Since the announcement of backwards compatible Xbox 360 games on Xbox One, few games have been requested more than Rockstar's open-world western Red Dead Redemption. After having been available briefly in unauthorized test form earlier this year, the game is finally set to officially join the backwards compatibility list later this week.

Red Dead Redemption will, at long last, be playable on Xbox One this Friday, July 8. As is the case with all backwards compatible games, players who own the game digitally should see the title appear in their "Ready to Install" list of games as of that date. For those who own Red Dead Redemption in disc format, inserting the disc into the Xbox One disc tray should prompt players to install the game (you'll still need the disc to play it after it's installed).

Rockstar's take on the wild, wild west is just the latest addition to an ever-growing list of backwards compatible games. More than 200 Xbox 360 games are currently playable on Xbox One, and that number continues to go up almost every week as Microsoft continues to add games both big and small to the list. Other recent additions to the list include Left 4 Dead and Portal 2, two great co-op games from Valve.

It might be worth noting that the announcement of Red Dead Redemption's backwards compatibility does not come from Microsoft, as is usually the case, but from Rockstar itself. No real reason for this is given, but is it possible that Rockstar is looking to drum up support for the reveal of the long-anticipated Red Dead Redemption 2? The sequel is long-rumored and was believed to all but be confirmed for an E3 appearance in June, but gaming's biggest show of the year came and went without a peep from Rockstar about a new entry in the series.

Might the arrival of Red Dead Redemption on Xbox One be a signal that more news about the sequel is coming soon? It's tough to say, although a Red Dead Redemption 2 is almost a certainty, given the first game's popularity and comments from publisher 2K Games referring to the series as a permanent franchise. As for when the game will officially be unveiled? That's up for discussion, but at least fans can play the original on a new console while they wait for the good news.