It’s 2026, and I still remember the collective eye-roll that swept through the Red Dead community when that shiny golden Cattleman Revolver popped into John Marston’s hand. Rockstar’s masterpiece, Red Dead Redemption, got a new lease on life with its 2023 re-release on PS4 (fully playable on PS5 via backward compatibility) and Nintendo Switch, letting a whole new generation ride across New Austin. But man, that bling was a real head-scratcher. For a game that prides itself on gritty, immersive storytelling, spawning with a weapon that looked like it came straight out of a cartel music video felt like a slap in the face. Here’s the kicker, though—you can turn it off. And for us old Xbox 360 loyalists still booting up the backward-compatible original? There’s a way too, but it’s a bit more of a throwback.

Why Are My Guns Suddenly Gold?

Back in the day, the golden guns were a pre-order bonus or part of the Golden Guns Weapon Pack. If you picked up the Game of the Year Edition or the modern re-release, that DLC is baked right in – no extra code, no fuss. It reskins pretty much every firearm John can lay his hands on (sorry, throwing knives and hunting knife, you don’t get the Midas touch). The revolver and repeater carbine are the most noticeable, turning into gaudy status symbols from the moment you start the story.

Now, I’ll admit, there’s a silver lining for those who don’t mind the look: using these golden shooters actually boosts your Fame gain per kill. Not a damage buff, just a faster climb to that legendary reputation. Still, for most of us, the visual clash in cutscenes and the general feeling of being a cowboy turned pimp outweighs the perk. As one friend put it, “I didn’t sign up to be a rhinestone ranger.”

The Easy Way: Flipping the Switch on Modern Consoles

If you’re playing on PS4, PS5 (via backward compatibility), or the Nintendo Switch version, turning off the golden sheen is a no-brainer. Here’s the play-by-play:

1. Pause the game and head to Options.

2. Enter the Config menu.

3. Find the setting labeled Golden Guns.

4. Toggle it to Off – and voilà, your guns are back to their rugged, normal selves.

That’s it. No cheat codes, no button acrobatics, just a vanilla menu option added in the re-release. Honestly, it’s a small quality-of-life feature that I wish had been there from the start. If you ever feel like embracing the bling, just toggle it back on without restarting the game. Easy peasy.

The Old-School Method: Button Combos for Original Xbox and PS3

Now, let’s say you’re like me and still rocking the original Xbox 360 disc (or the digital backward-compatible version on newer Xbox consoles). Rockstar eventually unlocked those golden guns for all players, which means even if you never bought a DLC, you’ll start the game looking like a treasure chest. The catch? No menu toggle exists. You have to input a secret code every single time you load your save. It’s finicky, but it gets the job done—and unlike the game’s other cheats, these codes won’t disable achievements.

Here are the button combos you need to hold for about five seconds. Trust me, muscle memory will kick in after a few tries.

A quick heads-up: the PS3 version codes also work on a PS4 re-release if for some reason you want to do it the hard way, but the menu toggle is definitely the way to go. And remember, because the code isn’t saved permanently, you’ll need to re-enter it after every fresh boot of the game. If you’re like me and tend to jump back in for a few bounty hunts between other titles, it becomes second nature.

A Blast from the Past with a Modern Twist

It’s wild to think that in 2026, I’m still tweeting about a 2010 masterpiece. The golden guns controversy was always a bit overblown—after all, it’s just a cosmetic toggle now—but it’s a fun piece of Red Dead trivia. For anyone diving in for the first time, don’t let the initial bling chase you away. Whether you’re a stickler for immersion or just want to flex on NPCs with a gilded arsenal, the choice is finally in your hands on every platform. So saddle up, partner, and ride out the way you want: dusty and grounded, or dripping in gold.