Morpheus

From Lex Fridman Podcast

#484 – Dan Houser: GTA, Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar, Absurd & Future of Gaming

Published
October 31, 2025
Length
2:54:01
Starts at
2:22:10

Audio is streamed from the publisher.

Chapters

Read from the show notes

  1. 0:00 Introduction
  2. 1:29 Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections
  3. 11:32 Greatest films of all time
  4. 23:45 Making video games
  5. 26:36 GTA 3
  6. 29:55 Open world video games
  7. 32:42 Character creation
  8. 36:09 Superintelligent AI in A Better Paradise
  9. 45:21 Can LLMs write video games?
  10. 49:41 Creating GTA 4 and GTA 5
  11. 1:01:16 Hard work and Rockstar’s culture of excellence
  12. 1:04:56 GTA 6
  13. 1:21:46 Red Dead Redemption 2
  14. 2:01:39 DLCs for GTA and Red Dead Redemption
  15. 2:07:58 Leaving Rockstar Games
  16. 2:17:22 Greatest game of all time
  17. 2:22:10 Life lessons from father
  18. 2:24:29 Mortality
  19. 2:41:47 Advice for young people
  20. 2:47:49 Future of video games

Not from the publisher — times may be approximate.

Dan Houser is co-founder of Rockstar Games and is a legendary creative mind behind Grand Theft Auto (GTA) and Red Dead Redemption series of video games. Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: [https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep484-sc]( https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep484-sc">https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep484-sc See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc. **Transcript:** [https://lexfridman.com/dan-houser-transcript]( https://lexfridman.com/dan-houser-transcript">https://lexfridman.com/dan-houser-transcript **CONTACT LEX:** **Feedback** – give feedback to Lex: [https://lexfridman.com/survey]( https://lexfridman.com/survey">https://lexfridman.com/survey **AMA** – submit questions, videos or call-in: [https://lexfridman.com/ama]( https://lexfridman.com/ama">https://lexfridman.com/ama **Hiring** – join our team: [https://lexfridman.com/hiring]( https://lexfridman.com/hiring">https://lexfridman.com/hiring **Other** – other ways to get in touch: [https://lexfridman.com/contact]( https://lexfridman.com/contact">https://lexfridman.com/contact **EPISODE LINKS:** Absurd Adventures: [https://absurdventures.com]( https://absurdventures.com">https://absurdventures.com A Better Paradise: [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0FCYSK8VD]( https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0FCYSK8VD">https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0FCYSK8VD American Caper: [https://absurdventures.com/americancaper]( https://absurdventures.com/americancaper">https://absurdventures.com/americancaper **SPONSORS:** To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts: **Box:** Intelligent content management platform. Go to [https://box.com/ai]( https://lexfridman.com/s/box-ep484-sc">https://box.com/ai **UPLIFT Desk:** Standing desks and office ergonomics. Go to [https://upliftdesk.com/lex]( https://lexfridman.com/s/uplift\_desk-ep484-sc">https://upliftdesk.com/lex **CodeRabbit:** AI-powered code reviews. Go to [https://coderabbit.ai/lex]( https://lexfridman.com/s/coderabbit-ep484-sc">https://coderabbit.ai/lex **Miro:** Online collaborative whiteboard platform. Go to [https://miro.com/]( https://lexfridman.com/s/miro-ep484-sc">https://miro.com/ **Lindy:** No-code AI agent builder. Go to [https://go.lindy.ai/lex]( https://lexfridman.com/s/lindy-ep484-sc">https://go.lindy.ai/lex **Shopify:** Sell stuff online. Go to [https://shopify.com/lex]( https://lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep484-sc">https://shopify.com/lex **LMNT:** Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix. Go to [https://drinkLMNT.com/lex]( https://lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep484-sc">https://drinkLMNT.com/lex **OUTLINE:** (00:00) – Introduction (01:29) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections (11:32) – Greatest films of all time (23:45) – Making video games (26:36) – GTA 3 (29:55) – Open world video games (32:42) – Character creation (36:09) – Superintelligent AI in A Better Paradise (45:21) – Can LLMs write video games? (49:41) – Creating GTA 4 and GTA 5 (1:01:16) – Hard work and Rockstar’s culture of excellence (1:04:56) – GTA 6 (1:21:46) – Red Dead Redemption 2 (2:01:39) – DLCs for GTA and Red Dead Redemption (2:07:58) – Leaving Rockstar Games (2:17:22) – Greatest game of all time (2:22:10) – Life lessons from father (2:24:29) – Mortality (2:41:47) – Advice for young people (2:47:49) – Future of video games **PODCAST LINKS:** – Podcast Website: [https://lexfridman.com/podcast]( https://lexfridman.com/podcast">https://lexfridman.com/podcast – Apple Podcasts: [https://apple.co/2lwqZIr]( https://apple.co/2lwqZIr">https://apple.co/2lwqZIr – Spotify: [https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8]( https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8">https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 – RSS: [https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/]( https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/">https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ – Podcast Playlist: [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP\_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4]( https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP\_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP\_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4 – Clips Channel: [https://www.youtube.com/lexclips]( https://www.youtube.com/lexclips">https://www.youtube.com/lexclips