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The Grand Theft Auto series has always been closely tied to the United States, and it seems that will not be changing anytime soon. In a recent interview on the Lex Fridman podcast, Rockstar Games co-founder and longtime GTA and Red Dead Redemption writer Dan Houser explained why America remains the core setting of the franchise.
While the studio once experimented with a London spin-off during the early PlayStation era, every major GTA release since then has taken place in an American-inspired world. According to Houser, this is not just a creative habit it is part of the identity of the series.
“GTA is Built on American Culture”
Houser explained that the tone, humor, and world of GTA draw heavily from American life. The series focuses on crime, freedom, and exaggerated personalities elements that are easier to portray in a U.S. setting.
He put it simply:
The game has so much Americana in its DNA that moving it somewhere else wouldn’t feel the same.
The gameplay itself also depends on how easily the characters can access guns, fast cars, and chaotic environments all elements strongly tied to the American setting. Other regions could work for smaller stories, but not for a full-scale GTA experience.
Why America Works So Well for GTA
The U.S. offers a wide mix of cities, cultures, and criminal histories that match the kind of open-world storytelling GTA is known for. Each major entry reflects a different American setting:
- Vice City drew from Miami and its 1980s drug scene.
- San Andreas reflected Los Angeles, gang wars, and West Coast culture.
- Chinatown Wars, although featuring Chinese Triad influences, still took place in a U.S. city.
These locations give the series large, living worlds filled with different characters and stories.
Dan Houser Now Views Grand Theft Auto as a Fan
In the interview, Houser also spoke about leaving Rockstar and how he now looks forward to experiencing Grand Theft Auto VI as a player rather than a creator. He discussed major past projects, including Red Dead Redemption 2, which he considers one of the most meaningful works of his career.
The full interview covers:
- Writing the GTA series over the years
- Creative decisions behind Red Dead Redemption
- The evolution of video games as storytelling platforms
Where Rockstar Stands Today
Even though Houser has moved on, his influence remains a part of Rockstar. Recently, Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company, stated that they do not plan to replace developers with AI. Instead, AI will be used only as a support tool, keeping creativity and human direction at the center of game development.
This shows that the vision of human-driven storytelling and world-building that shaped GTA and Red Dead Redemption is still guiding the studio.
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