Summary
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick is defending the high price of theRed Dead Redemptionport for the Nintendo Switch as some gamers cry foul about what they see as an inflated price tag for the aging title. The announcement of a Switch port of Rockstar’s classic open-world Western came earlier this week following months of speculation over a potentialRed Dead Redemptionremaster.
Originally released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2010,Red Dead Redemptionsaw Rockstar take the open-world expertise it’d gained from theGrand Theft Autofranchise and transfer it to an Old West setting. Putting players in the shoes of former outlaw John Marston as he hunts down members of his former gang in order to free his family,Red Dead Redemptionwas praised by critics and players alike for providing a fresh take on the open-world genre. Despite longstanding calls for a full remaster of the fan-favorite title, Rockstar announced ports ofRed Dead Redemptionfor Nintendo Switchand PlayStation 4 earlier this week instead.
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While thePS4 and Switch ports ofRed Dead Redemptionwill finally give players on those systems a chance to get their hands on Rockstar’s beloved Old West title, many gamers have expressed disappointment at the high price of the ports. With a price tag of $50, only slightly cheaper than most new console releases, the pricey port of the acclaimed but aging title has been viewed as a cash grab by some disgruntled gamers. Responding to these complaints in a statement to IGN, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated “That’s just what we believe is the commercially accurate price for it.”
The often-controversial and always outspoken Take-Two CEO was backed up by the company’s EVP of Finance, Hannah Sage, who noted that the ports also come bundled with theUndead Nightmareexpansionwhich had previously been released as a standalone title. Despite including both the base game and its zombie-filled expansion for less than the cost of most new releases, many gamers are still frustrated with the high-priced port. These frustrations are compounded by the fact thatRed Dead Redemption’s ports lack both multiplayer functionality and the ability to be played at 4K, with Xbox Series X owners having enjoyed the latter for several years.
Although Zelnick claims that the Switch release ofRed Dead Redemptionis “certainly a great value for consumers” it’s abundantly clear that a sizable contingent of those consumers see things very differently. And given the surprisingly high price of the ports and the pushback they’ve already received, some gamers may simply choose to sit out this re-release and wait forRed Dead Redemption 3to be announced instead.
Red Dead Redemptionis out now for PS3 and Xbox 360 with PS4 and Switch versions coming August 17.
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