Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games and lead writer of the legendary Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption series, recently voiced a stance in an interview that may come as a revelation to many fans. According to him, reaching the final credits is not the ultimate goal. The true value of a game lies in how interesting it is for the player to exist in the created world, even if they never reach the logical conclusion of the story.
Story vs. Freedom of Action
Houser admitted that as a writer, he certainly wishes for stories to be read to the end. However, he does not consider this a mandatory condition for a successful game. If a gamer enjoyed exploring locations, interacting with the environment, and simply "living" in the moment, that can already be considered a complete victory for the developers.
According to Houser, the key value of open worlds lies not in linear storytelling, but in the freedom of action and the reactivity of game systems. It is precisely the unpredictability of events that creates that "magical" part of the experience that brings people back to projects years later.
Easter Eggs That Live for Years
Long-time Houser associate and co-founder of Absurd Ventures, Lazlow Jones, also joined the discussion. He reminded everyone that the Rockstar team has always been distinguished by their love for complex Easter eggs. It often takes years to uncover them, and these discoveries regularly become viral sensations long after the game's release.
This approach confirms the studio's philosophy: the game world must be deep and alive in itself, regardless of how much of the story a specific user managed to complete.