You buy the Red Dead Redemption 2 download for PC from the Rockstar Store, Steam or the Epic Games Store. Steam sells the standard edition at $59.99 and the Ultimate Edition at $99.99, and the PC game is Windows-only.
This guide covers the official store links, the install on Windows 11 and Windows 10, what Mac owners can do instead, the system requirements, the edition choice, and fixes for a download that stalls.
Which Red Dead Redemption 2 download do you need?
Rockstar sells the game on its own store and through two PC storefronts. Match your machine to a row.
| Your device | What you get | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC | Standard or Ultimate Edition, installed by Rockstar Games Launcher | Rockstar Store |
| Windows PC with a Steam library | $59.99 standard, $99.99 Ultimate Edition | Steam store page |
| Windows PC with the Epic Games Launcher | The same Windows game, installed by Epic | Epic Games Store page |
| Xbox Series X, Series S or Xbox One | Console edition at $59.99, no PC entitlement | Xbox listing |
| Mac | No macOS build; stream from a Windows PC over your network | Steam Link and Remote Play |
All three PC rows install the same Windows game. The store you pick only decides which launcher starts it.
Download Red Dead Redemption 2 for PC from the official stores
There is no standalone setup file to grab. Each store hands the download to its own launcher after you buy.
- Rockstar Store product page — Standard, Ultimate Edition and Red Dead Online, for the Rockstar Games Launcher platform
- Steam store page — 150 GB on disk · $59.99 standard, $99.99 Ultimate Edition
- Epic Games Store page — Windows edition, installed through the Epic Games Launcher
- Rockstar Games downloads page — Free launcher a Rockstar Store copy needs before it installs
A Rockstar Store copy needs the launcher on the PC first. The Rockstar Games Launcher download guide walks through that setup.
How to install Red Dead Redemption 2 on Windows 11 and 10
Clear the disk space before you start. Keep the PC online, because activation and the first launch both need a connection.
- Free at least 150 GB on the drive you plan to install to.
- Open the Rockstar Store product page and select an edition.
- Select Buy Now and finish the purchase with your Rockstar Games account.
- Install Rockstar Games Launcher from the Rockstar downloads page if the PC does not have it.
- Open the launcher and sign in to your Rockstar Games Social Club account.
- Open your library, select the game, then select Install.
- Choose the install drive and confirm, then leave the download running.
- Select Play when the launcher reports the install finished.
The launcher installs DirectX and the other runtime components on the way. Steam and Epic copies follow their own launchers instead.
Install Red Dead Redemption 2 from Steam or the Epic Games Store
Both storefronts sell the same Windows game. Steam also links the purchase to your Rockstar Games account.
- Open the Steam store page in the Steam app or a browser.
- Select the edition you want, then select Add to Cart and finish the purchase.
- Open Library in Steam, select the game, then select Install.
- Pick the install drive, confirm, and wait for the 150 GB download.
- For an Epic copy, open the Epic Games Store page and select Buy Now.
- Open the Epic Games Launcher, select Library, then select Install.
- Sign in to your Rockstar Games account when the game asks at first launch.
- Select Play once the launcher shows the install as complete.
Steam lists Rockstar Games as a supported account link, so have those sign-in details ready before the first launch.
Which Red Dead Redemption 2 download do you need for your Mac?
There is no macOS build. Steam marks the title as Windows only, and Rockstar sells no Mac edition.
| Your setup | What to do | Where |
|---|---|---|
| You also own a Windows gaming PC | Install Steam Link on the Mac and stream the game over your network | Steam Link and Remote Play |
| You own only a Mac | Buy the console edition and play it on an Xbox | Xbox listing |
| You plan to buy a Windows PC soon | Buy the PC game now and install it when the PC arrives | Steam store page |
Steam lists MacOS among the Steam Link client platforms, so the Mac acts as a screen for the Windows PC.
Is Red Dead Redemption 2 free?
No. Every official store charges for it. Steam sells the standard edition at $59.99 and the Ultimate Edition at $99.99, and the Rockstar Store and the Epic Games Store sell the same paid editions. Red Dead Online is a separate purchase, and its Gold Bars cost extra. Any site advertising a free full PC copy is not Rockstar and is not selling a licence.
