Table of Contents
It’s a debate that’s been bubbling in the community for years, did Rockstar abandon Red Dead Online too soon? Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick doesn’t think so.
Zelnick pushes back on the criticism
Speaking in a recent interview with IGN, Zelnick was asked directly whether Red Dead Online represented a missed opportunity. His response was blunt. Pointing to the game’s overall performance, he said there’s “literally nothing about Red Dead selling 85 million units that could signal a missed opportunity,” adding that Red Dead Online has been “immensely successful and long lasting.”
It’s a fair point, commercially speaking. Red Dead Redemption 2 has continued to sell steadily years after launch, which isn’t something many titles can claim.
The GTA shadow problem
Zelnick also acknowledged the franchise’s somewhat unfair position. Without GTA in Rockstar’s catalogue, he argued, people would be talking about Red Dead as one of gaming’s biggest franchises in its own right. The comparison has always been a tough one for the game to escape.
He went on to say he personally finds Red Dead incredible, crediting its “spectacular entertainment”, visual beauty, and continued relevance as reasons it keeps finding new players.
Whether fans of the online mode feel the same way is another matter entirely, but from a business perspective, Zelnick clearly sees no regrets.
TechLifeStyler doesn’t do filler. Just the stories worth your time, every day. You know where to find us.
More Stories
EA FC 26 confirms release date for its World Cup game mode
PlayStation Plus June 2026 free games revealed – Grounded, Darktide, and more
CD Projekt Red officially announces The Witcher 3’s third expansion, Songs of the Past