And it does indeed look absurd
Back in 2020, Dan Houser left Rockstar following a long hiatus. Being the driving force behind the stories of Grand Theft Auto 5, both Red Dead Redemption games and Max Payne 3 means his absence could lead to some changes for future titles from the GTA developer. That said, seeing as the company has yet to release a new game since his departure, we can’t really know for sure.
However, Houser is back with his new company, Absurd Ventures. According to a report from Polygon, this outfit will give the writer and producer a new outlet for some upcoming projects. In a press release, Houser said that he and his team are “building Absurd Ventures to create new universes and to tell great stories, wherever and however we can.”
Just what the studio actually has in mind will be the topic of much discussion going forward, no doubt. You can have a look at the Absurd Ventures website for some faint clues, though there’s very little there to say about what’s in the pipeline. There’s also a video promoting the company, but it’s a series of bizarre imagery that really leaves more questions than answers. We’ll just have to wait to see what the studio conjures up, but given the name that’s attached, it’s going to be of interest to a lot of people.
Along with his brother Sam, Dan Houser is responsible for one of the biggest franchises in gaming history via the Rockstar brand. Grand Theft Auto began life in 1997, with Dan being credited as either writer, co-writer, or producer on pretty much every entry since the London 1969 expansion from way back in the day.
To many fans, it will be a little strange not seeing his name in the credits for GTA 6, when that actually comes out. However, there’s no doubt that what he has planned for Absurd Ventures will turn heads, especially with the words “is it OK to dream again?” seen in the promo video.
