Take-Two Interactive’s latest earnings report confirms Red Dead Redemption 2 has surpassed 85 million copies sold, overtaking Wii Sports to become the third best-selling video game in history.
Red Dead Redemption 2 has officially crossed the 85 million copies sold mark, making it the third best-selling video game of all time. The milestone was revealed during Take-Two Interactive’s Q4 fiscal year 2026 earnings call on May 22, 2026, with CEO Strauss Zelnick confirming that the 2018 open-world western has overtaken Wii Sports (82.9 million) to claim the third spot on the all-time sales chart. Even more impressive: the game sold more copies in the past fiscal year than during any other 12-month period since its launch.
How RDR2 Reached 85 Million in 2026
Between March and May 2026, Red Dead Redemption 2 sold approximately 3 million additional copies, consistent with its average quarterly sales pace. This brought the total from 82 million (reported in February 2026) to over 85 million as of March 2026. The fact that a nearly eight-year-old single-player game continues to move 3 million units per quarter is remarkable by any standard in the industry.
The game’s sustained momentum stands in sharp contrast to most titles, which see steep sales declines within their first year. PlayStation Store data shows that Red Dead Redemption 2 has topped the PS4 download charts in both North America and Europe every single month for roughly ten consecutive months throughout 2025 and 2026. The April 2026 charts, published by PlayStation Blog, confirmed it remained the number one PS4 download on both continents.
The Updated Best-Selling Games of All Time
With the latest sales figures, the top of the all-time best-selling games list now looks like this:
| Rank | Game | Total Sales |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minecraft | 350 million |
| 2 | Grand Theft Auto V | 230 million |
| 3 | Red Dead Redemption 2 | 85 million |
| 4 | Wii Sports | 82.9 million |
| 5 | Mario Kart 8 | 79.5 million |
| 6 | PUBG: Battlegrounds | 75 million |
| 7 | Terraria | 70 million |
| 8 | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 60 million |
| 9 | Super Mario Bros. | 58 million |
| 10 | Human: Fall Flat | 55 million |
Worth noting: Wii Sports achieved most of its sales as a pack-in title bundled with the Nintendo Wii console. Red Dead Redemption 2’s 85 million copies were all standalone retail or digital purchases, making this accomplishment even more significant.
Why Is an Eight-Year-Old Game Still Selling So Well?
Several factors explain Red Dead Redemption 2’s extraordinary longevity. The game holds a 97/100 Metacritic score on PS4, tying it with Grand Theft Auto V as the highest-rated game on the platform. It won over 175 Game of the Year awards, including four wins at The Game Awards 2018 for Best Narrative, Best Score/Music, Best Audio Design, and Best Performance (Roger Clark as Arthur Morgan).
Word of mouth and consistent discounting on digital storefronts have kept the game accessible to new audiences. Its addition to PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium in May 2026 (available from May 19) alongside Star Wars Outlaws will likely introduce another wave of players. RDR2 also benefits from being one of the few definitive single-player experiences on last-gen hardware, which still has a massive install base.
The broader Red Dead Redemption series has now sold approximately 115 million copies in total, up from 110 million just three months prior. This suggests the first Red Dead Redemption, which received a modern-platform re-release, is still contributing additional sales.
The Next-Gen Question: Will RDR2 Get a PS5 and Xbox Series X Upgrade?
Despite its commercial success, Red Dead Redemption 2 still lacks a native current-gen upgrade. On PS5, the game runs via backwards compatibility at checkerboard 4K and 30 FPS. On Xbox Series X, it hits native 4K but remains locked at 30 FPS. The community has been vocal about wanting at least a 60 FPS performance mode.
Insider NateTheHate has repeatedly claimed that a next-gen version exists in some form of development and could arrive before Grand Theft Auto VI’s scheduled November 19, 2026 launch. Reports have mentioned potential features including stable 60 FPS, improved HDR implementation, and ray tracing support, with a PS5 Pro-exclusive mode rumoured to offer native 4K at 60 FPS with full hardware ray tracing. However, Rockstar has made no official announcement, and timing remains purely speculative.
GTA 6 and What Comes Next for the Sales Chart
Grand Theft Auto VI is confirmed for November 19, 2026, on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Analysts project it could sell as many as 25 million copies on launch day alone, according to GosuGamers’ reporting. If those projections hold, GTA 6 would rapidly climb the best-selling charts and potentially sit alongside its predecessor and Minecraft at the top within a few years.
For now, Rockstar appears fully focused on the GTA 6 launch, which may explain the delay in delivering a Red Dead Redemption 2 current-gen update. Once GTA 6 ships, attention could shift back to the Red Dead franchise, whether through an enhanced version, continued support, or even early conversations about a future sequel.
What Makes RDR2’s Commercial Success So Unusual?
Most AAA titles see the vast majority of their lifetime sales within the first year. Red Dead Redemption 2 defied that pattern by generating US$725 million in revenue during its opening weekend alone, then continuing to sell steadily year after year. According to Take-Two, the game sold between 6 and 12 million copies annually in the years following launch, with sales actually increasing in recent periods.
This trajectory mirrors what GTA V achieved, though at a different scale. Both titles demonstrate that Rockstar’s formula of deeply immersive open worlds, compelling narratives, and long-tail digital pricing creates a commercial engine that compounds over time.
Questions Gamers Keep Asking
How many copies has Red Dead Redemption 2 sold in total?
As of March 2026, Red Dead Redemption 2 has sold over 85 million copies worldwide. This figure was confirmed by Take-Two Interactive during their Q4 FY2026 earnings presentation on May 22, 2026.
Is RDR2 the best-selling game of all time?
No, but it is now the third best-selling game ever. Minecraft leads with 350 million copies, followed by Grand Theft Auto V at 230 million. RDR2’s 85 million puts it just ahead of Wii Sports (82.9 million).
Is Red Dead Redemption 2 on PlayStation Plus?
Yes. As of May 19, 2026, Red Dead Redemption 2 was added to the PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium game catalog. It is available for download on PS4 through the PS Plus subscription.
Will Red Dead Redemption 2 get a 60 FPS update?
There is no official confirmation from Rockstar Games. Insider reports suggest a next-gen version with 60 FPS support is in development and could arrive before GTA 6 launches in November 2026, but no timeline has been publicly committed to.
What is the Metacritic score of Red Dead Redemption 2?
The PS4 version holds a 97/100 Metacritic score from 99 critic reviews, making it one of the highest-rated games in history. The PC version has a more mixed user reception due to early launch issues, though critic consensus remains overwhelmingly positive.
