By Winztro 
Were you aware that following the creation of GTA San Andreas, Rockstar was nearly on the verge of closing down? They also cancelled many open-world projects, including a full single-player DLC for GTA 5. Today, I’m going to reveal these 10+ rare secrets about GTA 5 & RDR 2 that fans never talk about, and all of this information comes directly from Rockstar’s co-founder, Dan Houser.
Cancelled GTA 5 Story
Many people are bitter that Rockstar never released even a single DLC for GTA 5’s story mode.
What is DLC?
A DLC (Downloadable Content) is additional content that gets added to a game after its release, such as new missions, new areas, new characters, or new story expansions.
Trevor Secret-Agent DLC
According to older leaks, Rockstar originally planned around seven DLCs for GTA 5, but all of them were cancelled. Dan Houser confirmed he was working on a Trevor secret-agent DLC, where Trevor becomes a government agent working undercover for the police. If Rockstar had continued, we might never have gotten Red Dead Redemption 2—because all development resources moved there.
Cancelled Open World Games
Very few people know that after GTA 4, in 2009, Rockstar was secretly developing an open-world spy game called Agent, inspired by James Bond and the 1970s Cold War era. The game went through five different versions as developers tried to adapt a detective/spy story to an open-world format. Eventually, they realized a spy character didn’t fit well in an open world, so the project was dropped.
New Game After GTA 6
After GTA 6, what will Rockstar release next? GTA 7? RDR 3? Bully 2?
Dan Houser asserts that none of these games exist. Rockstar is working on an entirely new game, unique and unlike anything they’ve made before.
Why Is GTA 6 So Hyped?
Dan Houser explained that GTA games release after long gaps, creating massive hype naturally. Each GTA game also brings:
- New characters
- New storylines
- New cities
- New gameplay systems
This combination keeps each release exciting and fresh.
Will GTA Ever Take Place in Another Country?
Most likely no—because GTA works best in the United States.
Why the US Works for GTA
- Guns are easy to buy.
- Gun laws are weak.
- Crime-based stories feel more natural.
That’s why Rockstar usually bases maps on cities like New York or Los Angeles.
Rockstar Was Almost Shut Down
After GTA San Andreas, Rockstar faced a major crisis due to the Hot Coffee mod, a hidden game mode accidentally left in the files. When discovered, it caused huge controversy, political backlash, and lawsuits nearly causing the studio to collapse.
Why Is GTA 4’s Story So Dark?
GTA 4 is considered the darkest game in the series. Some players didn’t like the tone, while for others, it became a favorite.
Dan Houser explained that during development, he was experiencing personal ups and downs: he wanted to leave New York City, wasn’t married, and the Hot Coffee controversy was creating massive stress. This emotional weight influenced GTA 4’s dark, heavy story.
He even considered killing Niko at the end but dropped the idea, realizing it would be too risky.
Is RDR 3 Confirmed?
Dan Houser is not involved in GTA 6, but he should be part of Red Dead Redemption 3—because he created the RDR characters and world. It would be disappointing if the next RDR game didn’t follow his vision.
Based on this, it seems RDR 3 is very likely to happen.
DR 1: The Story & Its Brutal Ending
Dan Houser grew up watching western movies with his father, including classics like The Godfather Part 2 and Goodfellas. This gave him profound knowledge of western culture, fully reflected in RDR1.
When writing RDR1, Dan imagined himself as the main character, making the ending emotional, powerful, and brutally unforgettable.
RDR 2 Cut Story & Major Changes
Rockstar made RDR 2 slightly different from RDR 1 so the game wouldn’t feel repetitive. That’s why the beginning takes place in the snow, which is unusual for a western-themed story.
Greatest Characters
In the GTA series, the greatest character is Niko Bellic, while in the RDR series, it’s Arthur Morgan. We all agree with that.
He Didn’t Like Games at First
Dan Houser didn’t like video games at first and was more interested in movies. He began appreciating video games after making GTA 3. His all-time favorite game is Tetris.
Future Games of Dan Houser
Dan Houser is currently working at Absurd Ventures, developing comic books, animated series, and two new open-world games.
Conclusion
These were 10+ rare secrets about GTA 5 & RDR 2 fans never talk about, proving how much effort Rockstar puts into its games. Whether you’re exploring Los Santos or the Old West, there’s always something new hidden just beneath the surface.