(Image credit: Rockstar)
It feels like ages since Rockstar has ventured beyond the realms of Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. Remember the days when we had games like Max Payne, L.A. Noire, or even Midnight Club? Those were wild times. But the conversation about new projects is different now. A former lead at Rockstar, who was instrumental in developing some of those imaginative ideas, recently expressed no regrets about what didn’t come to fruition. According to Obbe Vermeij, who held the title of technical director and worked on GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, and IV, any frustrations melt away when you consider the shadow cast by Grand Theft Auto. “The reality is if you have a studio that has one mega successful game, it just doesn’t make sense to do any wild changes,” he shared in an interview with GameHub. “Whatever weird ideas you have, we really should put them into GTA rather than just launching an entirely new game.”
The discussion took a turn to a concept that never really got off the ground: a zombie game set on a Scottish island. It sparked some similarities with Agent, the Cold War-era spy game that also saw its fair share of delays and ultimately vanished. Vermeij holds no bitterness about returning focus to GTA. For him, it was the practical decision across the board.
“In retrospect, I don’t think there’s a missed opportunity at all, either with that zombie game or with other experiments like Agent.”
Obbe Vermeij
It’s true—these potential games might have been interesting, but perhaps they would’ve fallen short of what players expect from Rockstar. Considering the lukewarm reception of L.A. Noire, many viewed it merely as a placeholder until the next Grand Theft Auto or Red Dead arrived. That sentiment has only heightened with the ongoing delays surrounding GTA VI. Yet, Vermeij expresses a deep admiration for studios that dare to step away from their success. Take Larian Studios: after the monumental success of Baldur’s Gate 3, they opted to explore other avenues instead of diving directly into Baldur’s Gate IV. “Good for them,” he acknowledges. “But it’s a bold move. It’s not obvious. It’s very risky. It’s easier to just keep on doing what you’re doing.”
In light of discussions around delaying GTA VI, even the lead developer from Elder Scrolls VI suggests it might be the smartest decision for Rockstar. Fans certainly wouldn’t want something that doesn’t meet their lofty expectations.