This is an older quote, but a good one. Speaking to French site Ecrans last November, Rockstar boss Dan Houser has expressed an interest in developing a future-set Grand Theft Auto, but cautioned that the developer doesn't do anything for the sake of it.
(The translation is Google's plus a little localisation work by yours truly, so don't necessarily digest it word for word. GSCE French only gets you so far.)
"When we decided to make a Western, it was because we knew we had something to say," he went on. "We have no interest in going into science fiction for the sake of flying cars and laser guns. The best science fiction stories are those that speak about the human condition. So while this idea is very tempting and, by definition, anything's possible in a videogame, we lack the essential thing for the moment: a good reason."
Rockstar has a rich history of playing upon nostalgia for classic Hollywood IP, as in Red Dead. There are, of course, plenty of sci-fi flicks that might support this treatment - one wonders what the developer could make of Blade Runner or Logan's Run, for instance.
A move into science fiction could also be a way of rejuvenating the series for next generation hardware. Houser doesn't think GTA needs a refresh for the moment, however. "I'm not worrying about this for a good while yet," he went on, when asked about the difficulties of maintaining interest in elderly franchises. "In the past some of our titles have been successful, others less so, but as long as we have the ambition of making the kinds of games that nobody's ever made before, we're not going to get bored.
Don't expect a GTA-meets-Captain-Kirk outing for the foreseeable future, then. GTA 5 has ambition enough to fill the breach, I'd say - as detailed in our colossal GTA 5 info round-up, there's a campaign split between three characters which hinges on heists, and you'll be able to swim with Great White Sharks.
Rockstar is also working on a next gen engine.
15 comments so far...
EdDeRs1 on 28 Jan '13 said:
i wouldnt mind seeing a sci-fi GTA set in Mega City One (from Judge Dredd) how awesome would that be?
hujiki on 28 Jan '13 said:
Now that will be awesome.... The possibilities are endless. Thats what cool about sic-fi..
thewrongtrousers on 28 Jan '13 said:
Would never happen but would love to see a GTA: SW (where the SW stands for Star Wars). Could be set pretty much anytime and anywhere in the Star Wars universe, imagine the DLC possibilities?
Personally after RDR I would love to see more history based versions. E.g. Roman Empire, Napoleonic War, Crusades, Robin Hood (historical in loosest sense of the term but reckon it would be excellent, loads of scope for side quests and activities). Or even take RDR back a few (or more) generations.
CunningSmile on 28 Jan '13 said:
Personally I was think something closer top Fifth Element. The brighter, more anarchic setting would lend itself better to GTA than the misery of the Big Meg. Bruce Willis' character (soldier turned taxi driver) would even make a pretty good GTA character.
FishyGinger on 28 Jan '13 said:
What about crap costume designs and chris tucker? I'd still play it though...
CunningSmile on 28 Jan '13 said:
I like the costume designs.
And are you saying you wouldn't enjoy a mission in which you got to kill Chris Tucker?
FishyGinger on 28 Jan '13 said:
And sold
Mendes on 28 Jan '13 said:
Me too....as long as I got to have hot coffee with Milla Jovovich.
GHOSTY05 on 28 Jan '13 said:
The fifth element, one of the best sci fi movies ever made!
Sandbwoy on 28 Jan '13 said:
An interesting idea, but I'm not sure all fans of the series would appreciate such a drastic change. The games they're making now are insanely popular, so why change a formula that already works so well? It would be a huge risk. Having said that, I do actually like the idea of a futuristic GTA. Maybe one day.
Droidsbane on 28 Jan '13 said:
An open world game set in megacity 1 would be awsome and if theres one thing gta and dredd share in common its satire.
Drainwater on 28 Jan '13 said:
I've always kind of wanted this. Saints Row the Third and Red Faction Guerrilla both kind of fill that role though, so I figured Rockstar wouldn't go that route. True neither of them have flying cars (although SR3 has a hoverbike), and SR3 isn't too terribly far in the future, but I just imagined Rockstar wouldn't want to be seen as "following" the leader on anything. I wouldn't see it that way, but I know the comparisons would be made.
Aidyyyy on 29 Jan '13 said:
I think I'm inclined to agree. Though not something ridiculously OTT that isn't thousands of years in the future. I'd like something that would maybe be set on a world similar to Coruscant, where crime is rife and there's a very clear line between rich and poor. Anyone who knows the Star Wars universe even slightly knows that Coruscant is the number one place to go for illegal activity, especially level 1313.
If a GTA game like that emerges then I'd definitely buy that, but if not then something that isn't set too far in the future like I said before. Maybe in like 2080 so there is advanced travel and advanced weapons, but so we're still on Earth. I dunno.
FishyGinger on 29 Jan '13 said:
Something similar to Blade Runner?
Gazisdaman on 29 Jan '13 said:
It wouldn't be a actual GTA game, it would be like red dead, the same type of gameplay but a different game.