Ethan Crossfield 
Dan Houser, one of Rockstar Games’ original co-founders, is intentionally staying away from Grand Theft Auto 6 gameplay footage. The decision is less about a lack of interest in Rockstar’s next blockbuster and more about protecting the creative independence of his own work.
What happened: Houser is avoiding GTA 6 footage
Speaking on a Variety podcast, Houser explained that he has not been watching gameplay from Grand Theft Auto 6 ahead of its release. He described this as part of a broader habit: when developing games, he tries to limit exposure to other major works that could influence his thinking.
That approach has shaped his previous projects. While working on earlier Grand Theft Auto games, Houser avoided The Sopranos, and he stopped watching Western films while developing Red Dead Redemption. His current focus is Absurd Ventures, the studio he founded after leaving Rockstar, where he is working on two undisclosed open-world games.
Houser’s reasoning is notable because GTA 6 is not an ordinary release. Rockstar’s next Grand Theft Auto became an immediate cultural event after its official announcement in late 2023, while its trailers generated enormous attention and broke multiple YouTube records. Netflix even hosted an exclusive premiere of the game’s Extended Look trailer before Rockstar published it on YouTube.
Why it matters: GTA 6 defines the open-world conversation
Avoiding GTA 6 may help Houser keep his projects from responding too directly to Rockstar’s latest design choices. Any new open-world game created by a former GTA writer will attract comparisons, regardless of how different its setting, tone, or mechanics may be. Houser acknowledged that his games, like many others in the genre, will inevitably be measured against Grand Theft Auto.
That comparison is difficult to escape because the series helped establish the modern open-world crime game as a mainstream force. Cyberpunk 2077 and Saints Row are among the franchises frequently discussed alongside GTA, while newer projects such as Neverness to Everness and Ananta have already been labeled “anime GTA” games by parts of the audience.
The pressure extends beyond creative discussions. After Rockstar announced a November 19 release date for GTA 6, several studios moved their own games to avoid competing for attention. Microsoft also delayed its Fable reboot to February 2027, citing the chaotic holiday period without directly naming GTA 6.
What to watch next: Rockstar’s return to Vice City
Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to return to Vice City, but its world will extend beyond the Miami-inspired city into the wider region of Leonida. Rockstar has also indicated that the game will include a broad selection of activities, ranging from basketball and mini-golf to scuba diving and parachuting.
For players, the immediate question is how much of that wider world Rockstar will reveal before launch. For rival developers, the more practical concern is whether GTA 6’s release will reshape the crowded calendar again. Houser’s decision highlights a different kind of anticipation: even people with deep ties to Rockstar are treating the game’s influence as something powerful enough to avoid.
Key takeaways
- Dan Houser is avoiding GTA 6 gameplay while working on two undisclosed open-world projects.
- He has previously limited exposure to The Sopranos and Western films during game development.
- GTA 6’s influence is already affecting how other studios position and schedule their releases.
- The game will revisit Vice City and expand into the broader Leonida region.
- Rockstar’s next release remains a major benchmark for the entire open-world genre.
Expert View
Houser’s choice is a smart creative safeguard rather than a sign that he is disconnected from GTA 6. The game’s scale and cultural reach make comparison unavoidable, but deliberately limiting outside influence could help Absurd Ventures develop a clearer identity. For Rockstar, the episode is another reminder that GTA 6 is not merely competing with other releases; it is shaping the expectations and decisions of the wider industry before players even get their hands on it.
