Dan Houser on the Famed Rockstar Secrecy: You Gain Something by Not Knowing How Games Are Made

Alessio Palumbo

Today is the big Red Dead Redemption 2 release day for Rockstar. After eight long years, there's a new chapter of the Western epic open world franchise, though it is a prequel rather than a sequel.

One thing that Rockstar didn't really change is their secretive approach to development. In an era where game developers all over the world are trying to be more open than ever about the whole process, this studio holds fast in making sure very few tidbits of their games are available publicly ahead of the releases.

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In a lengthy interview published by GQ Magazine, Rockstar co-founder and writer Dan Houser explained why they're still keeping the old ways.

Sam and I talk about this a lot and it’s that games are still magical. It’s like they’re made by elves. You turn on the screen and it’s just this world that exists on TV. I think you gain something by not knowing how they’re made. As much as we might lose something in terms of people’s respect for what we do, their enjoyment of what we do is enhanced. Which is probably more important.

The game really is special, as thoroughly explained in our review published yesterday, so he may have a point.

Red Dead Redemption 2 may not be perfect, but its minor shortcomings are like tiny blemishes on a stunningly beautiful face. In a way, they only serve as a reminder of how this world isn't made for perfection. Every single aspect of the game will put you into the very shoes of an outlaw roaming America with his gang as they try to escape the law long enough to make the money needed to disappear for good. It's an epic, memorable and engrossing tale which also elevates the open world genre to new heights with the brand new interaction system, a cast of unforgettable characters and a ton of high-quality content to play for a long time.

Alessio Palumbo Photo

About the author: With over two decades of experience in gaming journalism, Alessio Palumbo has led the gaming vertical at Wccftech since August 2015. He started working at a young age for Italian websites like Everyeye.it, Gamestar.it, Nextgame.it, and Multiplayer.it before kickstarting the indie English-language publication Worlds Factory as its founder and Editor in Chief. In the last decade, he has coordinated the overall output of Wccftech's gaming section, managed PR relations, assigned reviews, produced daily news coverage, edited gaming content as needed, and delivered game reviews. Arguably, his trademark content is the long series of exclusive developer interviews that have been cited by Wikipedia and by the biggest news media and gaming publications. His passion for technology also makes him knowledgeable when it comes to gaming hardware and tech. His favorite genres include RPGs, MMORPGs, and action/adventure games.

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