RDR2 speaks English: which languages the game has and how to change them

RDR2 is an English-language game first. For an English-speaking player there's nothing to switch: the game starts in the language it was written and recorded in. The same goes for the first Red Dead Redemption, both the original and the re-releases for PS4, Switch, PC and current consoles.

RDR2 has one voice track, English. Only the text is translated: menus, subtitles, the journal, newspapers and hints.

The list is based on Steam and PlayStation Store as of October 31, 2026. On consoles the set of languages can differ slightly depending on the disc or account region.

Players whose language is missing from RDR2 make their own translations. These are text mods for the PC version: they replace the subtitle and menu files with a translation and don't touch the voice acting. In September 2025, for example, ITC.ua reported that the GGL Studio team had finished 99% of its Ukrainian translation of RDR2; the big mod sites host other fan localizations by individual authors too.

Before installing any fan translation, keep the risks in mind:

• It isn't an official product. Rockstar doesn't test or support it; errors and untranslated lines are normal.
• Game updates can break it. After a patch you'll have to wait for a new version of the translation or restore the original files.
• Only from the authors' verified pages. Malware is often spread disguised as a translation, especially bundled with a "free game". Don't download translations packaged with pirated builds.
• Back up the files the mod replaces, so the game is easy to restore.
• Don't go into Red Dead Online with mods. Rockstar's rules allow mods only in single-player, and modifications online can get you banned. Disable mods before launching online.
• There are no fan translations on PlayStation or Xbox: console game files can't be modified.

We don't link to fan translations. General rules for installing mods safely are on the RDR2 mods page.

PlayStation and Xbox. There's no language switch inside the game: RDR2 uses the console's system language. Change the language in the PS4/PS5 or Xbox system settings and restart the game.

PC, Rockstar Games Launcher. Open the launcher → Settings → pick the language from the drop-down list → restart the game. That's what Rockstar Support recommends.

PC, Steam. Library → right-click Red Dead Redemption 2 → Properties → language settings. Players report that the game sometimes still takes the language from the Rockstar launcher or from Windows settings; in that case change it in both places and restart the game.

If your language isn't in any of these menus, the only option on PC is a fan translation (see the previous section).

The set of languages is nearly the same everywhere, with a few quirks. The Steam version includes Japanese. The European PS4 version on PlayStation Store lists German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Polish, Chinese, Korean, Mexican Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese, with no Japanese. If a particular subtitle language matters to you, check the Languages section on the store page before buying.

Red Dead Online uses the same language files as Story Mode: there's no separate translation for online. The language of chat with other players doesn't depend on the game.

The first Red Dead Redemption (2010, re-released 2023–2025) works the same way: English voice acting and subtitles in several languages, including Polish, Brazilian Portuguese and both versions of Spanish. Ukrainian and Turkish aren't there.

The dialogue is dense, period-flavored and often spoken on horseback, so even native speakers miss lines. Turning on subtitles in the game's settings helps a lot; their language follows the system or launcher language.

It also helps to keep a chapter and mission overview handy, the RDR2 missions list, and the cheat explanations, since cheats are typed in English: RDR2 cheats. Everything about the game is on the Red Dead Redemption 2 page.