We Never Got Rockstar’s Agent Because an Open World Spy Game ‘Doesn’t Really Work’

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Rockstar’s planned spy game, Agent, was ultimately cancelled, and we’re now learning more about the reasons behind that decision.

Dan Houser, a former co-founder of Rockstar Games, recently discussed the cancelled project in an interview with Lex Fridman.

Houser mentions they explored creating an open-world spy game extensively, but it ultimately didn’t work out, as part of a larger discussion about open-world game design.

We went through about five different versions of it, but I ultimately decided it just wasn’t working. I still think about it occasionally – sometimes even when I’m trying to sleep. I realized that what makes a good story for a movie doesn’t necessarily translate well to a video game, so we need to approach it with a completely different strategy if we want it to work as a game.

He believes open world games don’t really capture the feel of being a secret agent.

According to Houser, the fast-paced, urgent storytelling typical of spy thrillers doesn’t translate well to open-world games. While that style works for a movie, it doesn’t fit the way players experience an open world.

Those movies are incredibly fast-paced and move quickly from one action sequence to the next. It’s a constant cycle of saving the world or preventing someone’s death. While open-world games can have similar moments, they usually allow for a more natural flow to the story.

For the most part, being a criminal offers a lot of freedom – the ability to do what you want, when you want, without anyone telling you otherwise. That lack of control is actually a big part of its appeal.

We attempt to build a sense of urgency by pushing players into the narrative, but this doesn’t quite fit with the spy genre. Spies typically operate under intense time pressure, and I wonder if you can realistically create a compelling open-world game with those constraints. It makes me question whether a good open-world spy game is even possible.

Originally revealed as a PlayStation 3 exclusive in 2009, the game, known as Agent, was eventually cancelled after a long period with no updates.

A few years ago, Obbe Vermeij, a former technical director at Rockstar North, revealed some details about the cancelled game, Agent. He explained that, even though the team worked on it for over a year, the project was ultimately shelved so they could focus on the next Grand Theft Auto title.

If the project wasn’t working out as planned, as Houser suggests, perhaps that was a good thing. Still, we’re eager to see what kinds of games Rockstar creates in the future, and the idea of an open-world spy adventure seemed really exciting at the time.

Ever wished you could be a secret agent? Do you think a spy-themed game would be fun in an open world setting? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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2025-11-03 15:07