From hype to absolute chaos: review of the problematic launch of Red Dead Redemption on Xbox

Red Dead Redemption: how a launch born to be a party ended in the biggest chaos recently on Xbox.

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For weeks, the community had received with great hype the announcement that the new version of Red Dead Redemption would be coming to Xbox Series at no extra cost for those who already had the digitally retrocompatible version. On paper, it seemed like a straightforward transition: same game, same license, new optimized edition. The kind of update that’s usually resolved with a click, without complications and without fine print that hinders the experience.

But as soon as the new edition appeared in the Xbox store, the certainties disappeared. The update didn’t apply, the price was still marked as if it were an independent purchase, and messages between players started to multiply. What was supposed to be an immediate process turned into a general blockade that, to this day (December 5th), still affects thousands of users. And the worst part: nobody saw it coming.

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What really happened with Red Dead Redemption on Xbox Series

• From the very announcement, Rockstar assured that those who owned the digitally retrocompatible edition of the game would have access to the new version at no cost. In theory, this included the digital purchase made on Xbox 360, as it’s precisely the license that retrocompatibility uses as a basis. That detail generated calm at first, but also opened up space for confusion that would erupt hours later.

First day: a promise that wasn’t kept

As soon as the game’s file was activated on Xbox Series, many players discovered that only a 50% initial discount was offered. No sign of the free update, no “100% discount” message, no “Just for you” label.

Those who checked their library several times found that the promotion simply didn’t appear. Meanwhile, on PlayStation and Nintendo, everything worked from the first minute.

Second day: contradictory responses begin

Rockstar’s support started responding to some emails, ensuring that the free update was only available for “those who purchased the original digital version of Xbox 360”. On paper, that coincided with what was promised. The problem came in the next point of the message: for some users, support claimed that the Xbox Series version was “an independent purchase“.

The community panicked: Had Rockstar changed its criteria? Was it a internal misunderstanding? Or did the support agents simply not have the correct information?

Third day: the first cases are unblocked… but only outside of Spain

Some players from regions like New Zealand or the US started receiving the update as a personalized 100% offer, visible only when entering their file. There was no warning, no notification, no pop-up message: it simply appeared as a “Just for you” promotion.

• In Spain, meanwhile, nothing. Most were still seeing the price reduced to €24.99 and no free download option, even for those who had the digital game since 2010 or 2011.

Fourth day: Rockstar and Microsoft acknowledge the failure

Finally, both companies confirmed what was already evident: there was an error in the assignment of licenses.

We are aware of an issue that prevents Xbox players from updating their digital version to the optimized version for Xbox Series, and we are working with Microsoft to resolve it.

The internal forecast (according to support) was that the free update would be available “before the weekend”.

But even with that message, many players still didn’t see any changes. Some could download the game from the app, but when opening it, a message asking to buy it appeared. Others couldn’t even start the installation. In some cases, the Xbox 360 version appeared as not acquired, despite having been purchased years ago.

Fifth day: the anger erupts definitively

As the hours passed, the players exploded.

• “Same thing on console, PC, mobile, and app: nothing.”

• “It appeared on PS at the minute, here it still hasn’t.”

• “Microsoft blames Rockstar, and Rockstar sends generic responses.”

Only a few isolated cases reported success, almost always after entering the Deals for you section or after temporarily installing the Xbox 360 version.

Today, December 5th: the situation remains blocked for thousands of players

• As of today, a large part of the Xbox community still hasn’t received the free update. The reduced price continues to appear as the only option, and the initial promise that accompanied the announcement is far from being fulfilled normally.

Rockstar insists that the update will arrive, and Microsoft maintains that the deployment is advancing in phases. But the reality is that users are still in the air, constantly checking their library, trying alternative regions, reinstalling the retrocompatible version, and crossing their fingers for the 100% discount to appear at some point.

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A launch that should have been historic… and has become a technical nightmare

This relaunch had all the ingredients to work well: an improved version, a free update, and an attractive initial discount. However, the lack of synchronization between digital licenses, confusing communication, and contradictory responses have turned the process into one of the most frustrating cases in Xbox history.

Now all that’s left is to wait for the update to be activated for everyone and for those who purchased the digital game on Xbox 360 to finally enjoy the optimized version without paying a single extra euro.

We’ll let you know as soon as it’s unblocked for everyone.