We waited 14 years to get Red Dead Redemption on PC, and we’ll have to wait even longer to find out how well it plays on Steam Deck
14 years after launching, Red Dead Redemption is now playable on PC, but Rockstar has not tested the game on Steam Deck.
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What you need to know
Red Dead Redemption finally launched on PC today. In a wait that makes Sirius Black’s time in Azkaban seem like a short stint, PC gamers have had to wait 14 years to play Red Dead Redemption, at least officially. The game’s PC launch is good news, but it’s accompanied by a bit of a strange development. Despite Rockstar’s deep pockets, the developer of Red Dead Redemption has not tested the game’s compatibility on Steam Deck.
The Red Dead Redemption port has many PC features to ensure the best experience, including support for 144Hz, ultrawide monitors, adjustable shadows and draw distance, AMD FSR, NVIDIA DLSS 3.7, and frame generation. The game is available throughSteam, theEpic Games Store, and theRockstar Store. It also includes the Undead Nightmare expansion.
If you hop over to the Red Dead Redemption listing on Steam, you’ll see a question mark and “Unknown” under Steam Deck compatibility. Unknown does not mean unsupported; it just means that Valve does not have enough information on the game. Rockstar could have helped Valve by testing Red Dead Redemption on Steam Deck, but instead, we’ll have to wait for the community to rank compatibility. I doubt there will be a shortage of players willing to share opinions, but it’s still disappointing that Rockstar did not handle that before launching the game on Steam.
Red Dead RedemptionNow:$39.99 at Steam
The legendary game is now available on PC, letting you run the western-themed title with the powerful specs of your gaming rig or within the palm of your hands through a handheld console. This version comes with the Undead Nightmare expansion and support for 144Hz, ultrawide monitors, adjustable shadows and draw distance, AMD FSR, NVIDIA DLSS 3.7, and frame generation.
Launch date:2024 (PC version)
See at:SteamSee at:Epic Games StoreSee at:Rockstar Store
✅Perfect for:Those who want to enjoy a legendary game that’s now available PC.
❌Avoid if:You do not enjoy western-themed games or zombies.
PC gaming on Steam Deck
Valve’s Steam Deck runs on avariation of the Linux operating systemrather than Windows, but the handheld console can play thousands of PC games. The not-so-secret secret sauce of the Steam Deck is a compatibility layer calledProton. Technically, Proton is not an emulator. Instead, it translates APIs such as DirectX to make them compatible with SteamOS. Proton is a fork of WINE (Wine Is Not an Emulator), which is one reason I highlighted that game compatibility is achieved through translation, not emulation.
Many don’t care about the method used to get games to work; they care that games work. Luckily, that’s the case with Proton and theSteam Deck-specific charts, where you’ll see many of thebest PC games, includingDiablo IV,Elden Ring, andBaldur’s Gate 3.
What’s up Rockstar?
I’m sure Rockstar is busy, but people have waited a long time to play Red Dead Redemption on PC. I know that Steam Deck runs on Linux, but it’s one of thebest gaming handhelds, and many people use it to play PC games. It would have been nice to see verified Steam Deck support when Red Dead Redemption launched.
Even though there’s a good chance Red Dead Redemption will run fine on Steam Deck, people shouldn’t have to take a risk, especially not for such a well-known title.
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
