Red Dead Redemption 3 has not been announced. Neither Rockstar nor Take-Two has confirmed a new Red Dead game, and headlines calling it “confirmed” rest on general remarks about the series. What is official is that the franchise is one of Take-Two’s biggest: Red Dead Redemption 2 has sold over 87 million units, according to Take-Two’s results of 7 August 2026. Here is every statement worth knowing, and what it tells you.
Has Red Dead Redemption 3 been announced?
No. On 16 September 2026, there is no announcement, trailer, title or release window. Rockstar’s only confirmed release is GTA 6, on 19 November 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Until Rockstar says otherwise, any Red Dead Redemption 3 date is speculation.
What has Take-Two’s CEO said about Red Dead?
- May 2026, to IGN: asked whether Red Dead Online was a missed opportunity, Strauss Zelnick answered that there is “literally nothing about Red Dead selling 85 million units that could signal a missed opportunity”, as quoted by Gamereactor.
- May 2026, to The Game Business: Zelnick said new technology could “compress some development timelines”, as reported by Screen Rant, which notes that he did not name Red Dead Redemption 3.
- 2023: speaking about Take-Two’s franchises in general, Zelnick said that if a game is “really, really great, it will keep going”. Articles titled “RDR3 confirmed” used this line, which names no game.
What have former Rockstar developers said?
Dan Houser, Rockstar co-founder and lead writer on the Red Dead games, left the company in 2020. On Lex Fridman’s podcast in November 2025, reported by GamingBible, he said a new Red Dead would probably be made without him, adding “I don’t own the IP”. In January 2026, former Rockstar animator Mike York told Game Rant he “would be shocked” if work on a third game had not started. Neither is inside information about current development: one no longer works there, and the other is giving an opinion.
Why no announcement before GTA 6?
GTA 6 has had two delays before settling on 19 November 2026, detailed on our GTA 6 delay page. Take-Two’s CEO has also been careful not to name unannounced projects. Expect news about Red Dead, if any, after GTA 6 is out.
How big is Red Dead Redemption 2 today?
Take-Two reported that Red Dead Redemption 2 has sold over 87 million units in its results of 7 August 2026, up from the 85 million Zelnick quoted in May. That makes it one of the best-selling games ever, and still a steady seller eight years after release. Red Dead Online, meanwhile, receives monthly bonus events rather than new content, as covered on our Red Dead Online page.
If you want to replay it while waiting, the PC version with its mods, including the free Nuevo Paraiso expansion, is the richest way. The cheapest keys on PC and Xbox are compared in our Red Dead Redemption 2 price comparison, and Instant Gaming sells the Rockstar key for PC. Instant Gaming links on GTAside are affiliate links, same price for you. Mods are covered in our RDR2 mods guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Red Dead Redemption 3 confirmed?
No. Rockstar and Take-Two have not announced it as of 16 September 2026.
When will Red Dead Redemption 3 come out?
There is no date, because the game has not been announced. Any date you see is speculation.
How many copies has Red Dead Redemption 2 sold?
Over 87 million units, according to Take-Two’s results of 7 August 2026.
Is Dan Houser working on Red Dead Redemption 3?
No. He left Rockstar in 2020 and said in November 2025 that a new Red Dead would probably be made without him.
Sources: Take-Two results as reported by Insider Gaming (7 August 2026), Gamereactor quoting IGN (27 May 2026), Screen Rant (29 May 2026), GamingBible (5 November 2025), Game Rant (15 January 2026). Checked on 16 September 2026.