Summary
- Dan Houser reportedly wrote three GTA 6 story drafts, all rejected by Take-Two.
- The stories featured different protagonists and shifting plots causing delays.
- Houser stepped down from Rockstar’s creative role amid development struggles.
Dan Houser’s GTA 6 Story Drafts and Rejections
Leaks from an unverified source reveal that Dan Houser, Rockstar Games’ creative lead, wrote three different story drafts for Grand Theft Auto 6.
The first, called “Project Americas” from 2014, had a dark, thriller-style police crime plot. It centered on three characters: a principled cop slowly descending into crime, his troubled son battling drug addiction, and a Colombian drug lord’s right-hand man aiming to build a drug empire in Vice City. Take-Two rejected this draft for being too dark and not meeting expectations.
The second draft switched to two protagonists—a female police officer seeking revenge for her father’s death and a wild drug smuggler’s henchman similar to Trevor from GTA 5. Despite being in development for 18 months, Take-Two rejected this version too.
The third GTA 6 story draft replaced the female cop with an African-American former soldier recently released from prison who falls into crime. This draft was canceled in early 2019.
Dan Houser Steps Down Amid GTA 6 Delays
Following these rejections, Dan Houser took an extended break and stepped down from his role as Rockstar’s Vice President of Creative. His brother Sam Houser then took over and wrote the fourth draft, which is the version GTA 6 fans now know. These rewrites explain why GTA 6’s release has been delayed for so long.
It seems there was a creative clash between Houser’s darker vision and Take-Two’s desire for a story with broader appeal. While unconfirmed, these rumors highlight the difficult and lengthy process behind one of gaming’s biggest upcoming releases.
Meanwhile, Dan Houser founded a new studio, Absurd Ventures, focusing on fresh projects that won’t compete with GTA. Fans hope the final GTA 6 story will be worth the wait after so many changes.
