Every few years, Rockstar Games appears, drops a game that rewrites the rules of the industry… and then disappears back into silence.
From GTA San Andreas to Red Dead Redemption 2, their work doesn’t just sell—it becomes culture.
But behind the memes, hype, and trailers, there’s a side of Rockstar most players never hear about:
canceled games, scrapped DLCs, internal struggles, and even moments where the studio itself almost didn’t survive.
Recently, Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser shared a lot of this in a long-form podcast, and what he revealed explains many of the mysteries players have debated for years.
In this article, let’s walk through those secrets in a calm, structured way—GTA, RDR, future projects, and even the golden question:
Will GTA ever come to an Indian city?
How GTA V Nearly Got Single-Player DLC… and Then Didn’t
Let’s start with a topic that still frustrates millions of fans:
Why didn’t GTA V get a single-player DLC?
For years, players assumed Rockstar simply chose money from GTA Online over story expansions.
But what Dan Houser reveals is more nuanced—and much more painful.
During GTA V’s post-launch phase:
- Rockstar had multiple DLCs planned
- At one point, up to seven DLC concepts were internally explored
- One of these ideas was already halfway into development
The most famous of these was:
🕵️ Trevor as a Secret Agent
Rockstar was actively working on a DLC where Trevor becomes a kind of unhinged, undercover asset—working with or for law enforcement in some capacity.
It wasn’t just an idea written on a whiteboard; according to Houser:
- The DLC was about half done
- The team had already shaped missions and narrative beats
- The concept played off Trevor’s chaotic personality in a very different context
So why didn’t we get it?
Because making that DLC to Rockstar quality would’ve required massive time and focus—time that ultimately went into something else:
Red Dead Redemption 2.
In simple terms:
If Rockstar had fully committed to big, story-driven DLC for GTA V, RDR2 might not have released when it did, or in the form we know today.
There were also discussions around a zombie-style GTA game, which would have been pure fun and chaos—but that, too, never materialised.
The Lost Open World Game: Rockstar’s Canceled “Agent”
After GTA IV, Rockstar didn’t simply jump straight into GTA V and RDR2.
They were also working on an ambitious spy-themed open-world game titled Agent.
This wasn’t just a rumor; it was a real project:
- Set during the Cold War
- Inspired by James Bond-style espionage
- Built as a detective / spy thriller inside an open world
Dan Houser shared that:
- Around five different internal versions of Agent were prototyped
- Different time periods and structures were tested
- One version even explored a modern-day setting
The core problem?
Detective-style storytelling—where the player investigates, uncovers clues, and moves through a tightly written mystery—is very natural in films.
But placing that inside a massive open world without breaking pacing, logic, or immersion turned out to be extremely hard.
Eventually, Rockstar decided:
It’s better to cancel a weak game than release something below their standard.
And so, Agent quietly disappeared.
Interestingly, another studio—IO Interactive (the Hitman devs)—is now working on a James Bond game, which feels like the spiritual direction Agent once aimed for.
What Comes After GTA 6? New IP, Not Just GTA 7 or RDR3
Everyone’s asking:
- Will we get GTA 7?
- Will we get Red Dead Redemption 3?
- Will Bully 2 ever happen?
Houser’s comments suggest something important:
Rockstar has repeatedly explored completely new IP, not just sequels.
Around 2019, the company internally worked on concepts for a mythological / knight-era game—something with medieval flavour and deeper lore:
- A backstory was drafted
- World concepts and narrative hooks were explored
- But again, they eventually shelved the idea
Does this mean we’ll never see a medieval Rockstar game?
Not necessarily—but it shows that after GTA 6, a fresh, non-GTA, non-RDR world is totally possible.
Would you play a Rockstar-crafted medieval or mythical open world?
Most likely yes.
Why GTA Is Always Set in America (And Why India Is Unlikely… for Now)
One of the most common fan fantasies is:
“What if GTA was set in Mumbai, Delhi, or some fictional Indian city?”
It’s a fun idea—but Houser’s explanation makes it clear why GTA keeps returning to the US.
According to him, GTA’s DNA depends on a few very specific things:
- Weak gun laws in the US
- In GTA, anyone can grab a weapon, cause chaos, and escalate situations quickly.
- That kind of design “fits” the exaggerated version of America they portray.
- Over-the-top, larger-than-life characters
- People with rocket launchers, absurd violence, insane bravado—this is part of Rockstar’s satirical take on US culture.
- Cultural satire of America
- GTA is not just crime and chaos; it’s a parody of American politics, media, consumerism, and lifestyle.
- That sharp satire is deeply tied to American culture, cities, and attitudes.
Could they technically build a GTA-style game in India or Europe?
Yes.
But would it feel like GTA as we know it?
Probably not.
That doesn’t mean Rockstar will never visit another continent in some form. But as of now, their own philosophy suggests:
GTA works best as a mirror of American excess.
