When examining the long-running video game franchise Grand Theft Auto, you may easily notice one element that carries across the series. That’s the fact that we’re always stuck in a city based within the United States. However, that wasn’t always the case. You might also recall that at one point we went to London for the PlayStation 1. So, what’s the deal with GTA steering clear of other countries?
If you were hopeful to see the franchise explore other areas of the world, you might be in for a letdown. There’s a reason the franchise has remained within the United States, and it will likely continue to do so for future installments.
Dan Houser Talks GTA Settings
Dan Houser doesn’t give interviews very often, so it was big news when he spoke with Lex Fridman. During the conversation, the topic of GTA settings came up. Thanks to GamesRadar, it was here that Dan spoke about how they had a London game for the franchise back on the original PlayStation. However, when asked if there was a reason we never returned to London or any other major city outside the United States, the answer was simple.
Dan explained how Grand Theft Auto is based in Americana. You need guns and over-the-top characters, that’s easily found in cities in the United States. Therefore, it would be challenging to create something like Grand Theft Auto in a different country. Still, Dan is no longer with Rockstar Games, so it’s unclear what the future of GTA holds with Dan no longer at the helm as a co-founder of the studio.
Meanwhile, there are plenty of other interesting tidbits of information that came out from this interview. For instance, we reported on how Dan Houser credits more than himself for the success of the Grand Theft Auto franchise. Likewise, he even noted some changes he had in mind for previous games, such as killing off Niko Bellic in Grand Theft Auto IV.
For now, all eyes are still on Rockstar Games as they continue to work through the next major installment for the franchise. We know Grand Theft Auto VI is coming our way in 2026. If everything goes as planned, we should see it arrive in the marketplace on May 26, 2026.
