Rockstar co-founder explains why GTA will no longer take place outside the US

Former lead writer and co-founder of Rockstar Games, Dan Houser, discussed on Lex Friedman's podcast why the Grand Theft Auto series finally focused on American settings after the release of GTA London for the original PlayStation. He explained that the franchise's DNA is closely tied to American culture, humor, and social satire, as well as themes that fit seamlessly into the American reality.

Houser noted that the spirit of GTA is inextricably linked to the image of hypertrophied American cities like Miami or New York, as well as its emphasis on guns, crime, and a unique view of society. He acknowledged that transferring such an approach to a different cultural context is extremely difficult, as without an American foundation, the game would lose part of its identity.

The creator called the GTA London experiment "an interesting, but limited experience" and emphasized that the studio has no plans to return to such efforts. Judging by the Grand Theft Auto VI trailers, Rockstar intends to continue the tradition of satirizing and reflecting on American reality, which has long been a hallmark of the entire series.