Dan Houser, the former Vice President of Creative at Rockstar Games, who departed the company in 2020, continues to offer valuable insights about the beloved Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption franchises, both of which he helped create. In a recent nearly three-hour interview with Lex Fridman on YouTube, Houser discussed some intriguing, albeit unrealized projects that were on the drawing board during his time at Rockstar.
One of the more compelling topics Houser touched upon was a planned DLC for GTA 5, which would have featured Trevor as a secret agent. “It never quite came together, and it was never finished,” Houser explained. He noted that the project was about halfway completed before it was ultimately shelved. “If that had come out, we probably wouldn’t have gotten to make Red Dead 2. So, there’s always compromises,” he reflected. His nostalgia for expanding upon existing stories was palpable as he reminisced about the model used in GTA 4 and Red Dead 1, which included additional narratives post-launch.
The conversation also ventured into a project titled Agent, designed as a James Bond-style game. However, Houser mentioned that the team struggled to adapt the engaging feel of a spy thriller into an open-world format without diminishing the narrative tension. Compounding these challenges was the fact that a coherent time period or story wasn’t even established before the game was discontinued. Another interesting concept that never materialized was a game set in medieval times, featuring knights. “We were trying to do a version of a mythological game that could have been fun,” Houser shared, though they only developed some initial backstory and story ideas before the project was ultimately abandoned.
Houser also delved into two enduring mysteries from the Red Dead Redemption series: the quest of a man searching for his friend named Gavin and the enigmatic figure who seemed to be aware of protagonist John Marston’s actions. He explained that the Gavin narrative was intended to remain unresolved, while the shadowy figure was designed to represent a manifestation of karma or one’s darker influences. This character, unique and mysterious, was a narrative device constructed to embody the fears of an artist who has compromised their integrity.
Although Houser did not participate in the creation of the highly anticipated GTA 6, he expressed confidence in the game’s imminent success. “I would assume it will break records because it’s so anticipated, and anticipation is the best driver of early sales,” he remarked, drawing contrasts between the initial sales of GTA 4 and Red Dead Redemption 1.
In addition to his reflections on game development, Houser has recently released a novel titled A Better Paradise Volume One: An Aftermath, which is now available on platforms like Amazon, indicating that his creative endeavors continue in innovative directions. This ongoing journey from game design to literary pursuits highlights Houser’s versatility as a storyteller.