Why the 85‑million figure matters
No, says Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, of course Red Dead Online isn’t a missed opportunity, the game sold 85 million copies. Zelnick adds, “There is literally nothing about Red Dead Online that could signal a missed opportunity” and that its 85‑million‑unit sales are greatly successful.
The key point is that the sheer volume of units sold means there’s no need to justify an online component: Red Dead Online has already proven its value through those numbers.
- The 85‑million count confirms a massive commercial success, which in turn removes any pressure for a live‑service update.
- Zelnick’s statement directly addresses the concern that Red Dead Online is being left out: “I think if we didn’t have Grand Theft Auto here at our company, then people would just talk about the fact that we have this massive franchise in Red Dead.”
While Rockstar may wish for more players on its servers, Zelnick’s view is pragmatic—selling 85 million copies is enough evidence to end debates. He also notes, “I’m not sure every game with an online slice needs to be a perpetually‑maintained live service mill,” indicating that the business model already works without constant updates.
In short, the numbers speak for themselves: Red Dead Online isn’t underperforming; it’s simply not required by sales figures.
