His comments arrive amid ongoing fan speculation about Rockstar’s post-GTA 6 roadmap and whether the studio will eventually return to the frontier.

Houser can imagine another Red Dead, but he views the existing pair as a complete arc. “Each of the games (referring to the Grand Theft Auto games) was its own standalone story. It’s not quite the same with Red Dead; in some ways, it would be sadder if someone continued it, because it was a cohesive, two-game arc. That said, it will probably happen. I don’t own the IP. That was part of the deal: it’s a privilege to work on something, but you don’t necessarily own it.

Houser’s framing matters because it hints at the creative challenge a sequel faces: Red Dead’s first two games are narratively interlocked—Arthur Morgan and John Marston’s arcs echo and resolve each other, which raises the bar for a third chapter to justify itself without feeling like an appendage.

Practically, the business logic still points toward a return: Red Dead remains a premium brand with long tails, and Houser himself concedes a continuation is probable even if it makes him wistful to watch from the outside.

Bottom line: If Rockstar rides back into Red Dead, it’ll need a fresh approach, not just a new map. Houser’s “two-game arc” remark is a challenge and a warning: a third ride must earn its existence with a perspective as bold as Arthur and John’s.

Responding to a question from a fan on Twitter regarding the future of the series, Roger Clark – who played Red Dead Redemption 2 protagonist Arthur Morgan – said that though he has “absolutely no idea” when it’ll be, he’s “certain we will see Red Dead Redemption 3 one day.” That said, he isn’t so sure Arthur Morgan will be returning.

“I’m certain we will see RDR3 one day,” Clark wrote. “When that will be – I have absolutely no idea. Don’t count on Arthur’s involvement either. His story has been told, I feel.”

Rockstar Games’ parent company Take-Two Interactive announced last month that Red Dead Redemption 2 had surpassed 57 million lifetime shipments. The game recently also saw a resurgence in its player count following significant Black Friday promotions, hitting its highest ever peak concurrent user count on Steam.

Leaks have previously claimed that native PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of Red Dead Redemption 2 were at one point in the works at Rockstar, though the developer allegedly ended up shelving those plans in order to focus on the development of GTA 6.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Read our review of the game through here.

I’m certain we will see RDR3 one day. When that will be – I have absolutely no idea. Don’t count on Arthur’s involvement either. His story has been told, I feel.

— Roger Clark (@rclark98) December 5, 2023