The console edition costs $59.99 as well, so a free download offer is a warning sign on any platform.
Should you buy the standard or Ultimate Edition?
Buy the standard edition unless you plan to live in Red Dead Online. Both editions include the same Story Mode and Red Dead Online access. The Ultimate Edition costs $40 more on Steam and adds bonus outfits, rank bonuses, the Black Chestnut Thoroughbred and free access to additional weapons in Story Mode and Online. Rockstar also sells Red Dead Online on its own for players who skip the story.
Editions are tied to the store account that bought them, so pick the storefront you already use.
What Red Dead Redemption 2 installs alongside the game
The 150 GB figure covers the game. Rockstar also installs the supporting components below on first run.
| Component | Why it installs |
|---|---|
| Rockstar Games Launcher | Installs the game, activates it and starts it |
| Rockstar Games Social Club Framework | Signs you in and holds your entitlement |
| DirectX | Graphics and audio runtime the game calls |
| Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2019 Redistributables (x64) | 64-bit runtime libraries the game build needs |
| Chromium Embedded Framework | Renders the launcher and in-game store pages |
Removing any of these by hand breaks the launch. Repair them through the launcher rather than uninstalling them.
Check the Red Dead Redemption 2 system requirements before you buy
Rockstar and Steam publish the same numbers. The storage line is the one that catches most people out.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Game | Red Dead Redemption 2 |
| Developer | Rockstar Games |
| Publisher | Rockstar Games |
| Latest version | PC edition released December 5, 2019; no public PC version number |
| License / Price | Paid: $59.99 standard, $99.99 Ultimate Edition on Steam |
| File size | 150 GB of free disk space |
| Supported OS | Windows 10 64-bit minimum; Epic lists the April 2018 Update (v1803) |
| Architecture | 64-bit only; no 32-bit or ARM64 build |
| Minimum processor | Intel Core i5-2500K or AMD FX-6300 |
| Recommended processor | Intel Core i7-4770K or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X |
| Minimum memory | 8 GB RAM |
| Recommended memory | 12 GB RAM |
| Minimum graphics | Nvidia GeForce GTX 770 2GB or AMD Radeon R9 280 3GB |
| Recommended graphics | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB or AMD Radeon RX 480 4GB |
| Sound | DirectX compatible sound card |
| Network | Broadband internet for activation, updates and online play |
| Mac version | None |
| Official download source | store.rockstargames.com |
| Offline installer | No; the store launcher delivers the game |
| Last verified | 2026-09-22 |
Open Settings, select System, then About to read your own edition, RAM and processor before you pay.
Fix Red Dead Redemption 2 not downloading or installing on Windows 11 and 10
A 150 GB transfer exposes every weak link in a PC. Work through the symptom that matches.
The download stalls or restarts partway
A full drive or a dropped connection interrupts the transfer.
- Open File Explorer and confirm the target drive still has 150 GB free.
- Pause the download in the launcher, wait ten seconds, then resume it.
- Move the PC onto a wired Ethernet connection for the rest of the transfer.
- Set a different install drive in the launcher settings and start again.
- Close other downloads and streaming apps so the connection is not shared.
The install finishes but the game will not start
Old graphics drivers or missing runtime components stop it at launch.
- Open Settings, select Windows Update, then select Check for updates.
- Install the current driver for your card from Nvidia or AMD.
- Verify the game files from the launcher that installed it.
- Restart the PC, then start the game from the launcher rather than a desktop shortcut.
The launcher rejects your purchase or asks you to buy again
Activation and periodic entitlement checks need a signed-in Rockstar Games account and an open connection.
- Sign out of the Rockstar Games Launcher and sign back in with the account that bought the game.
- Link that Rockstar Games account to Steam if you bought the Steam copy.
- Allow the launcher through Windows Defender Firewall in Settings.
- Confirm only one PC is signed in to the account, because a single sign-in is allowed at a time.
Rockstar keeps its own support site for account and entitlement cases that survive these steps.
How to uninstall Red Dead Redemption 2
Remove the game through the launcher that installed it. That frees the full 150 GB.
