Summary
Red Dead Redemption 2broke another record on Steam with an all-new peak in player count nearly four years after the PC version’s release. The Black Friday sale forRed Dead Redemption 2appears to be a key factor in the game’s resurgence on Steam, resulting in multiple new records being broken in just a few days' time during the weekend.
Released in October 2018 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One,Red Dead Redemption 2is a prequel to 2010’s critically acclaimedRed Dead Redemption.Red Dead Redemption 2players explore the Wild West as Arthur Morgan, a member of the notorious Van der Linde gang, as the 20th century draws near in the main story. After much anticipation from PC gamers, Rockstar Games released the Steam version with 4K support, higher frame rates, and HDR one year later in 2019.Red Dead Redemption 2still serves as a useful gaming benchmark for PC hardware due to its vast open world and demanding performance settings. Moreover, many players are exploring the latest entry in theRed Deadseries for the first time due to the Steam Black Friday sale.

According to updated SteamDB charts, theSteam version ofRed Dead Redemption 2reached a new all-time peak with a total of 77,655 Steam players on November 26. Shortly afterRed Dead Redemption 2’sBlack Friday sale began, a new all-time peak was initially set on November 25 with 73,138 concurrent players. The record was broken just a few days later with the aforementioned total of 77,655 Steam players, andRed Dead Redemption 2reached a 24-hour peak of 69,822 players as well. The lifetime player count history forRed Dead Redemption 2shows a steep increase in the overall player count since November 2022. Although the player count plateaued at around 45,000 players throughout most of 2023, the player count began to increase even further from September to November 2023.
Red Dead Redemption 2’scurrent player count is hovering around 33,000 to 35,000 players on Steam, and those still interested in the PC version have until November 28 to save on the base game orRed Dead Redemption 2Ultimate Edition. The base game is available at just $19.79, and Steam users can save 70% on theUltimate Editionfor $29.99. Moreover,Red Dead Redemption 2is playable on Steam Deck, so those who take advantage of the sale should have a good experience on the handheld platform after installing the game.

The new all-time Steam record is a notable sign of continued interest inRed Dead Redemption 2anda potentialRed Dead Redemption 3. However, it’s clear thatGrand Theft Auto 6is Rockstar Games' focal point for years to come as the studio’s next major project. Fans of Rockstar Games won’t have to wait long since aGrand Theft Auto 6reveal is coming in December.
Red Dead Redemption 2
WHERE TO PLAY
America, 1899. The end of the wild west era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed. After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him. From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age.