'Red Dead Redemption 2' release date, news: Sequel predicted to notch up 12 million sales in launch window

The official key art for "Red Dead Redemption 2"Rockstar Games

If the latest predictions are to be believed, "Red Dead Redemption 2" will be the next big thing by Rockstar Games with its launch expected to make history for the studio.

According to Macquarie Securities analyst Ben Schachter, Rockstar's parent company Take-Two Interactive will likely ship 12 million copies of the game in its second fiscal year alone.

Schachter based this prediction on the online activity during the first hour that followed Rockstar's official "Red Dead Redemption 2" announcement.

The trailer received 54K likes and 61K retweets on Twitter, 152K likes and 52K comments on Facebook and 65K likes on Instagram. "We think this demonstrates significant pent-up demand and interest for the sequel," Schachter said as per Game Industry.

"Red Dead Redemption 2" is one of the most awaited games in recent years. Prior to the sequel's long-awaited unveiling, there were tons of rumors about the game.

With "Red Dead Redemption 2" set for release for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, the graphics and visuals alone should be a huge treat for gamers.

Those who were hoping to play it in the upcoming Nintendo Switch might be in for a letdown as Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter believes the sequel will not be released in the hybrid console.

"I'd be really surprised if they wasted their effort to port anything for Nintendo. I just think that Nintendo has wandered too far away from the mainstream for most of the publishers," he told Gaming Bolt.

"So you're just not getting mainstream games produced for Nintendo consoles—not ones made for other consoles, at any rate," Pachter went on to say.

Meanwhile, "Red Dead Redemption 2" is also expected to come with an online mode comparable to that of the "Grand Theft Auto 5," which is just getting richer and more expansive as Rockstar continues to update it.

The developer appears to have big plans for the "Red Dead" franchise with a multiplayer experience for the sequel as well.

"Red Dead Redemption 2" is slated for release in fall next year.