With Grand Theft Auto VI finally locked in for a November 19, 2026 release, attention is already turning to what Rockstar Games might tackle next. The most obvious guesses are Red Dead Redemption 3 or GTA VII. However, a long-standing rumor suggests the studio may have something entirely different in the works—a medieval open-world game codenamed “Project Medieval.”
What Is Project Medieval?
First whispered in online forums years ago, Project Medieval is described as an open-world RPG set in a fantasy medieval era, blending Rockstar’s signature sandbox gameplay with swords, castles, and feudal politics. Think Grand Theft Auto meets The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, but filtered through Rockstar’s signature lens of gritty realism and emergent storytelling.
The concept first gained traction in 2022, when Rockstar character artist Pawas Saxena posted (and later edited) a LinkedIn update mentioning he was “creating modular environment pieces with organic finish, carefully following medieval architectural style”. Fans quickly connected the dots, and the rumor has refused to die since.
Dan Houser Confirms the Concept
In a 2025 interview on the Lex Fridman podcast, Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser (who left the studio in 2020) finally addressed the speculation. He revealed that the team had indeed explored a medieval concept during his tenure.
“We played around with a knights concept, you know, knights and trying to do a sort of a version of a mythological game,” Houser said. He described it as an open-world game in the mold of GTA and Red Dead Redemption, but set in a world of castles, crowns, and competing fiefdoms.
Houser noted that the project never made it into full development—it was “squeezed out by timing and bandwidth” as Rockstar shifted all resources toward GTA VI. However, he didn’t rule out the possibility that the idea could be revisited in the future.
Why It Makes Sense
A medieval setting would represent a genuine creative departure for Rockstar. After decades of modern crime epics (GTA) and the American frontier (Red Dead), a world of knights, castles, and feudal power struggles would offer fresh gameplay possibilities: horseback combat, siege warfare, morally gray rulers, and deep political intrigue.
Moreover, Rockstar has proven it can breathe life into historical settings. Red Dead Redemption 2 is widely praised for its meticulous recreation of the late 1800s. Applying that same attention to detail to a medieval world could be extraordinary.
Fan Reactions
The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. One YouTube commenter wrote, “Let’s hope it’s legit. This would be sooooo hype.” Another added, “That would be dope. Been hearing about this for years. Hope it’s true, love the medieval era.”
Some Red Dead Redemption fans expressed concern that a medieval project might delay or replace Red Dead Redemption 3. But many others welcome the idea of Rockstar tackling a completely new IP.
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Will It Happen?
Rockstar has not officially confirmed any medieval project. Given the studio’s notoriously long development cycles and the expectation that GTA VI will be supported with years of online content, any new title—whether Red Dead 3, GTA VII, or Project Medieval—is likely years away.
But the fact that the concept existed, that Dan Houser spoke about it publicly, and that the rumor has persisted for years suggests that Project Medieval is more than just wishful thinking. It may be the most exciting “what if” in gaming today.
For now, all eyes remain on Vice City. But after November 19, the question of what comes next will only grow louder. And the answer may involve swords, not guns.