True, but I can also say this, Bully while being successful in its own right. I think Rockstar totally knocked it out the park but in doing so didn't realize they would. Unlike any other title by them the game is simply pure bliss. I mean you can throw a ton of ideas into a new game. But how do you keep the magic that was there to begin with.
Like you said GTA, even Red Dead is a simple magic. Bully had so much more though, every character was different with a backstory. I could keep going, but we are all here for one reason, we love the game.
It'd be hard to create that same magic, and with that comes the fear of failing, or coming up short. Especially how hard the market is anymore, with reviews, or how easily fans or newcomers are to upset. And I think this is why we see games not turning into series, or certain series stopping. Along with a ton of other factors. We can only hope though.