Rockstar Games’ beloved, melancholic Western epic, Red Dead Redemption, is finally making the jump to mobile — and it’s doing it in style. The seminal 2010 title, often hailed as one of the best video games ever made, is riding onto iOS and Android on December 2, with the most accessible version landing directly in the lap of Netflix subscribers at no extra cost.

This is a multi-platform stampede, breathing new life into the dying Wild West saga of John Marston. Get ready to download the entire narrative, including the campy, zombie-infested standalone expansion, Undead Nightmare, and all the bonus content from the Game of the Year Edition.

The new frontier: Mobile controls and your Netflix queue

For the first time, you’ll be able to chase down the remnants of the Van der Linde gang on your commute. Rockstar has confirmed the mobile version comes with “mobile-friendly control options,” meaning the open-world gun duels, horse taming, and poker games have been adapted for touchscreens. While a physical controller will always be the purist’s choice for a game this complex, the promise of a custom touch interface suggests a smoother transition than previous mobile ports of Rockstar’s sprawling worlds.

The best part for a massive segment of potential players is the price of admission. If you already have a Netflix subscription, you’re in. Red Dead Redemption will be available to download and play free of ads or in-app purchases via the Netflix app, expanding the streaming service’s surprisingly robust gaming library with one of the industry’s biggest names.

Why you should care (even if you played the sequel)

If your only experience with the Red Dead universe is the stunning prequel, Red Dead Redemption 2, now is the perfect, canonical time to see how the story ends. You step into the dusty boots of John Marston, a former outlaw forced by federal agents (the Pinkertons) to hunt his old friends to save his family.

Red Dead Redemption is a portrait of an America caught between two eras: 1911. You’re riding a horse while folks are struggling to use a telephone. This duality — of lawlessness meeting civilization — is the heart of the game, wrapped in an atmosphere thick with harmonica, twangy steel guitar, and a few truly unforgettable vocal tracks, like Jose Gonzalez’s Far Away, which hits like a gut punch when you first cross into Mexico.

YEEHAW. Red Dead Redemption is coming soon to mobile for the first time ever on Netflix Games. Included with your membership.

Pre-register now: https://t.co/6XEA1imiSv pic.twitter.com/P7eK3AMbly

— Netflix (@netflix) November 13, 2025

Red Dead Redemption Mobile Edition launch teaser

Gameplay is the ultimate Western sandbox. Beyond the core narrative, the world is yours to explore, packed with activities like clearing gang hideouts, hunting for legendary fauna, playing poker, and engaging in classic duels. And yes, the iconic Dead Eye targeting system — which lets you slow down time, mark enemies for precision shots, and unleash them in a rapid-fire sequence — is fully intact. It’s a system that never gets old, and it will be a cornerstone of adapting the game’s intense shootouts to mobile.

Beyond the phone: A free upgrade for console owners

The mobile and Netflix release isn’t the only update. Rockstar is also rolling out Red Dead Redemption to the latest consoles with a host of technical boosts:

• PS5 and Xbox Series X / PS5 and Xbox Series S. Players can expect a smooth 60 frames per second experience, enhanced image quality, HDR support, and resolutions up to 4K.
• Nintendo Switch 2. This version will leverage the new hardware with DLSS support, HDR, and the same fluid 60fps at high resolution.

Crucially, players who already own the game digitally on PS4, Nintendo Switch, or the backward-compatible Xbox One version are eligible for a free digital upgrade to these enhanced new versions. Even better, you can carry over your existing save data from the previous PS4 and Switch consoles.

It’s clear Rockstar is pulling out all the stops for Red Dead Redemption’s grand re-entry. Whether you’re a returning fan eager for the 4K, 60fps console experience or a Netflix subscriber looking for a blockbuster to play on your phone, the Wild West is calling on December 2.

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