Dan Houser, a key figure behind Rockstar Games, expressed a preference for Red Dead Redemption 3 proceeding without him over Grand Theft Auto 6. Houser, who left Rockstar in 2020, is focused on new ventures with his company, Absurd Ventures.
Houser's Legacy and Reflections
Houser shared his thoughts in a conversation with Lex Fridman. He reflected on the creative decisions he made during his time at Rockstar. One notable choice was his desire to kill Niko in GTA IV, a decision not realized. He also considered the narrative impact of using Jack, John Marston's son, as a protagonist in Red Dead Redemption.
Houser mentioned a never-finished GTA V DLC centered on Trevor as a secret agent. He suggested that completing this content might have impacted Red Dead Redemption 2's release.
Absurd Ventures' Direction
Currently, Houser's Absurd Ventures is focused on developing open-world experiences, maintaining the relevance of single-player DLCs, despite acknowledging the challenges of launching new multiplayer IPs.
Houser commented on the constraints of setting and tone within the GTA series, noting GTA's Americana as a crucial element that complicates moving it to new locales. He also pointed out the difficulty in maintaining sharp satire with long development timelines.
