Dan Houser Rockstar Games exit: no role in GTA 6, legacy explained

Dan Houser, the co-founder of Rockstar Games, has addressed his exit and his role in future projects. He confirmed he has no involvement in Grand Theft Auto 6. He spoke about it during an on-camera conversation at LA Comic Con in Los Angeles on September 27, 2025.

The comment matters because Houser shaped Rockstar’s voice for two decades. He wrote or co-wrote many of the studio’s biggest games. His words signal a clean handover to a new generation of storytellers inside Rockstar.

Key details on Dan Houser and Rockstar Games

Houser said plainly that GTA 6’s story and characters were not written by him. He noted he had written “the last 10 or 11” major entries he worked on, and it was time for new voices. He also praised the upcoming game and expressed confidence in the current team.

Houser left Rockstar in March 2020 after an extended break. His departure ended a leadership era that helped define open-world storytelling. It also raised long-running questions about tone, satire, and narrative style without his pen.

Since leaving, Houser founded Absurd Ventures. The studio is developing original IP across games and other media. He has discussed early projects, including a crime-comedy comic universe, while keeping game details measured and realistic.

Rockstar has not publicly named a new “lead writer” for GTA 6. The company typically credits large narrative teams. Fans should expect continuity in craft, even if the flavor shifts. That is how big franchises evolve with long development cycles and new talent.

Trusted coverage has stressed two points. First, the 2020 exit is documented and final. Second, the LA Comic Con interview is Houser’s clearest on-record statement about zero involvement in GTA 6. Together, these facts frame a real transition, not a rumor.

For players, the practical takeaway is simple. GTA 6 will reflect Rockstar’s current writers and directors. Houser’s legacy continues, but the next chapter is authored by others.

Creative legacy and what changes next

Houser’s career defined how Rockstar mixes satire, crime drama, and Americana. Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2 are often cited as high points. Their dialogue, pacing, and ensemble casts created a template that many studios study.

Without Houser, the studio’s tone may modernize in different ways. Social commentary can shift, and character work may lean into new rhythms. Big open-world games also rely on quest designers, mission scripters, cinematic teams, and editors. Those groups will shape GTA 6’s feel as much as headline writers do.

The longer view is steady. Franchises survive creative handovers when pipelines and standards are strong. Rockstar’s tech, production discipline, and global writing rooms are built for that. If the team lands sharp characters and a coherent arc, audiences will embrace the change.

Dan Houser’s statement closes a long-running question. The co-founder of Rockstar Games is not writing GTA 6. His legacy informs the studio’s DNA, while a new team carries the story forward.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: Did Dan Houser work on GTA 6?

No. He confirmed zero involvement in the story and characters. He endorsed the new team and expects a great game.

Q2: When did Dan Houser leave Rockstar Games?

He departed in March 2020 after a break that began in 2019. The exit was announced publicly at the time.

Q3: What is Absurd Ventures?

It is Houser’s studio formed after leaving Rockstar. It develops original worlds across games and other media.

Q4: Will GTA 6’s tone change without Houser?

Some changes are likely. Large narrative teams, directors, and mission designers will shape the final tone.

Q5: Which Rockstar project does Houser rate most highly?

In recent comments, he praised Red Dead Redemption 2 as a career peak. He also reflected positively on GTA V’s middle act.