“You need guns, you need these legendary characters” – Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser explains why Grand Theft Auto won't leave the United States
Blog Andrew Joseph 03 Nov , 2025 0
Former Rockstar boss Dan Houser explains why the Grand Theft Auto series won't be leaving the United States.
talking about Lex Friedman PodcastRockstar co-founder and former head writer Houser said that with the exception of “GTA London,” “Grand Theft Auto” remains firmly rooted in the United States because it relies heavily on American culture.
“Twenty-six years ago, we made a little thing in London for the PS1 from the top down – GTA London. It was really cute and fun as the first mission pack for the PlayStation 1. I think with a full GTA game, we always thought there were so many inherently American elements in the IP that it would be really hard to make it work in London or elsewhere.
“You know, you need guns, you need these larger-than-life characters. It feels like this game is very connected to America, maybe from an outsider's perspective. But that's the nature of the thing, it's not going to work the same way elsewhere.”
This trend will continue next year grand theft auto 6the story takes place in the fictional American state of Leonidas (a reimagining of Florida). Based on the two GTA 6 trailers we've seen so far, parodies of American culture are once again in the spotlight.
Well, now's an interesting time to wonder if GTA will be hopping on a plane and venturing abroad at some point in the future. But it feels unlikely, not just based on Hauser's comments, but based on decades of building the GTA brand and the public's expectations of it. In fact, GTA's relationship with the United States in its many video games is such that a history professor at the University of Tennessee will teach a GTA college history class in early 2026.
Professor Tore Olsson recently told IGN: “Video games are great at shaping fictional worlds, but they can also influence players' thinking about real-world times and places. Just as Red Dead Redemption 2 shaped people's perceptions of the 19th-century American West, or Ghost of Tsushima shaped their perceptions of feudal Japan, millions of people around the world imagine contemporary America through the lens of the Grand Theft Auto series. Think of how many veteran GTA players spent time in Los Angeles and recognize the Santos and Liberty City landmarks in Los Angeles and New York!”
Hauser's stance on GTA is similar to that of the creator of the post-apocalyptic role-playing game Fallout series, who also remains in the United States. last year, Bethesda development chief Todd Howard rules out leaving the U.S. in future Fallout video gamessays he's a big fan of “American innocence,” a style that's evident in Fallout's tone.
Meanwhile, the wait for GTA 6 continues, May 26, 2026 Current release date. We've got a lot more to say about GTA 6, including All the details we've discovered so farOverview 70 new screenshotsand Experts’ thoughts on GTA 6 performance on PS5 Pro. As for how much does Grand Theft Auto 6 cost? Amid speculation, new research suggests The $100 price point actually brings Rockstar less revenue than choosing the $70 “sweet spot”.
Wesley is IGN News Director. Find him on Twitter: @wyp100. You can contact Wesley at [email protected] or privately at [email protected].