Xbox has begun refunding users for Red Dead Redemption's current-gen upgrade after a confusing rollout. Microsoft and Rockstar have faced some criticism over the past year for various price-related concerns, and the Red Dead Redemption debacle saw both companies come under fire as fans felt frustrated and were uncertain who was at fault. Thankfully, it looks like Xbox is now righting that wrong by refunding players who bought the upgrade that was supposed to be free.
While it originally came out over 15 years ago, Red Dead Redemption has shot to the top of the Xbox charts after Rockstar released a much-anticipated current-gen version. Rumors of a live-action adaptation and speculation about a third entry in the series helped bring the beloved Western RPG back into the spotlight, but some players' excitement over the RDR revival cooled once the upgrade became available. Its listing on the Xbox Store left many feeling confused and even betrayed, but now things are clearing up at last.
Red Dead Redemption Games Are Suddenly More Expensive in 1 Region
Gamers in one region of the world will need to shell out a bit more cash if they want to pick up both Red Dead Redemption games on the Xbox Store.
Xbox Is Issuing Refunds to Some Users Who Bought Red Dead Redemption on Series X/S
Over a month after Red Dead Redemption received its Series X/S port, Xbox users on Reddit who bought the upgrade despite owning an original copy reported receiving refunds for it. When Rockstar first revealed Red Dead Redemption's current-gen upgrade, it made clear that Switch 2 and PS5 gamers would be able to upgrade for free. However, it seemed those that owned the Xbox 360 version were initially left out.
When the new version released in December 2025, several Xbox users discovered the Red Dead Redemption upgrade was not free for owners of the Xbox 360 version, or at least that's what Rockstar Support told them. Naturally, this frustrated players, not only because it made the promise of a free update feel misleading, but because the 360 port was technically the only older version of the game available on Xbox. Some chalked it up to an error with Rockstar's AI chatbot, while others claimed it was a technical glitch on the Xbox Store, but in either case, many were unable to get the game without paying. This caused some gamers to bite the bullet and pay for the current-gen edition they were supposed to get for free.
Since then, Rockstar clarified that the situation was an error and that those with an older Xbox copy were, indeed, entitled to a free upgrade. Fans with existing copies of Red Dead Redemption can now claim the Series X/S edition for free, and those who caved and bought it anyway are now getting much-deserved refunds. After an Xbox Game Pass price increase and rumors that Xbox consoles may get another price hike, the move comes as a relief to many amid rising cost concerns with Microsoft.
Now that the Red Dead Redemption Series X upgrade situation has finally settled, fans can look forward to what's next for the franchise. If Rockstar does plan on making a third RDR game, it'll likely be a while before it arrives. In the meantime, though, there's a solid chance that Red Dead Redemption 2 could get a current-gen version, possibly even within the year. Here's to hoping that RDR2's free upgrade rolls out a little more smoothly than the last one.
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
