Research firm: Red Dead Redemption 2 could arrive 2014

An eagerly anticipated sequel to Red Dead Redemption could arrive as early as this year, according to Baird Equity Research.

The research firm is expecting Take-Two to make some big announcements this year in order to meet targets issued to shareholders.

Those announcements include Grand Theft Auto 5 for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and also the next Red Dead Redemption.

"Take Two continues to produce some of the highest-quality console and PC games, which we believe should transition well on next-gen platforms," analyst Colin Sebastian said in the 2014 Video Game Industry Predictions preview.

"We expect product announcements over the next year such as extending GTA 5 to other platforms (e.g. PC, next-gen consoles), the next Red Dead, etc., to help improve revenue and earnings visibility.

"In fact, we have previously published that GTA-extensions are in the development pipeline, and likely needed for the company to hit FY targets.

"We also believe the next Red Dead game is in the works potentially for a 2014 launch."

Last year Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick called Red Dead Redemption one of the publisher's "permanent" franchises.