[Kadayi]

Grand Theft Auto creator Dan Houser forms new company

‘Absurd Ventures in Games’ could be an investment arm, could be a studio

www.polygon.com

Dan Houser, the co-founder of Rockstar Games who left that studio/publisher in 2020, has begun a new company, according to incorporation documents filed in the United Kingdom a week ago.

The company is called Absurd Ventures in Games, and it was also chartered in Delaware under the same name in February. Houser is listed as the company's producer and creative director, in addition to being its corporate director.

A member of GTA Forums, which first posted the documents, noted that its U.K. SIC (standard industrial classification of economic activities) code is 62011, which is for "computer games design," and "ready-made interactive leisure and entertainment software development." But the company could also be a capital investment firm that takes a stake in other studios or backs other developers.

Houser, 47, started Rockstar Games with his brother, Sam, in 1998. The studio is best known for the Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption series, publishing nine best-selling games under their open-world, third-person adventure formats.

In February 2020, Rockstar parent Take-Two Interactive announced that Dan Houser would leave his position as vice president of creative "following an extended break" he took about six months after Red Dead Redemption 2 launched. Sam Houser is still Rockstar Games' president.

 

[DESTROYA]

Very interesting , I will admit I have yet to play a GTA game but enjoyed the RDR series and Max Payne 3 .
Hope they try something different than a open world game or if they do at least in a different direction

 

[Arc]

1: That is an amazing name.

2: He must have been really unhappy with Rockstar. He had a company on the pinnacle of tech and budgetary capability, but chose to restart. I only have a casual understanding of the situation, but I wonder why, and what that portends for Rockstar?

 

[Kadayi]

More deets here: -

Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser has founded a new studio | VGC

Absurd Ventures in Games was officially incorporated last week…

www.videogameschronicle.com

 

[lock2k]

Great name and I hope he keeps it absurd.

 

[tillbot8]

Would he be a billionaire? Wonder what levels of investment is involved?

 

[John Day]

1: That is an amazing name.

2: He must have been really unhappy with Rockstar. He had a company on the pinnacle of tech and budgetary capability, but chose to restart. I only have a casual understanding of the situation, but I wonder why, and what that portends for Rockstar?

Name is awesome. So in the face, nothing pretentious.

 

[Grinchy]

After the Take Two showing at E3, where they had their "diversity and inclusion officer" head a panel on white male hatred, I do feel somewhat concerned about Rockstar. So to see this Houser brother break off and do his own thing seems like it could play out nicely.

 

[regawdless]

After the Take Two showing at E3, where they had their "diversity and inclusion officer" head a panel on white male hatred,

They did? Wtf, I hate to see stuff like this. Couldn't imagine working at a place like this.

 

[Nicktendo]

After the Take Two showing at E3, where they had their "diversity and inclusion officer" head a panel on white male hatred, I do feel somewhat concerned about Rockstar. So to see this Houser brother break off and do his own thing seems like it could play out nicely.

You have to wonder if Rockstar became too big for its boots and the corpos at the top were starting to have a heavier influence in the direction of their games and design choices. The E3 "event" was an absolute car crash and it seems likely, to me at least, that it is not the best environment to spitball ideas in.

Houser has proved himself multiple times over, can't wait to see what fruit this bares.

 

[Grinchy]

They did? Wtf, I hate to see stuff like this. Couldn't imagine working at a place like this.

Lol it's a hot take on it. They seriously did do a full panel on diversity and inclusion hosted by their token officer hire, though. I could not watch it for real. And that was their E3 contribution.

 

[Arkam]

I really hope they make something awesome. But will they be able to keep it small and not fall into the trap of start up (over) ambition. I have known countless talented industry vets who have started or joined a start up and never produced a game. They come from AAA development houses and cannot really reset their perspective on scale.

 

[Kadayi]

Major Necro but some updates on what Dan Houser is getting up to with his company




Nothing straight gaming initially, though a lot of potential if these are setups. From their Newsletter: -

We will soon introduce two universes, their characters and lore.

AMERICAN CAPER centers on two normal, badly-damaged American families in a world of corrupt business, inept politics and bungling crime. AMERICAN CAPER will debut as a graphic novel that is being illustrated by renowned comic book artist, Simon Bisley.

www.absurdventures.com/americancaper


A BETTER PARADISE is an existential suspense thriller, set in the near future. A 12-episode audio fiction series based on the A BETTER PARADISE universe is currently in production. Absurd Ventures is partnering with award-winning audio company Q-CODE Media to co-produce the audio series.

www.absurdventures.com/abetterparadise

This is the beginning. We will be sharing more information about A BETTER PARADISE and AMERICAN CAPER in the months ahead. Stay tuned and follow Absurd Ventures across our social media channels.

 

[Helljumper]

2021
Absurd Ventures in Games

2023
Absurd Ventures