'It's not going to solve all of the problems', GTA creator says AI still falls short while building his next game

Artificial Intelligence

Rockstar Games co-founder and celebrated writer Dan Houser has offered a refreshingly grounded take on the role of AI in game development. Speaking on Sunday Brunch, in comments picked up by Insider Gaming, Houser said his new studio Absurd Ventures is experimenting with AI, but the results are far more limited than the hype suggests.

“We are dabbling in using AI, but the truth is it’s not as useful as some of the companies would have you believe yet,” he said. According to Houser, the technology can help in narrow, well-defined areas, but it cannot replace the breadth of creative and technical work required to build a modern game. “It’s not going to solve all of the problems,” he explained, adding that AI excels at a few tasks and falls short on many others. His comments act as a pointed counterweight to industry claims that AI will overhaul everything from writing to world-building.

Houser also touched on the enduring appeal of GTA 5, a game he co-created and one that continues to chart globally more than a decade after launch. He credited its success to the “sense of freedom” that allowed players to lose themselves in a world that felt alive, reactive and unpredictable.

Meanwhile, Rockstar itself continues to expand the GTA Online universe. The studio has released the first trailer for the Mansions DLC, titled “A Safehouse in the Hills”, due out this December. The update promises a fresh continent, newvehicles and lavish mansions, signalling another sizeable drop for long-time players.

Houser’s take on AI lands at a moment when the gaming industry is eager to fold the technology into workflows. His message is clear: AI has potential, but the craft of building worlds still relies on human imagination.