Quick Answer
Yes. Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games and lead writer behind GTA: Vice City, San Andreas, GTA IV, GTA V, and Red Dead Redemption 2, officially left Rockstar Games in March 2020 after an extended sabbatical. In 2021, he founded Absurd Ventures. However, industry insiders and Take-Two filings confirm that GTA 6's overarching storyline, world-building, and character drafts for Lucia and Jason were completed before his departure.
The 22-Year Legacy of Dan Houser
Dan Houser was the biting, cynical literary voice of Grand Theft Auto, crafting dialogue, world satire, and character arcs that defined modern open-world games.
Why Did Dan Houser Leave Rockstar?
Following the grueling 100-hour crunch weeks of Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018, Rockstar underwent a major cultural overhaul. In March 2020, Dan transitioned into independent multimedia production, founding Absurd Ventures to create graphic novels (American Caper) and audio fiction (A Better Paradise).