Dan Houser says Red Dead Redemption 2 was “the best thing" he worked on

Rockstar Games has built a legacy of blockbuster titles, from the unstoppable Grand Theft Auto franchise to cult classics like Bully and even the quirky Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis. But when asked which project stands above the rest, co-founder Dan Houser didn’t hesitate. He named Red Dead Redemption 2 as Rockstar’s crowning achievement.

Speaking at LA Comic Con, Houser described the 2018 Western epic as the most complete realization of Rockstar’s vision for open-world storytelling. “Red Dead 2, I think, was the best thing that I worked on, the best single kind of realization of open-world storytelling, thematic consistency, and understanding how the games are assembled to take you on an emotional journey,” he said.

Houser also named GTA 4, the middle part of GTA 5's story and design, and the ending of RDR1 among his favorites.

For many of us who played it, the game wasn’t just about shootouts and horseback rides; it was about living through Arthur Morgan’s story, one that blended cinematic drama with player-driven freedom in a way few games have ever achieved.

The numbers back up Houser’s sentiment. As of August 2025, Red Dead Redemption 2 has sold over 77 million copies, with the franchise as a whole surpassing 104 million units worldwide.

According to Circana’s recent report on the best-selling PlayStation games in the U.S. since 1995, RDR2 ranked third in both dollar sales and units sold, cementing its place among the most successful titles of all time.

Despite its success, Rockstar has yet to announce a new entry in the series. Instead, rumors point toward a next-gen upgrade of Red Dead Redemption 2 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, featuring 60 FPS support, enhanced visuals, and faster load times. A native port for the Nintendo Switch 2 has also been speculated, though Rockstar hasn’t confirmed anything officially.

For now, the studio’s focus is firmly on Grand Theft Auto VI, slated for release in May 2026.