Red Dead Redemption is coming to Xbox One thanks to backwards compatibility

Red Dead Redemption Xbox One

Gamers clamored. Gamers pleaded. Gamers cast 148,578 votes on Xbox.com to make it happen. Now, over a year after Microsoft enabled backwards compatibility on Xbox One, Rockstar Games has announced that it's bringing one of its most well-loved titles, Red Dead Redemption, to Microsoft's powerhouse gaming system.

Xbox 360 owners will be able to play the game directly on their Xbox One, regardless of which version of the game they own (Red Dead Redemption, Undead Nightmare and/or the Game of the Year Edition), starting on Friday, July 8.

While the game briefly made it to the Xbox One via the backwards compatibility program in February, Microsoft pulled a quick 180 and disabled the game saying that it was merely a public test and that it wasn't ready for public consumption.

The difference between today's news and that public test back in February is that today Rockstar approved Red Dead Redemption for the backwards compatibility program, rather than Microsoft covertly making it available.

Saddle up, cowboy

So why did Rockstar choose today to make it happen? Is it because Rockstar has plans for a Red Dead Redemption HD Remake? Or is it ready to unveil RDR's long-rumored sequel?

We can't say for sure, but the fact that Rockstar has already shown us the map for Red Dead Redemption 2 indicates that the latter is, at some point in the near future, very likely.

We also found out that Rockstar is already working on the next game in the Grand Theft Auto series, Grand Theft Auto 6 and, at least briefly, considered using Tokyo for a separate game's setting.

While today's news will undoubtedly make some gamers happy, unfortunately, if you've been waiting for a PC port you might still have awhile to wait.

Nick Pino

Nick Pino is Managing Editor, TV and AV for TechRadar's sister site, Tom's Guide. Previously, he was the Senior Editor of Home Entertainment at TechRadar, covering TVs, headphones, speakers, video games, VR and streaming devices. He's also written for GamesRadar+, Official Xbox Magazine, PC Gamer and other outlets over the last decade, and he has a degree in computer science he's not using if anyone wants it.

Latest in Xbox One
Xbox One and controller
It's official: Microsoft says it won't make any more new games for the Xbox One
Black and white Xbox One
Now is the best time to buy an Xbox One
Forza Motorsport trailer screenshot
The next Forza Motorsport game may come to Xbox One after all
Elden Ring on Xbox One
Don’t buy Elden Ring on Xbox One
Factory reset Xbox One
How to factory reset an Xbox One, Xbox One S and Xbox One X
Elden Ring
Elden Ring may look amazing even on Xbox One consoles
Latest in News
DeepSeek
Deepseek’s new AI is smarter, faster, cheaper, and a real rival to OpenAI's models
Open AI
OpenAI unveiled image generation for 4o – here's everything you need to know about the ChatGPT upgrade
Apple WWDC 2025 announced
Apple just announced WWDC 2025 starts on June 9, and we'll all be watching the opening event
Hornet swings their weapon in mid air
Hollow Knight: Silksong gets new Steam metadata changes, convincing everyone and their mother that the game is finally releasing this year
OpenAI logo
OpenAI just launched a free ChatGPT bible that will help you master the AI chatbot and Sora
An aerial view of an Instavolt Superhub for charging electric vehicles
Forget gas stations – EV charging Superhubs are using solar power to solve the most annoying thing about electric motoring