The Hot Coffee Scandal: How Rockstar Almost Went Under After San Andreas
Here’s the most shocking part:
After GTA San Andreas, Rockstar Games was dangerously close to serious trouble.
The reason?
The infamous “Hot Coffee” mod.
Originally, there was a hidden, unfinished adult mini-game left in the game’s files. It wasn’t part of the normal gameplay, but modders re-enabled it on PC and exposed it to the world.
What followed:
- Massive controversy
- Political pressure
- Lawsuits and legal scrutiny
- Public outrage from high-profile figures, including US politicians
Rockstar had to face hearings and heavy criticism.
There were real fears internally that the controversy might seriously damage or even end the studio.
They survived—but that moment changed how carefully big studios handle content, ratings, and hidden assets.
Why GTA IV Feels So Dark: Dan Houser’s Personal Struggles
If you’ve played GTA IV, you know it’s different:
- Gritty
- Sad
- Heavy
- Almost pessimistic at times
Compared to San Andreas or GTA V, it feels like a punch in the gut.
According to Houser, that tone was not accidental.
During GTA IV’s development:
- He was living in New York, but not particularly happy
- His personal life was going through ups and downs
- The San Andreas “Hot Coffee” controversy added intense pressure and stress
That mental state naturally seeped into the writing.
Niko Bellic’s story—immigration, trauma, moral compromise, disappointment—became more grounded and brutal.
At one point, Houser even considered killing Niko at the end of the game, but the team eventually stepped back from that extreme decision.
Still, the emotional weight of GTA IV is a direct reflection of its writer’s life at the time.
RDR, Brutal Endings, and Why RDR3 Matters So Much to Him
Red Dead Redemption is deeply personal for Dan Houser.
His father loved western movies, and Dan grew up watching them. That childhood immersion in western cinema became the foundation of:
- Red Dead Redemption 1 – a faithful love letter to classic western storytelling
- Red Dead Redemption 2 – a more layered, character-driven prequel
He considers RDR1 particularly accurate in representing western culture.
And he knows that its ending emotionally destroyed players in the best possible way.
While writing John Marston’s fate, he tried to put himself in the character’s shoes:
If you’ve done terrible things but want your family to have a future, what choice do you really have?
That’s why RDR1’s ending is so brutal—and so unforgettable.
RDR2, on the other hand, deliberately starts differently:
- A cold, snowy opening (unusual for a western)
- A slower burn to make the eventual emotional payoff more impactful
Houser also mentioned that an earlier draft of RDR2 included:
- Arthur Morgan having a baby
- The baby dying early in the story
- People resenting Arthur more deeply because of it
They eventually cut this idea because it risked alienating players and damaging emotional attachment too early.
One more emotional detail:
Dan admits it hurts more that he’s not on RDR3 than not being on GTA 6.
Because the RDR games are so interconnected emotionally and thematically, he worries about whether a future RDR3 will honour that legacy.
The silver lining?
His comments strongly imply that RDR3 is expected to happen someday—and that alone is enough to keep fans hopeful.
From Rockstar to Absurd Ventures: Dan Houser’s New Worlds
Dan is no longer at Rockstar, but he hasn’t left storytelling or games.
He’s now building his own company: Absurd Ventures.
They’re working on:
- Absurdverse
- A comedy universe
- Planned across animated series, comics, and a future open-world comedy game
- Inspired in part by shows like The Office in terms of workplace absurdity—though not a direct copy
- Better Paradise
- A darker, more serious game
- Still early in development
- Focused on narrative and mood rather than safe formulas
His philosophy remains the same:
- Start with a strong single-player experience
- Build the world, tone, and story properly
- Then, in the future, consider multiplayer or online expansions if it fits
Exactly like Rockstar did with GTA V and then GTA Online.
Both Absurdverse and Better Paradise are early, but they’re designed as narrative-driven, single-player games first—which is a comforting thought for players who still love story-focused experiences.
Quick Q&A: Rockstar, GTA, and the Future
1. Why didn’t GTA V get single-player DLC?
Because large, story-driven DLC takes huge time and resources.
Rockstar had to make a hard choice: continue expanding GTA V’s story, or pour those years into RDR2, one of their most ambitious projects ever.
They chose RDR2.
2. Will we ever see a GTA game set in India?
Highly unlikely in the near future.
GTA’s satire, gun culture, and tone are tightly tied to American life, politics, and laws.
An Indian setting would require a completely different style of social commentary and systems.
3. Is RDR3 confirmed?
Not officially announced, but from the way Houser talks about it—and his emotional attachment—it’s very clear that within Rockstar, RDR3 has been part of long-term thinking.
4. Why was GTA IV so much darker than other GTAs?
Because the writer himself was going through a darker, more stressful period—personally and professionally.
That emotional state naturally shaped Niko’s story and the game’s tone.
5. Are Dan Houser’s new games multiplayer or single-player?
His stated approach is:
Single-player first. Multiplayer later (if needed).
So expect strong, narrative-heavy single-player experiences, with possible multiplayer modes added only if they actually add value.
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