Behind the scenes at Rockstar Games, GTA 6’s story went through a major creative struggle—one that involved three different versions of the script being scrapped for being “too dark.” According to reports, early drafts of the game featured a gritty Vice City setting with a morally corrupt police officer, his troubled son, and a cartel lieutenant. The tone was reportedly far more intense and serious than what Rockstar leadership was comfortable with, which led to those storylines being completely shut down.
This ongoing creative tension may have played a key role in the departure of Rockstar co-founder and lead writer Dan Houser. Known for shaping the edgy, satirical tone of past GTA titles, Houser had been working on these early versions of GTA 6 before he unexpectedly left the studio in 2020. While he hadn’t completed a full draft of the final story, sources say the increasingly dark direction of the scripts—and the repeated rejections—may have contributed to his decision to walk away.
Since then, Rockstar has shifted its narrative tone, aiming for something still bold, but potentially less controversial. With key writers like Michael Unsworth also departing in 2023, it’s clear that GTA 6 has seen a major shift in creative direction since the early days of planning.
Whether this leads to a more accessible and widely appealing story or a game that plays it too safe remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure—the GTA 6 we’ll eventually get won’t be the one Dan Houser originally envisioned.
