Why You’ll Never See GTA Set Outside America: Rockstar Co-Founder Dan Houser Explains

The Grand Theft Auto series has always been firmly rooted in American soil-with the rare exception of the 1999 London mission packs for the original game. In a recent conversation on the Lex Fridman podcast, Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games, explained why the franchise has largely declined to explore locales outside the U.S.: he believes the series draws so deeply on American culture, gun-fuelled iconography and larger-than-life characters that transplanting it elsewhere would undermine its very identity.

GTA Over the Years

All of the major entries in the series (except for Grand Theft Auto 2 and the London expansions) are set in fictionalised U.S. cities: Liberty City (New York), Vice City (Miami), Los Santos (Los Angeles), San Fierro (San Francisco), and Las Venturas (Las Vegas). With the next instalment, Grand Theft Auto VI, returning to Vice City in the state of Leonia (a stand-in for Florida), Houser's remarks underscore why the series remains anchored in an American setting: the cultural backdrop, themes of gun-culture and caricatured excess, and the outsized personalities are simply more coherent in that environment.

American Influence on GTA Settings

All main GTA games, except for GTA 2 and the London expansions, are based in fictional US cities inspired by real ones. These include Liberty City (New York City), Vice City (Miami), Los Santos (Los Angeles), San Fierro (San Francisco), and Las Venturas (Las Vegas). The upcoming GTA 6 will revisit Vice City within a state called Leonia, reminiscent of Florida.

Houser reminisced about creating GTA London for PlayStation 1 over two decades ago. "We made a little thing in London 26 years ago," he said. "That was pretty cute and fun." However, he noted that a full-scale game outside America might not capture the essence of what makes GTA unique.

Anticipation for GTA 6

The anticipation for GTA 6 is high as it promises to continue evolving the franchise's legacy. Houser attributed its enduring popularity to innovation within each release. "Because they don't come out that regularly," he remarked on why fans eagerly await new titles.

He also mentioned how each game feels distinct, leading players to have strong preferences about their favourites. "People have very strong feelings: 'I like this one. I didn't like that one as much,'" he explained.

Rockstar's Evolution and Marketing

Rockstar Games has consistently evolved its intellectual property (IP) while maintaining excitement around new releases. Houser acknowledged their effective marketing strategies as part of this success.

Though Houser left Rockstar in 2020 after working on Red Dead Redemption 2, his influence remains evident in previous titles. His brother Sam now leads the studio as they prepare for GTA 6's launch on May 26th, 2026, for PS5 and Xbox Series S/X.

The decision to keep Grand Theft Auto grounded in American settings reflects its deep ties with American culture and themes. This approach has contributed significantly to its global appeal over time.