Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser has revealed why the Grand Theft Auto series will likely never move beyond its American roots. In a new interview, Houser explained that the franchise’s identity is deeply tied to U.S. culture, making a non-American GTA game nearly impossible.
The Grand Theft Auto series has always been known for its American settings — from Liberty City’s gritty streets to the sunny beaches of Vice City.
Except for the 1999 GTA: London expansions and Grand Theft Auto 2’s futuristic setting, every game in the franchise has taken place in a fictional version of a real U.S. city.
Now, Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser has explained why that’s unlikely to change anytime soon.
In a recent appearance on the Lex Fridman Podcast, Houser spoke about Grand Theft Auto, GTA 6, Red Dead Redemption, and his time at Rockstar Games.
During the interview, he shared why the series’s connection to America is so important to its identity — and why making a GTA game set outside the U.S. might never work.
“We made a little thing in London 26 years ago — GTA London for the PS1,” Houser said. “It was cute and fun, but for a full GTA game, we always felt there was so much Americana in the IP that it would be really hard to make it work in London or anywhere else.”
Houser, who is British, went on to explain that the core of GTA’s style and humor is tied to American culture, gun laws, and the larger-than-life personalities the series is famous for.
“You needed guns, you needed these larger-than-life characters,” he continued. “The game was so much about America — maybe from an outsider’s view — but that’s what made it special. It just wouldn’t feel the same anywhere else.”
Why America Works for GTA?
Every major Grand Theft Auto game, except GTA 2 and the London add-ons, has been set in fictional versions of real U.S. cities:
- Liberty City – inspired by New York City
- Vice City – inspired by Miami
- Los Santos, San Fierro, and Las Venturas – inspired by Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas
The upcoming GTA 6 will return to Vice City, located in a larger area called Leonia, which draws inspiration from the state of Florida.
Dan Houser on GTA 6 and the Franchise’s Success
Houser also talked about the massive anticipation for GTA 6 and shared why the franchise has managed to stay fresh and exciting for more than two decades.
“They don’t come out that regularly,” he said, referring to GTA releases. “And I think we did a really good job of constantly innovating within the series. Each game felt different. People have strong opinions about which one they like most — and that’s a good thing.”
According to Houser, Rockstar’s ability to evolve the series while keeping its identity intact is what keeps players excited before every release. He also mentioned that strong marketing played a key role in the franchise’s lasting success.
Houser, who co-founded Rockstar with his brother Sam Houser, left the studio in 2020 after completing Red Dead Redemption 2.
Although he’s no longer involved, fans are eagerly waiting for GTA 6, which is scheduled to launch on May 26, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
