US EditionRockstar Games Co-Founder Says GTA's Identity Is ‘Americana Inherent’, Won’t Work if Set Outside the US
Dan Houser said GTA’s American setting relies on cultural elements like guns and iconic characters, making it hard to adapt the game outside the U.S., with GTA 6 continuing the trend.
- Dan Houser, Rockstar co-founder and former lead writer, argued on the Lex Fridman podcast that GTA remains set in the United States by deliberate choice.
- GTA's Americana roots explain its U.S. setting, as years-ago GTA London was only a small mission pack, while Todd Howard, Bethesda development chief, last year ruled out leaving the U.S. for Fallout.
- GTA veterans recognize Los Santos and Liberty City as reflections of Los Angeles and New York, while Tore Olsson, University of Tennessee history professor, will teach a GTA history class early in 2026.
- Next year, GTA 6 is set in the fictional U.S. state of Leonida, and its two trailers emphasize a parody of American culture with a May 26, 2026 release date.
- Professor Tore Olsson says millions of players worldwide imagine contemporary America through the Grand Theft Auto franchise, linking its influence to Red Dead Redemption 2 and Ghost of Tsushima.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Rockstar Games co-founder says GTA's identity is ‘Americana inherent’, won’t work if set outside the US
Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser says GTA's identity is inherently American and while the company had experimented with a London setting, it's very hard to have a setting outside the US.
GTA in London? That was actually something back in 1999. Could the series move to a non-American city again? Former Rockstar CEO Dan Houser has a clear opinion on the matter.
Dan Houser, the member of Rockstar Games, explains why Grand Theft Auto will never (again) play in London or other international shows. Houser sees weapons and American culture as indispensable elements of the series. (Read more)
Liberty City, Vice City, Los Santos... If the universe of Grand Theft Auto (GTA) is familiar to you, you have noticed that the games are still taking place in the United States. Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games, explained this creative choice. According to him, American culture, with its excesses and its ... Read more Like KultureGeek on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter Don't forget to download our free iAddict app for iPhone and iPad …
GTA London Will Remain a One-Off, as the Series Needs Guns and American Culture, Says Dan Houser
Satirising America is the key.Those old enough will remember an early off-shoot of the original Grand Theft Auto that took the series outside of the USA for the first and only time.GTA: London 1969 was essentially an expansion pack for the first game, allowing players to take on some missions in the the UK capital.Read the full article on pushsquare.com
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