Platform comparison

Red Dead Redemption: which platform plays it best?

What changes between PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, Switch: resolution, FPS per mode, what each official store publishes and the FPS we measured on PC.

  • 5platforms compared
  • 33graphics cards measured on PC
  • 17,59 €cheapest key, on Switch
  • 6video comparisons

Quick verdict

Check videos →

Red Dead Redemption runs best on PC, and the version that makes most sense is Switch 2.

Best graphics experience PC 33 cards measured on Ultra; an RTX 3080 Ti gives 303-330 fps
Best console experience PS5 a stable 60 fps, plus more detail, shadows and draw distance
Best performance for the money PC key at 22.27 € and an RTX 4090 at 359-411 fps on Ultra
Best for playing away from home Switch 2 60 fps, 1440p from 720p and loads ten times faster

Why PC wins

This game is from 2010, and the PC numbers show it: we measured 33 cards on the Ultra preset, where an RTX 4090 delivers 359-411 FPS at 1080p, an RTX 4080 SUPER 351-388 and even an RTX 3080 Ti sits at 303-330. It also supports 4K, 120 FPS, ultrawide, DLSS 3.7, FSR 3.0 and frame generation.

On console

On console, the native PS5, Xbox Series and Switch 2 versions arrived free for anyone who owned the previous-generation release. PS5 raises level of detail, shadows and draw distance over PS4, and nails a stable 60 FPS. Before those native versions the game ran through backward compatibility: 2160p and 30 FPS on PS5 and Xbox Series X, 1440p on Series S, and even then PlayStation led on filtering, shadow resolution and loading times.

The Switch 2 surprise

The surprise is Switch 2: it renders at 720p and outputs 1440p, a lower resolution, yet it tracks PS5 closely on several settings and holds 60 FPS too. Against the original Switch it gains 60 FPS, draw distance, higher-resolution shadows and load times more than ten times faster. With so little separating it from PS5, this is a game worth taking out of the house.

There is no ray tracing on PC, and HDR is only partial.

Based on 33 GPUs measured and all console display modes Updated 30 Dec 2025

Price on each platform

The best live offer for each version, every price with its format.

See every price for Red Dead Redemption on all platforms →

Red Dead Redemption on Switch 2, PS4 and PS5: graphics comparison

  • The native PS5, Switch 2 and Xbox Series versions shipped free to anyone who already owned the previous-generation release.
  • PS5 raises settings slightly over PS4: level of detail, shadows and draw distance.
  • Switch 2 renders at a lower resolution but tracks PS5 closely on several of those settings.
  • The biggest change from the PS4 version is a stable 60 FPS, which both consoles hold.
  • For portability, he considers it an ideal title on Switch 2 given how little separates it from PS5.

Red Dead Redemption on Switch versus Switch 2: graphics comparison

  • Switch 2 arrives with clear gains over the original Switch, and one odd decision.
  • The gains that stand out are 60 FPS, draw distance and higher-resolution shadows.
  • On resolution, Switch 2 outputs 1440p from a common 720p. Switch 1 renders at native 1080p.
  • Load times are more than ten times faster on Switch 2.
  • The Switch 2 version upgrades for free if you already own the Switch 1 release.

Red Dead Redemption on Switch 2, ROG Xbox Ally, Steam Deck and phone: graphics comparison

  • Steam Deck was tested at medium settings and native 800p.
  • ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X were tested at high settings in Turbo mode, with FSR on quality at 1080p.
  • Performance of the phone version varies with the device.

Red Dead Redemption on Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo: every version

  • The PS4 version restores several things the PS3 release cut back: vegetation, ambient occlusion and shadows.
  • PS5, Xbox One S/X and Xbox Series S/X leaned on backward compatibility: PlayStation with the PS4 version, Xbox with the Xbox 360 one.
  • The PlayStation version advantages over Xbox are higher resolution, better shadow filtering and the option to enable FSR 2.0.
  • In his view the Switch release is the perfect version to play: portable and with no visual cutbacks.

Red Dead Redemption on PS5, Xbox Series S, Series X and Switch: graphics comparison

  • Before the native versions, PS5 ran the PS4 release and Xbox Series the Xbox 360 one, both through backward compatibility.
  • PS5 inherited the PS4 Pro enhancements and reached 2160p; Xbox Series X matched that resolution through enhanced backward compatibility, while Series S stayed at 1440p.
  • The Switch version is a remastered port of the original, and its main draw is the improved resolution and stability over PS3 and Xbox 360.
  • Switch runs at 1080p and 30 FPS docked and 720p and 30 handheld, where render resolution, shadows and anisotropic filtering drop.
  • Because it starts from a more recent release, PlayStation showed higher filtering, higher-resolution shadows and shorter loads than Xbox.
  • The PlayStation version also lets you enable FSR.
  • Every version is locked at 30 FPS, and the differences between them are minimal.

Red Dead Redemption on Switch, PS4 and PS3: graphics comparison

  • The PS4 and Switch versions are a remastered port of the original, with higher resolution and more stability than on PS3.
  • Switch runs at 1080p and 30 FPS docked and 720p and 30 handheld, where render resolution, shadows and anisotropic filtering are cut.
  • PS4 lets you enable FSR 2, which improves the image considerably at no performance cost.
  • PS4 has better shadows, anisotropic filtering and anti-aliasing than Switch.
  • Even so, the Switch version is practically 1:1 with PS4, and it is the one he would pick.
  • Performance is solid on Switch and PS4 with no notable issues, and pop-in is still there, though milder than in the original.
  • Switch loads faster; on PS3 loading is three times slower.

