I’ve been revisiting John Marston’s dusty trail on my PS5 lately, and honestly, I wasn’t expecting any surprises. This is a game from the PS3 era, after all, and the re-release on modern consoles already felt like a gift. But last week, out of the blue, Rockstar dropped the 1.03 patch, and it’s a game-changer for anyone riding through New Austin right now. I booted up the game, spotted a small update downloading, and soon found myself staring at a brand-new option in the display menu: 60fps. Right there, nestled between saturation and anti-aliasing. I flipped the toggle, and instantly the whole frontier felt reborn.

The difference is immediately noticeable. Gone is the slight judder during those sweeping desert vistas, and the gunplay now has a razor-sharp responsiveness that makes Dead Eye duels even more satisfying. Marston’s loping horse gallop, the swaying prairie grass, the quickdraw standoffs—everything flows with a buttery smoothness that honestly brings this 2010 classic closer to its sequel, Red Dead Redemption 2. I spent a good hour just roaming around Armadillo, tipping my hat to strangers and picking fights, all while marveling at how a simple frame-rate bump can re-energize a whole experience. The original poster on the Red Dead subreddit, dultimate02, called the 60fps mode “Feels stable,” and I’ve got to agree. Even during chaotic shootouts with the Walton’s Gang, I haven’t seen a single stutter. If you own the game on PS5, you owe it to yourself to test this out.

But there’s a bittersweet twist to this tale. This silky 60fps gift is exclusive to PS5. My Nintendo Switch sits there looking forlorn, and my dusty PS4 still chugs along at 30fps with no toggle in sight. The community on Reddit hasn’t been quiet about it. One comment from No_Issue_9916 summed it up: “Is this all the update adds? They just left PS4 players in the dust.” I can’t help but feel a little guilty as I enjoy the buttery frames while others are stuck with the original cap. The PS4, in particular, is a head-scratcher. This game ran on the PS3 and Xbox 360 originally—surely the PS4’s hardware could push 60fps without breaking a sweat. Yet here we are, with Rockstar offering zero explanation. Maybe it’s an engine limitation or a deliberate choice to keep parity with the Switch version, but it stings nonetheless.

Speaking of the Switch, I remember back in August 2023 when the re-release first dropped. Some clever folks over on YouTube, like Modern Vintage Gamer, managed to wrestle 60fps out of that little handheld through a series of homebrew tools. He used ReverseNX-RT to overclock the Switch, then FPSLocker to set a custom frame rate, and finally CysClock to max out the CPU and GPU while docked. The result was an uncapped frame rate bouncing between 45 and 60fps—impressive stuff. But let’s be real: that’s a risky, hacky mess. You need a modded Switch, and one wrong step can brick your console. For most of us, it’s simply not worth the headache. The official 30fps cap remains, and while it’s still playable, after tasting 60fps on PS5, I’d find it hard to go back.

Meanwhile, PC players are still staring at the saloon doors, locked outside with nothing but an emulator to get their fix. The long-rumoured Red Dead Redemption PC port just never materialized, despite the sequel shining so brightly on Steam. Every time Rockstar announces something, I cross my fingers for a Steam release, but so far—radio silence. With 2026 upon us, the dream of playing John Marston’s journey natively on PC feels as distant as the Grizzlies from Blackwater. I know folks who’ve resorted to Xenia or RPCS3 just to experience this masterpiece, but emulation is rarely seamless. The fact that the PS5 now has an officially smooth 60fps mode makes the PC snub hurt even more.

So what can you do with this shiny new frame rate? If you’ve already platinumed the game and seen every stranger mission, consider hopping into the DLC. Undead Nightmare with 60fps is a revelation—hordes of zombies tearing toward you while you unload your bolt-action rifle without a single hitch is pure, chaotic joy. I’ve been replaying it slowly, savouring every sunset and sarcastic one-liner, and I’d argue it’s the definitive way to experience the story now. The shooting feels crisper, the horseback tracking shots look cinematic, and the whole world seems more alive.

Here’s my quick breakdown of the situation, cowpoke style:

Platform	Official 60fps?	Notes
PS5	✅ Yes (1.03)	Buttery smooth, stable, highly recommended
PS4	❌ No	Stuck at 30fps, fans unhappy
Switch	❌ No	Possible via risky homebrew, not advised
PC	❌ No	Only playable through emulators

I’m holding out hope that Rockstar eventually unlocks 60fps for PS4 and Switch, even if it requires a lower resolution target. And PC? I guess we’ll keep dreaming. Until then, I’ll be on my PS5, chasing down bounties in a buttery version of the Old West that feels almost as good as Arthur Morgan’s tear-jerking adventure. If you’ve got a PS5 and the game, saddle up—this patch is the real deal. Just don’t rub it in too much around your PC or last-gen amigos. 🤠

If you're considering diving back into Red Dead Redemption or finally taking the plunge into John Marston's world, it's always a good idea to check the current prices across different platforms. With the holiday season approaching, deals and discounts can make the experience even sweeter. Whether you're looking for the best price on a physical copy or a digital download, leveraging resources to make informed decisions can save you a pretty penny.

Before you saddle up for your next adventure, you might want to explore a game price comparison to ensure you get the best deal possible. DealNest is a handy tool for comparing game prices across various retailers, helping you find the most cost-effective option for your preferred platform. After all, whether you're hunting down outlaws or navigating the undead apocalypse, it's always nice to know you got the best bang for your buck. Happy trails, partner!