GTA Creator Shares Favorite Character and Discusses Future of LLMs in Affordable, Quality Content Creation

Dan Houser: New Ventures Beyond GTA

Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games and the creative force behind the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) franchise, stepped away from the company in early 2020 after an impactful twenty-two-year journey. In 2021, he launched Absurd Ventures, where he has already produced a graphic novel, a novel, and a podcast series, with video game projects currently in development.

Reflections from the Lex Fridman Podcast

Recently, Houser was a featured guest on the popular Lex Fridman podcast, engaging in a nearly three-hour conversation that explored a wide array of topics, including gaming, cinema, and character design. When discussing his favorite character from the series, he specifically chose Niko Bellic, the protagonist of GTA IV, highlighting the depth and morality he envisioned for the character.

I think he’s the most innovative and the most morally defensible in some ways. He does a lot of stuff where he’s fighting for what’s right. He’s the nicest person in some ways. Is he the best protagonist of a GTA game? I think he’s the most innovative protagonist of a GTA game. Structurally, he might be too nice in some ways. He’s also tough. I loved CJ in San Andreas. I thought Maylay did such… Just the way he spoke gave him such humanity. It wasn’t the writing, it was the quality of the voice acting, it was just so strong for him. I think aspects of Michael, he was so understated, but the actor loved the character, he brought so much humanity to this character who’s so flawed, who has no principles. He sells everyone out. I think Ned Luke did such an amazing job and didn’t necessarily get as many plaudits as Steven Ogg for Trevor, who was also wonderful. But I think the Ned Luke character anchors that game so much. So I like all of them in different ways, but I probably love Niko the most.

The Success Formula of GTA

Discussing the secret to the GTA series’ enduring popularity, Houser pointed out that the infrequent release schedule contributed to heightened anticipation among fans, which translates into strong sales. He expressed optimism that the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI, slated for release on May 26, 2026, will achieve remarkable sales figures, despite the fact that he did not contribute to its development.

The Impact of Generative AI on Creativity

Houser shared his insights on the growing influence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs).While acknowledging the advancements in AI, he expressed skepticism regarding their ability to replicate true creativity and original thought.

Based on my fairly limited understanding of how language models work, they’re not going to replace good ideas. They can’t really come up with good new ideas. What they can do is do low-level stuff. So I think it’s going to be harder for people to start out in some of these spaces. If you’re not a very good concept artist, you’re in a lot of trouble. If you have original ideas, I think you’re fine. But I also think that they’ve done the first 90% of the work to sound human, 95% possibly in some areas. The last 5% is going to end up being about 95% of the work. I think that last bit with tech, in my experience with things like facial animation, it’s always been the last bits and pieces that take far longer than the first bit.

He also noted that while AI may produce adequate quality content, it often lacks the unique touch that stems from genuine human creativity. He believes that, as a result, there will be a significant influx of homogeneous content, while those with genuine talent will continue to thrive.

A Glimpse into Future Projects

Among his new creative endeavors is A Better Paradise, a dystopian narrative exploring complex themes through the lens of a conflicted AI character named Nigel Dave. The AI possesses extensive knowledge but lacks the wisdom that accompanies human experience. Houser confirmed that a game inspired by this setting is currently in early development at Absurd Ventures’ Santa Monica studio. Additionally, a more expansive open-world game, set in the Absurdaverse, is also underway, although it may take several years before reaching completion.

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