Sixteen years ago, Rockstar announced Agent. The new IP never got finished, but it’s still on our minds

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Did you recall that around the time of GTA IV and Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar Games unveiled a completely new game concept? This was called Agent, a stealth-action game set in the Cold War era which they showcased on June 2, 2009, during Sony’s E3 presentation. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 16 years since then and we’re still eagerly waiting for its release!

The canceled game that still sticks with us

Originating from Rockstar North, the team behind the Grand Theft Auto series, Agent was initially intended as an exclusive for PlayStation 3. Take-Two Interactive Software originally planned to launch it in 2010, but without a confirmed release date, the project gradually slowed down and eventually faded into developmental obscurity, ultimately being put on hold. The trademark expired in 2018, leaving only the E3 announcement and some leaked concept art as reminders of its existence.

In 2023, the former developer from Rockstar Games, Obbe Vermeij, disclosed some intriguing behind-the-scenes information about the challenging production of ‘Agent’ on his blog. However, these posts were later removed – it seems that Rockstar prefers to keep this part of their history confidential.

It is clear that the game was designed to be a 1970s Cold War spy thriller, with settings such as a French Mediterranean city, a Swiss ski resort, Cairo, and concluding in a space battle. This game aimed to provide a more linear gaming experience, which is different from the usual open-world style typically seen in Rockstar productions.

Despite dedicating more than a year’s worth of effort, advancements on the project moved at a snail’s pace. To streamline things, entire levels such as Cairo and the space section had to be removed from the game. With Rockstar concentrating on GTA IV and GTA V, resources were diverted away from Agent. Eventually, the project was transferred to another Rockstar studio; however, it remained unfinished. The official website was deactivated in 2021, but there were still a few of us who harbored hope that one day, the game might finally emerge from obscurity.

There are still some remnants of the Agent project floating around. Approximately a year ago, a map and some underwater photographs mysteriously appeared online. However, that’s about all there is – no further information or updates. Given the numerous challenges faced during development and the cuts the game experienced, it might have been better for it to be canceled rather than released in an unfinished state and potentially falling short of expectations. Instead, Rockstar decided to pour all their efforts into GTA V, which we all know was a huge success. It’s unfortunate that Agent didn’t reach completion, though.

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2025-06-03 14:32