster/Remake Controversy
In a very high-profile event, RockstarreleasedGrand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, which contained remasters of the classic titlesGrand Theft Auto 3, Vice City,andSan Andreas. While the title garnered a lot of hype in the run-up to its release, fans were vocally disappointed with the state in whichThe Definitive Editionlaunched. With a more cartoonish graphical style going against what many were initially expecting and the abundance of glitches inThe Definitive Edition,many believe the title was a rushed disservice to what were otherwise iconic Rockstar titles.
Considering how heavily controversy aroundThe Definitive Editionpermeated the discourse around remakes and remasters, Rockstar may be less likely to dedicate resources to these ventures in the future, especially due to the already lucrative nature of its flagship titles. WithGrand Theft Auto 5selling well over 160 million copiesover its near-decade on the market, the need for Rockstar to remake older games from a financial perspective is practically non-existent.
That being said, Rockstar recently gave the green light forremakes ofMax PayneandMax Payne 2,providing hope for the possibility of aRed Dead Redemptionremake too. It is worth noting that theMax Payneremakes are being developed by Remedy Entertainment in an agreement with Rockstar, alleviating the resources spent by the latter company significantly, and this move could be replicated for aRed Deadremake.
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Of all the titles in Rockstar’s iconic catalog, there are not many that come close to thefan desire for a remake asRed Dead Redemption. Building upon the more rudimentary core gameplay of 2004’sRed Dead Revolver,Red Dead Redemptionprovided fans with the most holistic and detailed representation of the Wild West that gaming had ever seen.
A dedicated fanbase for the title developed, with it receiving a positive and lasting critical reception for its gripping story and immersive world. Although fans remain to this day, the more recent release ofRed Dead Redemption 2has ignited a desire for the original title to be remade. In classic Rockstar fashion,Red Dead 2exceeded expectationsand excelled beyond its predecessor in terms of crafting visceral combat and a detailed open world. With the game engine forRed Dead 2being lauded, many long-terms fans are clamoring for a remake that uses the more advanced assets of the latest installment.
In this way, aRed Dead Redemptionremake may actually be easyfor Rockstar, relatively speaking. Not only has the detailedRed Dead 2created a base of reusable assets that fit the aesthetic of the original game, but there are huge swathes ofRed Deadcontent that are essentially remastered already.
Red Dead Redemption 2shares a lot of its map with its predecessor, so much of theoriginal area of New Austin has already been fully re-texturedwith higher fidelity assets. The improved horse riding mechanics, rag doll system, and more intelligent AI ofRed Dead Redemption 2could also be used for a remake, greatly reducing the workload that would otherwise be required for this task.
Moreover, aRed Deadremake could satiate fans by referencing the belovedprotagonist ofRed Dead 2, Arthur Morgan, who is not mentioned whatsoever inRed Dead Redemptiondespite the massive role he plays within the Van Der Linde gang. A bog-standard remake of the first game would already receive praise and commercial success given its history, but a remake that addresses some inconsistencies and plot holes in the original game would surely be even more popular.
Despiterumors that Rockstar has lost interest in aRed Deadremake, the desire for such a title is clearly present. Considering this remake could expand upon the game’s original story logically, it seems obvious that a remake would be very profitable for Rockstar, especially when considering how many of the necessary assets already existing.
Red Dead Redemptionis available now for PS3 and Xbox 360.
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