- Close the game and the launcher, then check the system tray for a background process.
- Open your library in Rockstar Games Launcher, Steam or the Epic Games Launcher.
- Select the game, open its settings or right-click menu, then select Uninstall.
- Confirm the removal and wait for the drive space to come back.
- Open Settings, select Apps, then Installed apps to remove any leftover entry.
- Delete the remaining game folder from the install drive if the uninstaller left one.
- Keep the launcher installed if you still play other Rockstar titles.
- Restart the PC before you reinstall.
The purchase stays on your store account. Reinstalling later costs nothing beyond the download.
Which other Rockstar game should you buy instead?
The Rockstar Store sells the rest of the catalogue under the same account and the same launcher.
| If you want | Buy this | Where |
|---|---|---|
| The story that comes first | Red Dead Redemption | Rockstar Store |
| A modern open world with online play | Grand Theft Auto V | Rockstar Store |
| The online mode without the story | Red Dead Online on its own | Product page |
| A smaller, older Rockstar game | Bully: Scholarship Edition | Rockstar Store |
Every one of these still installs through the Rockstar Games Launcher on Windows.
Frequently asked questions
Is Red Dead Redemption 2 free to download?
No. Steam charges $59.99 for the standard edition and $99.99 for the Ultimate Edition, and the Rockstar Store and Epic Games Store sell the same paid editions. No official store gives the PC game away.
What is the official Red Dead Redemption 2 download page?
Rockstar sells the PC game at store.rockstargames.com under Buy Red Dead Redemption 2. Steam and the Epic Games Store sell the same Windows game, and each delivers the download through its own launcher.
Does Red Dead Redemption 2 work on Windows 11?
Yes. Rockstar and Steam list Windows 10 64-bit as the minimum and set no upper limit, so a Windows 11 PC that meets the hardware bar runs it. Epic names the Windows 10 April 2018 Update as its floor.
How big is the Red Dead Redemption 2 download?
Rockstar and Steam both ask for 150 GB of free disk space, in the minimum and the recommended requirements. Plan for that much room on the install drive before you start the transfer.
Is there a Red Dead Redemption 2 offline installer?
No. The game arrives through the Rockstar Games Launcher, Steam or the Epic Games Launcher, and activation, updates and online play all need an internet connection.
Is there a Mac version of Red Dead Redemption 2?
No. Steam marks the title as Windows only and Rockstar sells no macOS edition. A Mac can run the Steam Link client and stream the game from a Windows PC on the same network.
Does Red Dead Redemption 2 run on 32-bit or ARM64 Windows?
No. Steam states that the game requires a 64-bit processor and operating system, and Rockstar ships no 32-bit or ARM64 build. A 64-bit x86 PC is the only supported setup.
Is the Red Dead Redemption 2 download safe?
Yes, when it comes from the Rockstar Store, Steam or the Epic Games Store. Those three stores deliver the files through their own launchers, so no third-party installer or key generator is ever involved.
What is the latest PC version of Red Dead Redemption 2?
Rockstar publishes no version number for the PC game. Steam dates the PC release to December 5, 2019, and the launcher that installed your copy patches it automatically.
Why won’t Red Dead Redemption 2 install?
The usual causes are a drive with under 150 GB free, an interrupted connection, an out-of-date graphics driver or a launcher that is not signed in. Free the space, use Ethernet, update the driver and sign in again.
Do I need the Rockstar Games Launcher to play on PC?
Yes. Rockstar lists the launcher and a Social Club sign-in as required for installation, activation and online play, and the Rockstar Store sells the game for the Rockstar Games Launcher platform.
Can I buy Red Dead Redemption 2 on the Microsoft Store for PC?
No. The Microsoft catalog listing sells the $59.99 console edition for Xbox Series X, Series S and Xbox One. It carries no Windows desktop version, so PC buyers use Rockstar, Steam or Epic.
What does the Ultimate Edition add?
It adds bonus outfits, rank bonuses, the Black Chestnut Thoroughbred and free access to additional weapons in Story Mode and Red Dead Online. Story Mode itself is identical to the standard edition.
