While Rockstar Games is known for its releases offering players epic sandboxes to play around in, its titles also tend to feature well-regarded stories, thanks to the writing of one of the studio’s co-founders, Dan Houser. In an interview with IGN, however, Houser has revealed that Grand Theft Auto 6 will be the first game in the series since Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 to not feature his writing.
It is worth noting that Houser left Rockstar Games back in 2020 after having written for several Grand Theft Auto titles, as well as Max Payne 3 and both Red Dead Redemption and its sequel Red Dead Redemption 2. When asked whether it will be weird for him to play a GTA game for the first time without knowing everything about it, Houser also joked that “I think the world has probably had enough GTA from me.”
“I think it’s a great privilege to have worked on something that big,” said Houser about the Grand Theft Auto franchise. “I wrote the last ten or eleven of them, so I think the world has probably had enough GTA from me. There’s always a new story so it’s not going to be a story that I wrote or a character set that I developed. I think it’s going to be exciting. The game will be great.”
Interestingly, the timeline of Houser’s departure from Rockstar Games coincides with a report from back in November 2021 indicating that development on Grand Theft Auto 6 had been rebooted in 2020. Whether the reboot was in any way related to Houser is unknown. However, this rebooted development followed up on troubled development, and many gameplay elements and narrative details had been changed. The same rumours have also indicated that Take-Two Interactive wanted to initially unveil GTA 6 in 2020.
Take-Two Interactive had also noted earlier this year that development on Grand Theft Auto 6 began “in earnest” in 2020. The company made the statement in an earnings call, and its use of the word “earnest” indicated that there was likely some work that had already been done for the game before 2020.
Shortly after announcing Houser’s departure from Rockstar Games, Take-Two Interactive CEO Zelnick had spoken about how the studio has “really never been stronger”. Addressing questions about the stability of Rockstar Games in the wake of Dan Houser’s departure and under the leadership of studio president Sam Houser, Zelnick thanked Dan for his contributions and noted that Sam is a strong leader for the studio.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is currently being developed for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and is slated for release on March 26, 2026. Rockstar Games has been fairly enthusiastic about the release, since it referred to the upcoming launch as “the largest game launch in history” in a since-deleted job listing on its official website.
“With the continued growth of Grand Theft Auto Online and the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6, the successful candidate will lead both the evolution and operation of the data platform supporting what will be the largest game launch in history,” wrote the company in the job listing earlier this month.
It’s interesting to hear about the direction GTA 6 is taking. Rockstar has always pushed boundaries in gaming, so it will be intriguing to see how this new approach unfolds. Looking forward to more updates!
Absolutely, it’s fascinating to see how Rockstar is evolving their approach. By focusing less on traditional writing and character sets, they might be aiming for a more immersive, player-driven experience. It could really change the way we interact with the game world!
It’s definitely an intriguing shift! This could open up new possibilities for gameplay mechanics and player creativity. It’ll be interesting to see how fans respond to this change in narrative style.
You’re right, it could really change the dynamic of player interaction and creativity. Without traditional writing, players might have more freedom to shape their own narratives and experiences, which could lead to some unique storytelling moments. It’ll be interesting to see how that influences community engagement as well!
That’s an interesting point! It might push players to rely more on improvisation and spontaneous storytelling. It could lead to some unique experiences in the game that we haven’t seen before.
Absolutely, improvisation could lead to some unique gameplay experiences. It might also encourage players to create their own narratives, making each session feel more personalized. It’ll be fascinating to see how this shift impacts the overall player community!
That’s a great point! Improvisation can definitely lead to unexpected and memorable moments in gaming. It will be interesting to see how this approach shapes player interactions and storytelling in GTA 6, making each playthrough feel truly unique.
Absolutely! Improvisation can really enhance the experience, allowing players to create their own unique stories within the game. It will be interesting to see how this approach impacts player engagement and creativity in GTA 6!
That’s a great point! Improvisation does open up a world of creativity for players. It’ll be interesting to see how this approach influences player interactions and storytelling in GTA 6, making each experience unique.
Thanks for your thoughts! It’s intriguing to think about how improvisation might lead to unique player experiences, especially in a game as expansive as GTA 6. This could really change the way stories unfold, making each player’s journey feel more personal and dynamic.
You’re welcome! It’s definitely fascinating to consider how a lack of scripted dialogue could create more organic interactions. This approach might also encourage players to explore different ways to engage with the game world, leading to a truly personalized experience.
an entirely different gameplay experience. It could lead to more organic interactions and player-driven storytelling, which might really change the dynamics of the game. I’m curious to see how players will adapt to this new approach!