Dan Houser Says Open-World Spy Concept Doomed Rockstar’s Agent, Trevor Spy DLC Was Half-Finished

Overview

• Houser confirmed Agent went through about five iterations before being shelved because an open-world spy game "doesn't work" in his view.
• He argued spy narratives demand against-the-clock urgency that clashes with the looser, player-driven pacing of Rockstar’s open worlds.
• A planned GTA V single-player expansion with Trevor as a secret agent was roughly half complete before being canceled, which he suggested enabled focus on Red Dead Redemption 2.
• He explained that guns and larger-than-life characters are core to the series’ U.S. satire, which is why a full modern GTA set in London was never pursued.
• After leaving Rockstar in 2020, Houser now leads Absurd Ventures with a focus on single-player projects and said GTA 6 will likely sell strongly due to anticipation despite his noninvolvement.