Red Dead Redemption gets its first big graphics improvement with new Xbox One X support

News
By published

Six new Xbox 360 games are getting X Enhancements, and 19 more original Xbox games are coming too

Red Dead Redemption will get its first significant visual upgrade when a new slate of Xbox One X enhancements roll out for backwards compatible games. Microsoft revealed in a new episode of the company's official Inside Xbox program that a set of six games received new features for the 4K-ready console today, while also confirming that a fresh selection of original Xbox games are on the way to Xbox One backwards compatibility.

First off, here's the list of Xbox 360 games to receive fancy new Xbox One X enhanced visuals in today's update:

  • Darksiders
  • Gears of War 2
  • Portal 2
  • Red Dead Redemption
  • Sonic Generations (also its debut on Xbox One)
  • Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Since Red Dead Redemption only ever came out on Xbox 360 and PS3, it never got the benefit of next-gen graphics (or the scads of unofficial visual-improvement mods that are available for other Rockstar games like GTA 4 and GTA 5 on PC). Exploring the old west again with improved visuals on Xbox One X sounds like a nice way to pass the time until Red Dead Redemption 2 arrives this fall.

That's just the start, though. If you prefer your games to be aged at least two generations, you'll be extra excited for the new original Xbox games on the way. Here's the first set of original Xbox games that are officially coming on April 17 (a few of these snuck out early).

  • Blinx: The Time Sweeper
  • Breakdown
  • Conker: Live & Reloaded
  • The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
  • Hunter: The Reckoning
  • Jade Empire
  • Panzer Dragoon Orta
  • SSX 3

Between Morrowind and Jade Empire, you're already set with two very fine vintage roleplaying games. Here's the next set of original Xbox games coming on April 26.

  • Destroy All Humans!
  • Full Spectrum Warrior
  • Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction
  • MX Unleashed
  • Panzer Elite Action: Fields of Glory (Europe only)
  • Star Wars: Battlefront
  • Star Wars: Battlefront II
  • Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
  • Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter
  • Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
  • Star Wars: Republic Commando

Man, I forgot so many Star Wars games came out on Xbox - and a bunch of good ones in this selection, too. Star Wars: Republic Commando in particular remains an underappreciated classic of just-tactical-enough shooting action. Whether you're out on the lone prairie or fighting Geonosians under distant stars, you can't argue with a nice little graphics boost.

Want some more modern fare to go with your Xbox classics? Check out our list of the best Xbox One games!

Connor Sheridan
Connor Sheridan

I got a BA in journalism from Central Michigan University - though the best education I received there was from CM Life, its student-run newspaper. Long before that, I started pursuing my degree in video games by bugging my older brother to let me play Zelda on the Super Nintendo. I've previously been a news intern for GameSpot, a news writer for CVG, and was formerly a staff writer at GamesRadar.