The Unwritten Chapter: Why Rockstar's Bully 2 Was Sacrificed for GTA V and RDR 2

For years, fans have clung to the hope, and even the faintest whispers, of a sequel to Rockstar Games' beloved 2006 cult classic, Bully (also known as Canis Canem Edit). The tale of Jimmy Hopkins navigating the treacherous halls of Bullworth Academy captured hearts with its unique blend of mischievous charm and engaging gameplay.

Yet, despite its enduring popularity, "Bully 2" remained an elusive dream – until now, as Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser has finally pulled back the curtain on its unfortunate fate.

In a candid revelation for the new book "All Your Base Are Belong to Us: How Fifty Years of Videogames Conquered Pop Culture," Houser, who departed Rockstar in 2020, confirmed what many suspected: Bully 2 was a casualty of bandwidth.

Not internet bandwidth, but the sheer, colossal development capacity required to bring two of the most ambitious and financially successful games in history to life: Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2.

Imagine the immense undertaking. Grand Theft Auto V, launched in 2013, shattered sales records and continues to be a monumental cash cow thanks to GTA Online.

Following that, Red Dead Redemption 2, released in 2018, redefined open-world storytelling and graphical fidelity. These were not mere games; they were monumental artistic and technical achievements, each demanding hundreds of developers, countless hours, and a singular focus that left absolutely no room for other major projects.

Houser’s explanation paints a clear picture: "We just didn't have the bandwidth to do something like that.

We were working on Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto V and we just didn’t have the wherewithal." This statement echoes previous reports and long-held suspicions within the gaming community. It wasn’t a lack of desire or creative ideas; it was a pragmatic decision dictated by the brutal realities of AAA game development and the immense gravitational pull of Rockstar's flagship franchises.

It's worth noting that the idea of a Bully sequel wasn't entirely dismissed without consideration.

Rumors and reports over the years suggested various attempts or explorations for Bully 2 between 2008 and 2017. Some sources even indicated that a small team worked on a prototype immediately after the release of the original Red Dead Redemption in 2010. However, these efforts, promising as they may have been, never gained enough traction to overcome the resource demands of GTA and RDR.

The sentiment among fans is undeniably one of wistful disappointment.

Bully stood out in Rockstar's catalog, offering a refreshing, often humorous, take on the open-world formula without the grim undertones of GTA or the somber drama of RDR. Its unique premise and charming protagonist cultivated a dedicated fanbase yearning for more schoolyard antics.

With Dan Houser now at the helm of his new company, Absurd Ventures, focusing on a broader spectrum of media beyond just video games, the dream of a Bully 2 developed by him seems even more distant.

As for Rockstar Games itself, their trajectory appears firmly aimed at continuing the colossal success of Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. While the door to Bully's world remains closed, Houser's honesty provides a definitive, albeit bittersweet, answer to one of gaming's most persistent "what ifs." The tale of Bully 2 is ultimately a story of priorities, ambition, and the immense scale of modern game development.