Red Dead Redemption 2 Current-Gen Port Was Seemingly in the Works, as Per Leaked Microsoft Documents from May 2022

Microsoft has suffered a significant leak, with unredacted FTC documents being accidentally published online, with details having emerged on a cloud-powered next-gen Xbox console, an Xbox Series X mid-gen refresh, a new Xbox controller, and plans for several upcoming Bethesda titles. Something else that’s been spotted in the documents is supposed plans for a native PS5 and Xbox Series X/S release of Red Dead Redemption 2.

The leaked documents in question (via Reddit) show internal emails between the Xbox leadership team from May of 2022, including Phil Spencer, Sarah Bond, and Matt Booty, among others, where they are discussing how best to fill up the release schedule for Xbox and Game Pass following the delay of Starfield. Among several third party titles mentioned in the conversation, one that’s mentioned is a native current-gen release of Red Dead Redemption 2.

Interestingly, Microsoft was hoping to secure a deal with Rockstar and Take-Two Interactive that would see the open world title’s port release day and date for Game Pass, though as per the email, the company felt it had a “very low” chance of closing that deal.

This isn’t the first we’ve heard of a native PS5 and Xbox Series X/S release for Rockstar’s open world epic, which is currently sitting at over 55 million units shipped worldwide. Leaked claimed in May 2022 that a current-gen port of the title was indeed in the works, though later in the year, it was claimed that Rockstar had shelved those plans, instead shifting focus to the development of Grand Theft Auto 6.

Whether a current-gen version of Red Dead Redemption 2 is still planned remains to be seen, though fans might certainly take some hope from the fact that the company did recently re-release the original Red Dead Redemption.