Rockstar Games has a reputation of putting out massive, high-quality games that rake in billions of dollars and earn widespread critical acclaim. When it comes to new releases, Rockstar's track record is nearly spotless, and so it's no surprise that hopes are high for the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6. It took Rockstar nearly a decade to even confirm that the game exists, but now that GTA 6 has been announced, it's just a matter of time until fans get to see it in action.
With GTA 5 being the most profitable entertainment product ever produced to date, Rockstar is obviously going to do everything in its power to ensure that Grand Theft Auto 6 is just as big, if not bigger. The full force of Rockstar Games is likely behind the project, with the developers working hard to produce a product that meets fans' lofty expectations and keeps the GTA franchise on top of the gaming world. Chances are good that Grand Theft Auto 6 will be another high-quality release from Rockstar that smashes financial records and earns near-universal acclaim from critics, but the game does have one big disadvantage that its predecessors did not.
Since its inception, Rockstar Games has been guided by brothers Dan and Sam Houser, who have both played extensive roles in all the company's major products. The brothers have earned a reputation as two of the most talented game makers the industry has seen, with widespread acclaim for their work. Dan and Sam have collaborated on everything from the breakout hit that was Grand Theft Auto 3 all the way to the award-winning Red Dead Redemption 2, but it will be a different story for Grand Theft Auto 6.
After launching Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018, Dan Houser went on hiatus, eventually resigning from Rockstar Games in 2020. Dan Houser played a key role at Rockstar Games for decades, working as a producer, writer, and more on the company's biggest releases, including the aforementioned Grand Theft Auto 3, Vice City, San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto 4, Grand Theft Auto 5, the Red Dead Redemption games, and more. While there are many people at Rockstar Games that have helped form its creative vision, there's no denying how huge Dan Houser has been when it comes to the company's expert storytelling and writing. Dan Houser has helped Rockstar Games find its unique voice, and he simply won't be around to assist with the development of GTA 6.
Since leaving Rockstar Games, Dan Houser has founded his own game development company, Absurd Ventures. Absurd Ventures has yet to announce any projects, but considering the work Dan has put out over the years, all eyes will be on the company to see what he does next. Sam Houser, meanwhile, is still at Rockstar Games, serving as the current president of the company.
It's not entirely clear why exactly Dan Houser left Rockstar Games, but the rumor is Dan wanted to work on new projects, whereas parent company Take-Two wanted the brothers to stay focused on making content for the wildly successful Grand Theft Auto Online. Fans should take this information with a grain of salt, but if the rumors are to be believed, Dan essentially left Rockstar Games due to creative differences. But again, the specifics of the situation are not public knowledge. Some of it is even based on a wild Red Dead Redemption 2 theory that Dan secretly wrote an allegory for the situation in the game, so unless the Housers or someone else steps forward for more information, all fans can really do is speculate about the behind-the-scenes happenings.
Regardless of why Dan Houser left Rockstar Games, the fact of the matter is that it leaves the company in uncharted waters. Every major Rockstar release for decades has had Dan Houser involved in some capacity, meaning Grand Theft Auto 6 will be the first title the company ships without him. Needless to say, it will be interesting to see if Grand Theft Auto 6 is still able to meet fan expectations without Dan Houser's influence on the story.
As it stands, it will likely be quite some time before fans get to see Grand Theft Auto 6 at all. A leaker has claimed that the first Grand Theft Auto 6 screenshot was hidden in Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition, and it seems to show a house in a Florida-style neighborhood. Between that and claims from reliable insiders, it seems like a safe bet that Grand Theft Auto 6 will be set in Vice City, but otherwise fans really don't know anything about the game, its characters, or its story.
It's far too early to make any judgment calls about Grand Theft Auto 6, seeing as it's just recently been announced and Rockstar revealed nothing about it in an official capacity beyond that it's in development. Even so, the lack of Dan Houser means that the game is at a disadvantage compared to its predecessors. Time will tell how the final product turns out, and if whatever Dan Houser is cooking up at Absurd Ventures is able to match it.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is in development.