Red Dead Online: No Missed Opportunity, Says CEO

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has pushed back against the idea that Red Dead Online was a missed opportunity, defending the title’s sales and longevity despite its comparatively limited post-launch support. In an interview with IGN, Zelnick rejected the notion that the online component of Red Dead Redemption 2 underperformed relative to the juggernaut that is GTA Online.

Zelnick’s Defense

“There is literally nothing about Red Dead selling 85 million units that could signal a missed opportunity,” Zelnick said. “And Red Dead Online has been immensely successful and long-lasting.” He added that if Grand Theft Auto were not part of Take-Two’s portfolio, analysts and fans would still regard Red Dead as a massive franchise to be proud of. The CEO did not directly address the perception among some players that Red Dead Online could have grown larger with more consistent content updates on par with GTA Online.

Red Dead Online’s History

Red Dead Online launched roughly a month after Red Dead Redemption 2 and attracted a sizable player base early on. However, while GTA Online has received near-constant content additions over its nearly 13-year lifespan, Rockstar scaled back support for Red Dead Online after releasing the Dead Money expansion in 2021. The game saw only a brief return for 2025’s “Strange Tales of the West” update, leaving many fans wondering what could have been had Rockstar maintained its earlier cadence.

Sales Context

Red Dead Redemption 2

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