An Unfinished Road: The State of Red Dead Redemption 3
Rockstar Games has not confirmed Red Dead Redemption 3. What it has done is produce two of the most critically praised Western games ever made — and left a former co-founder wondering, publicly, whether a third should exist at all. In October 2025, Dan Houser appeared on Lex Fridman Podcast #484 and addressed the franchise’s future with notable caution. Houser, who left Rockstar in 2020 to found Absurdventures, served as lead writer on both Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2. He said he believes a third game will probably happen — but framed that belief as something closer to a concern than a prediction.
With Grand Theft Auto VI now officially scheduled for November 19, 2026, the question of what Rockstar does next has become a live conversation for fans of the Red Dead franchise.
“Each of the [GTA] games was kind of a standalone story. It’s not quite the same [with Red Dead Redemption]. I think it probably would be, in some ways, sadder if someone continued on Red Dead, because it was a cohesive two-game arc. That might be more sad…”
— Dan Houser, former Rockstar Games co-founder · Lex Fridman Podcast #484, October 2025Twenty Years on the Frontier
From a modest 2004 PS2 title to one of the highest-grossing entertainment launches on record
Originally a Capcom project, the game was acquired and completed by Rockstar San Diego. Released for PS2 and Xbox, it received mixed reviews. It is set in a separate canon from the later Redemption games — Red Harlow, its protagonist, is not part of the John Marston or Arthur Morgan storyline.
Released for PS3 and Xbox 360, the game follows John Marston in 1911 during the final years of the American frontier. It has shipped over 25 million copies and won multiple Game of the Year awards. Dan Houser was lead writer. It was announced for PC, PS4/5, Switch, and mobile platforms in later years.
A prequel to RDR1, set in 1899 and following outlaw Arthur Morgan. Released for PS4 and Xbox One, RDR2 generated $725 million in its opening weekend — the second-largest entertainment launch in history at that time, behind only GTA V. It holds a 97 Metacritic score on both consoles. Houser served as lead writer.
After more than two decades, Dan Houser departed Rockstar Games. He later founded Absurdventures, developing original IP across games, books, and audio. His brother Sam Houser remains at Rockstar as its president. Dan has no current role in Rockstar’s development.
On Lex Fridman Podcast #484, Houser said he believes Rockstar will start work on a third Red Dead game after GTA VI ships, but added he would find it “sadder” than leaving the two-game arc alone. He was speaking as a former co-founder — not as someone with current knowledge of Rockstar’s plans.
After two delays from its original 2025 window, Rockstar confirmed GTA VI for November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. No Red Dead announcement has accompanied this. As of April 2026, Red Dead Redemption 3 remains officially unconfirmed.
Three Camps, One Question
After Houser’s comments circulated, fans on Reddit debated what a third game should look like — or whether it should be made at all. Tap each card to read the community’s argument.
Many fans believe a prequel exploring the Van der Linde gang in its earliest years would be the most natural direction — one that adds story without overwriting what already exists.
Others want a clean break: a new character, a new story, and no narrative connection to John Marston or Arthur Morgan.
A portion of the community shares Houser’s concern — that the two games form a complete arc and a third risks undermining it.
Houser’s Comments, In Context
On Lex Fridman Podcast #484, published October 31, 2025, Houser was asked about the Red Dead franchise’s future. He said each GTA game was written as a standalone story, and that Red Dead is different — it was built as a cohesive two-part arc. He expressed concern that continuing the series could undercut what he and his team built across both games.
He also said he believes Rockstar will start work on a third Red Dead game after GTA VI ships. This was his personal read of the situation — not a Rockstar announcement. He left the studio in 2020 and has no current role there.
Houser also reflected on the endings of both Red Dead games as examples of storytelling that came together the way the team intended — which he described as unusual in big-budget development. That context is why his caution carries weight for fans who played through both.
Dan Houser left Rockstar Games in March 2020 after more than two decades with the studio. He co-founded Rockstar alongside his brother Sam Houser and three others. Sam Houser remains at Rockstar as its president. Dan has no ongoing involvement in any Rockstar project.
After leaving, Dan founded Absurdventures, a creative company working on original IP across games, books, audio, and comics. Current projects include A Better Paradise, a near-future AI-focused story, and American Caper, a dark satirical world.
When he speaks about Red Dead Redemption 3, he is offering a personal view on a franchise he helped build — not communicating Rockstar’s development plans.
As of April 2026, Rockstar Games has made no official statement about Red Dead Redemption 3. The studio’s confirmed focus is Grand Theft Auto VI, scheduled for November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar has not commented on Houser’s Lex Fridman Podcast remarks.
Red Dead Redemption 3 is not confirmed, not announced, and not in any stage of development that Rockstar has publicly disclosed. Rockstar operates under Take-Two Interactive and has consistently declined to discuss unannounced projects.
Fan reaction to Houser’s comments spread quickly across the Red Dead community. A post on X gathered notable engagement following the podcast’s release:
Community reaction to Houser’s comments is documented in this X post discussing Red Dead Redemption 3’s prospects.
On r/reddeadredemption, debate ran across all directions. One widely upvoted counterpoint to Houser’s “cohesive arc” concern read: “RDR1 was written without RDR2 in mind. The story is only cohesive because the storytelling was so good in RDR2. With good writers they could definitely make a third game and make it fit with the overall story arc.” The thread drew thousands of responses, with no clear consensus beyond agreement that the setting itself still has potential.
Dan Houser’s October 2025 comments on the Lex Fridman Podcast were covered here — including his assessment that a third Red Dead game will likely be made after GTA VI ships, alongside his personal concern about continuing a “cohesive two-game arc.” His statements were made as a former co-founder with no current role at Rockstar. Grand Theft Auto VI remains on schedule for November 19, 2026. No Red Dead Redemption 3 announcement has been made by Rockstar as of April 2026.
Fan positions from r/reddeadredemption were also discussed — a prequel set before 1899, a standalone story with a new protagonist, or leaving the existing arc closed. For more on what is currently confirmed in gaming, see coverage of Wild Arms 4 on PlayStation Plus Premium and the Gothic Classic Trilogy’s return on console in 2026.