Dan Houser explains why Bully never received a sequel, shedding light on Rockstar's priorities. Read on to learn more about his interview with IGN at the LA Comic Con.
Dan Houser Explains Why Bully Never Got a Sequel
Former Rockstar Co-Founder Says It Came Down To “Bandwidth Issues”
At LA Comic Con 2025, IGN sat down with Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser and asked the question fans have been wondering about for nearly two decades, "why Bully never received a sequel." Houser’s answer was surprisingly straightforward: "I think it was just bandwidth issues."
Houser explained that the lack of a sequel wasn’t because Rockstar didn’t care about the Bully IP, but because of sheer limitations. He noted that when you have a relatively small creative and leadership team, you can’t realistically juggle every project you want to make. In other words, it wasn’t for lack of interest in Bully. According to Houser, the decision was more about practical limits than creative roadblocks. With Rockstar already balancing massive franchises like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, the team didn’t have the resources to properly commit to another large-scale project.
Houser’s comments came after IGN asked him about his personal favorites among Rockstar’s catalog. He mentioned Bully, which, in that context, makes it easier to imagine that his reasoning is that it’s better to leave Bully untouched than risk delivering a rushed or watered-down sequel that wouldn’t live up to its reputation.
Past Leaks Pointed to Bully 2
The idea of a Bully 2 isn’t new to fans. Back in 2023, a major data leak tied to Grand Theft Auto V uncovered references not only to scrapped single-player story DLC for GTA V but also to a possible Bully sequel that had been in early development. Dataminers claimed that, along with unused GTA story missions, the files contained notes referencing Bully 2.
While Rockstar never confirmed these reports, the leak reignited speculation that a follow-up to the 2006 cult classic was once on the table but eventually shelved. Houser’s latest comments now lend credibility to the idea that Bully 2 wasn’t canceled due to creative disputes or lack of fan demand, but rather because Rockstar simply didn’t have the leadership bandwidth to manage it.
Bully’s Place in Rockstar’s Legacy
For those unfamiliar, Bully (also known as Canis Canem Edit in some regions) was first released in 2006 for the PlayStation 2. Developed by Rockstar Vancouver, the game put players in the shoes of Jimmy Hopkins, a mischievous teenager navigating life at Bullworth Academy.
Unlike the sprawling crime epics of GTA, Bully focused on a smaller but no less immersive world. Players attended classes, pulled pranks, navigated cliques, and rose through the ranks of schoolyard politics. The game was praised for its humor, open-world design, and unique setting, and it quickly became a cult favorite.
Over the years, Bully has been ported to multiple platforms, including the Xbox 360, Wii, PC, and mobile devices, with the Bully: Scholarship Edition adding new content and improvements. Despite critical acclaim and strong fan support, Rockstar never followed up with a sequel, leaving the game’s legacy as a one-off gem in the company’s history.
With Grand Theft Auto VI dominating Rockstar’s roadmap, hopes for Bully 2 have remained uncertain. However, Houser’s acknowledgment that interest in the project existed—albeit constrained by limited resources—may give fans some hope.
Some players remain optimistic that once GTA VI releases and Rockstar has more room to breathe, the studio might finally revisit Bully. For now, though, Houser’s comments serve as the clearest explanation yet: Bully didn’t disappear because it lacked support—it was simply a victim of Rockstar’s crowded slate.
Source:
IGN in Conversation with Dan Houser at LA Comic Con 2025 (IGN Games YouTube)
GTA V Cut Content and Hints of Bully 2 Found By Dataminers