Full platform comparison

Resolution, modes and FPS come from the video analyses above. The rest is published by each platform's official store and by the game's technical sheet on PC. Where nobody publishes the figure we put a dash, not a guess.

Feature PC PS5 Xbox Switch 2 Switch
Native current-generation version —YesYesYesNo
Resolution Unlocked (4K supported)——1440p output from 720pNative 1080p docked
Frame rate UnlockedA stable 60—A stable 6030
In handheld mode ————720p at 30 FPS, with lower render resolution, shadows and anisotropic filtering
Gains over the PS4 version —More level of detail, better shadows and greater draw distance—Lower render resolution, but settings close to PS5—
Switch 2 gains over Switch ———60 FPS, greater draw distance and higher-resolution shadows—
Switch against the PS4 version ————Practically 1:1 with the PS4 release; PS4 has better shadows, anisotropic filtering and anti-aliasing, while Switch loads faster
Load times ———More than 10 times faster than on SwitchShorter than on PS4; on PS3 they are three times slower
Free upgrade from the previous generation —YesYesYes—
Before the native version (backward compatibility) —2160p and 30 FPS, inheriting the PS4 Pro enhancements2160p on Series X and 1440p on Series S, at 30 FPS, running the Xbox 360 version——
PlayStation against Xbox in backward compatibility —Higher filtering and shadow resolution, shorter loads and the option to enable FSRLower filtering and shadow resolution, with longer loads——
On PC handhelds Steam Deck: medium settings at native 800p · ROG Xbox Ally: high settings in Turbo mode with FSR quality at 1080p————
Upscaling DLSS 3.7 and FSR 3.0————
Frame generation DLSS FG————
Ray tracing No————
HDR Partial————
4K Yes————
120 FPS Yes————
Ultrawide Yes————
Adjustable field of view Partial————

Xbox is the Series X column unless Series S is stated. Resolution, modes, FPS, VRR and download size come from the videos; HDR, ray tracing and PC features from the technical sheet and the official Xbox catalogue.

PC performance

FPS measured at 1080p on Ultra quality, across 33 graphics cards. These are measurements on this game, not estimates.

The 6 fastest cards measured on Red Dead Redemption
Graphics cardFPS at 1080pRelative performance
ASUS GEFORCE RTX 4090 24 GB 359–411
GEFORCE RTX 4080 16 GB SUPER 351–388
GEFORCE RTX 4080 16 GB 347–384
Radeon RX 7900 XTX 24 GB 315–371
GEFORCE RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16 GB 313–346
GEFORCE RTX 3080 Ti 12 GB 303–330

Red Dead Redemption system requirements & FPS metrics →

Frequently asked questions about Red Dead Redemption

Which platform does Red Dead Redemption look best on?

PC, with free resolution and settings, 4K, 120 FPS and ultrawide support. On console the best image is PS5, which raises level of detail, shadows and draw distance over the PS4 version.

How does it look on Switch 2?

Better than its resolution suggests. It renders at 720p and outputs 1440p, yet it tracks PS5 closely on several settings and holds a stable 60 FPS. The analysis calls it an ideal title on Switch 2 precisely because so little separates it from PS5.

What does Switch 2 gain over the original Switch?

60 FPS, greater draw distance, higher-resolution shadows and load times more than ten times faster. The odd part is resolution: Switch 1 renders at native 1080p while Switch 2 renders at 720p, though it outputs 1440p. The Switch version runs at 30 FPS, drops to 720p handheld and is practically identical to the PS4 release.

Is the upgrade to the native version free?

Yes. The native PS5, Xbox Series and Switch 2 versions shipped free to owners of the previous-generation release, and the Switch 2 version also upgrades free from the Switch one.

Does it run well on Steam Deck?

Yes. The analysis tested it at medium settings and native 800p. On ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X it was tested at high settings in Turbo mode, with FSR on quality at 1080p.

Does it have ray tracing?

No. PCGamingWiki does not list it for the PC version, and this game's Xbox catalogue entry declares no graphics capabilities at all. PC HDR is marked as partial.

What graphics card do I need on PC?

Almost anything. We measured 33 cards on the Ultra preset: an RTX 4090 gives 359-411 FPS at 1080p, an RTX 4080 SUPER 351-388, a Radeon RX 7900 XTX 315-371 and an RTX 3080 Ti 303-330. Pick yours on the requirements page for the exact figure.

What frame rate does it hit on console?

PS5 and Switch 2 both hold a stable 60 FPS, and that is the biggest change from the PS4 version. No figures have been published for the native Xbox Series release; in backward compatibility it was locked at 30 FPS, like every version at the time.

How does it look on Xbox Series X and Series S?

The native Xbox Series version shipped free to owners of the previous release, but the video analyses publish no figures for it. What is measured is the backward-compatibility stage: Xbox Series X ran the Xbox 360 version at 2160p and 30 FPS and Series S at 1440p and 30, behind PlayStation on filtering, shadow resolution and loading times.

Which upscalers does the PC version support?

DLSS 3.7 and FSR 3.0, plus frame generation through DLSS FG. On console, the PlayStation version lets you enable FSR; there is no published data for the rest.

Which version is cheapest?

The cheapest key is on Switch at 17.59 € on Driffle, then PC at 22.27 € on Kinguin and Switch 2 at 23.46 €, also on Kinguin. On Xbox the key is 24.99 € on the Microsoft Store. Watch out for account offers: they look cheaper because they are not a purchase in your name.

Video analysis by El Analista de Bits. The videos play from their own channel. PC data according to PCGamingWiki and our own FPS measurements; Xbox features according to the official Microsoft catalogue.