As many as eight developers at Rockstar Games have confirmed that a Nintendo Switch 2 port of Red Dead Redemption 2 is coming.
This is what Reece “Kiwi Talkz” Reilly confirmed on X in response to questions about why Rockstar didn’t show up at the September 12 Switch Direct.
In Reilly’s words, Rockstar didn’t “need to” announce Red Dead Redemption 2 at the aforementioned events, which is pretty much in line with the company’s MO.
When it comes to major announcements, Rockstar operates on an entirely different level than most publishers. They simply don’t need the exposure that a Nintendo Direct provides.
While other companies eagerly line up to showcase their games during these events, Rockstar has built a powerful brand that can generate massive attention with a single social media post or press release on its own channels. To that end, Rockstar has rarely participated in industry showcases like PlayStation’s State of Play, The Game Awards, or Summer Game Fest, if at all. This has allowed them to cultivate an aura of exclusivity around their announcements, and it’s a strategy that has served them exceptionally well. When Rockstar has something to say, everyone stops to listen, regardless of the venue.
Besides, for a company like Rockstar, which carefully manages every aspect of its public image, submitting to Nintendo’s strict presentation guidelines and confidentiality agreements would be like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.
As Reilly puts it, the relationship between Nintendo and Rockstar is the “classic unstoppable force meets the immovable object.” Neither one of these companies is going to budge.
Historical precedent backs this up. When L.A. Noire came to Nintendo Switch, there was no grand Direct announcement. The same happened with Red Dead Redemption. Rockstar simply announced these ports on their own terms.
So while Red Dead Redemption 2 might be one of the best-selling video games of all time, it’s not enough to make Rockstar change its ways.
With that said, the Nintendo Switch 2 port of the 2018 title will arrive. Industry insiders have been particularly vocal about this project over the past year. But if it isn’t obvious already, you shouldn’t expect to hear about it during a Nintendo Direct. Instead, keep an eye on Rockstar’s official channels for surprise announcements that come on their schedule, not Nintendo’s.
