Red Dead Redemption’s Free New-Gen Upgrade
The newly released current-generation update for Red Dead Redemption is now live, bringing enhanced 4K resolution and 60 frames-per-second performance to the classic Western. While Rockstar Games announced the upgrade would be free for existing owners, there’s significant confusion and a notable exception, primarily affecting Xbox players.
The upgrade is available for the 2023 re-release of the game, which originally launched on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. Owners of those versions, as well as the subsequent PC release, can claim the new PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch 2 versions for free.
However, the situation is different for Xbox. Because Red Dead Redemption was already playable on modern Xbox consoles via backward compatibility, a 2023 re-release was never issued for that platform. This has created a split in upgrade eligibility.
According to Rockstar’s official communication and support confirmations, the free upgrade does apply to those who own the digital backward-compatible version of the Xbox 360 game. However, it does not apply to those who own the physical Xbox 360 disc.
This means players who purchased a digital copy on the Xbox Store years ago will receive the enhanced version automatically, while those with the original disc will need to purchase the new version separately if they wish to play it.
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The new-gen version includes the base game and the beloved Undead Nightmare expansion but does not include the original game’s multiplayer component. The title is also available as part of the PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscription catalogs.