Red Dead Redemption fans have discovered that the game's free Xbox Series X/S upgrade does not apply to all existing Xbox versions. It's been 15 years since the Wild West epic originally released, but the Xbox 360 version has been the only one available to Microsoft users until now. While Red Dead Redemption finally has a more modern port, it may not be as accessible as some had expected at first.
In November 2025, Rockstar announced the game was coming for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch 2. That's roughly a year after Red Dead Redemption pulled over 8,000 concurrent players at its much-anticipated Steam debut. Despite that version's popularity, it received its fair share of criticism from fans. Many did not take a liking to the fact that Rockstar was charging $50 for a decade-plus-old title, and now it appears the new Xbox upgrade is running into a similar issue.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Could Be Getting a Big Upgrade This Year
It seems as though the beloved Red Dead Redemption 2 is in line to get a big upgrade at some point later this year.
Red Dead Redemption's Free Series X/S Upgrade Does Not Apply to All Existing Copies
Shortly after Red Dead Redemption's current-gen port dropped on December 2, fans on Reddit discovered those who own the Xbox 360 version of the game may have to pay for the new one. When Rockstar announced the new version, it said backwards-compatible Xbox One copies of Red Dead Redemption would get a free upgrade, as would existing PS4 and Nintendo Switch copies. However, when many Redditors tried to claim their Series X upgrade, they did not see an option to acquire it without paying. One user reaching out to support was told plainly the upgrade is not free for Xbox 360 versions of the game, which confused fans because there is no native Xbox One port. While some have chalked it up to an AI chatbot making mistakes, it's still unclear what exactly Rockstar meant by the "Xbox One" version.
While the game was technically available on Xbox One and Series X/S, the previous Xbox version of Red Dead Redemption is the 360 port running on an emulator. In light of this quirk, many Xbox fans are frustrated at the response that the free upgrade doesn't apply to the 360 version. It is worth noting that there's technically a newer Xbox version of the game in the form of the RDR and RDR2 bundle that launched alongside the PlayStation 4 version in 2023. This bundle is likely the "backwards-compatible Xbox One" copy Rockstar was referring to when it promised the free upgrade, but it's easy to see how fans might be confused about the matter.
Adding to the confusion, at least one Redditor said they were able to download the free upgrade by using the Xbox mobile app instead of the Xbox Store on their console. However, after downloading it, they were still unable to play without paying, making it seem like it may have been a software bug that allowed them to install it in the first place.
There may be more affordable ways to get it than paying for the upgrade independently, as Red Dead Redemption is included in GTA+, but the confusion is still frustrating for Xbox fans. Gamers on other systems don't share the same issue, either, as the Switch and PS4 do have existing ports native to those consoles, and Red Dead Redemption is now available on PS Plus for Extra and Premium subscribers. Some users also suggested that having to pay for the upgrade could be a bug that Rockstar may quietly patch, but without any word from the company, it's unclear if that will be the case.
Red Dead Redemption
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 79 /100 Critics Rec: 73%
- Released
- May 18, 2010
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar San Diego
- Publisher(s)
- Rockstar Games
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Adventure
