Red Dead games get surprise price hike amid next-gen patch and GTA 6 pricing rumors

Rockstar Games has quietly hiked the digital prices of Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2 in some regions, fueling gossip about the company's overall pricing strategy.With rumors circulating over a next-gen patch for RDR2 and growing expectations for GTA 6, fans are starting to wonder if Rockstar is positioning itself for even higher prices on subsequent releases.The initial indication of the price increase was seen in Brazil, where Red Dead Redemption (2010) rose from 89 BRL ($16) to 149 BRL ($26), and Red Dead Redemption 2 escalated from 250 BRL to 300 BRL. This is a major development for 15 and 7-year-old games, respectively. Increases have also been noticed in the UK, where RDR2 increased from £54.99 to £59.99, and RDR1 rose from £24.99 to £29.99.Other nations, such as Chile and the Czech Republic, also experienced regional price changes. The U.S. and most other regions are still safe for the meantime, though. What's interesting is that the PC versions of RDR2 on platforms such as Steam, Epic Games Store, and Rockstar's launcher have kept its price low, now only $15 in some instances, its all-time lowest.Although Rockstar and parent publisher Take-Two have not offered an official statement, industry observers are attributing the changes to an overarching trend in pricing. Nintendo recently set Mario Kart World at $80 for the next Switch 2, and Xbox will do the same with certain first-party titles. Fans now worry GTA 6 may be launched at or near this $80 figure.The Red Dead price increases also come at the same time as a speculated next-gen patch for RDR2, which implies that Rockstar might be setting the stage for a high-end re-release, albeit one similar in nature to GTA V. And with RDR2 leading PlayStation download lists and hitting 74 million units sold, Rockstar might just be profiting from long-term popularity.Even though there has been no official release, Rockstar's under-the-table price adjustments are doing the rounds. Whether setting the stage for a next-gen refresh or trying waters ahead of GTA 6's eventual price release, this is one thing that is certain: the price of being a Rockstar enthusiast may be increasing.Also Read: Ex-Rockstar Games dev Mike York reflects on the GTA 6 delay