With the exception of the first GTA London expansion in 1999, Grand Theft Auto games have always been set in the United States. With the exception of Grand Theft Auto 2, which is set in a future American city, all GTA games are set in real American cities and are set in fictional American cities. In a new interview, Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser explains how important the American setting is to the series, and why a GTA game will never be set outside the United States.
Hauser appeared on the popular Lex Fridman Podcast and talked about Grand Theft Auto, the upcoming GTA 6, Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar Games, and more in a wide-ranging chat. The Rockstar co-founder, who has led the writing and creative input on multiple GTA games such as Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2, said that the GTA series draws a lot of inspiration from American style and it would be difficult to make a GTA game set outside the United States. Of course, the show relies heavily on guns—something more common in America than anywhere else in the world.
“Twenty-six years ago we made a little thing in London, GTA London, designed for the top-down PS1. It was really cute and fun as the first mission pack for the PlayStation 1,” said Houser, a Brit, in response to a question about GTA’s setting. “I think with a full GTA game, we always felt there was too much inherent American content in the IP that it would be difficult to make it work in London or elsewhere.
“You know, you need guns, you need these larger-than-life characters. It feels like this game is very connected to America, maybe from an outsider’s perspective. But you know, that’s the nature of the thing, it’s not going to work the same way elsewhere.”
With the exception of Grand Theft Auto II and the Grand Theft Auto: London expansion, all Grand Theft Auto games are set in one or more cities, including Liberty City (based on New York City), Vice City (Miami), Los Santos, San Fierro, and Las Venturas (based on Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas). Inspired by the American state of Florida, GTA 6 returns to the Vice City setting within the larger state of Leonia.
Dan Houser talks GTA 6
During the interview, Hauser also talked about his expectations for GTA 6, saying that the series has remained relevant and popular over the years thanks to constant innovation.
“Because they don’t come around very often,” Houser said when asked about the popularity of GTA games. “I think we do a really good job of constantly innovating within our IP. Games always feel different. People have a very strong feeling: ‘I love this game.’ I don’t really like that one, “because they’re very different.”
Houser said Rockstar continues to improve the GTA IP, which creates excitement and anticipation before each GTA release. “We’re also good at marketing them,” he added.
Houser co-founded Rockstar with his brother Sam, who currently heads the studio. He left Rockstar Games in 2020 after completing work on Red Dead Redemption 2. Houser is not involved in the production of “Grand Theft Auto 6”.
GTA 6 will launch on PS5 and Xbox Series S/X on May 26, 2026.
