With remakes and remasters being so commonplace in the industry today, we all have those beloved childhood games that we’re hoping for a chance to revisit. Even more exciting than such a remaster, though, would be a brand-new sequel for it/them.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is one example, and I thought I was dreaming for a moment when that was announced. Another classic from the not-too-distant future that absolutely deserves a follow-up, though, is Rockstar’s Bully.
As spotted by Game Rant, Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser shed some light on that particular matter at the 2025 Los Angeles Comic Con. During a streamed interview with IGN at the event, he was asked why there was never a Bully sequel. The answer, it seems, is that it just wasn’t a priority. Houser said:
“I think … just bandwidth issues … if you’ve got a small lead creative team and a small senior leadership crew, you just can’t do all the projects you want.”
It’s a familiar issue Houser continues to face in his career, going on to add that:
“At Absurd, we’re trying to do two projects with a … fairly small team … just … trying to think through that … how can we keep them both moving?”
Remembering another Rockstar classic
Originally a PS2 classic from 2006, before moving to PC, Xbox 360 and the mighty Wii two years later, Bully exudes major GTA Boarding School vibes, as student Jimmy Hopkins negotiates life at Bullworth Academy.
Its take on the education experience has courted controversy, but it presented one of gaming’s most iconic schools and a memorable open world with a lot of different activities to engage in. It’s very Rockstar at heart, and it’s quite a testament to the company that it has a history of producing games of such caliber that there was no room for Bully in the schedule.
Still, there’s no denying that Rockstar has developed some fantastic titles, and has a very unique way with designing open worlds in particular.
Dan Houser’s legacy is impressive indeed, and at present, it’s leading up to what is sure to be the biggest video game in history: Grand Theft Auto 6, the first AAAAA game, it’s been said.
Even so, prior Rockstar success stories have been revived in the modern era, with the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy collection remastering GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas. Bully itself received an Anniversary Edition port on mobile in 2016.
I fear that may be the last we see of the IP, with heavyweights like the GTA and Red Dead IPs growing ever more prominent since Bully’s initial release. Nonetheless, those who fondly remember Bully continue to hold out hope for the future.
- Released
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October 17, 2006
- ESRB
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T For Teen due to Crude Humor, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
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Rockstar Vancouver
- Engine
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RenderWare, Gamebryo
- Multiplayer
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Local Multiplayer, Local Co-Op
