Rockstar Games co-creator Dan Houser has formed his own video game development studio after leaving Rockstar last year. Houser was one of the developers involved in bringing some of Rockstar's best games to life and served as vice president of creativity for the company before his departure. He left the company in March 2020 following an extended break in 2019, with the studio's parent company, Take-Two Interactive, confirming the news ahead of time.
Houser is one of the biggest names in video game development, having worked on some of the most popular titles of all time. Not only did Houser co-found Rockstar Games with his brother, Sam, but he also served as executive producer on Rockstar classics such as Red Dead Redemption, GTA 5, and Red Dead Redemption 2. His name can be found in the credits of multiple other Rockstar titles, such as the iconic Bully, for which Houser was a writer. Unlike the GTA and Red Dead series, Bully doesn't yet have a sequel, though some rumors sporadically claim Bully 2 is coming.
Dan Houser's new gaming company is now official, with him being listed as producer and creative director. Spotted by GTA Forums (via VGC), the studio has been registered in the UK, and is named "Absurd Ventures in Games." According to the Companies House listing, the studio will focus on “ready-made interactive leisure and entertainment software development.” It's likely that the development studio won't just be confined to the UK though, as US-based companies "Absurd Ventures LLC" and "Absurd Ventures in Games LL" have also both been registered in Delaware.
While it's not known what sort of games Houser's new venture will create, titles he's previously worked on are still bringing in the money for Rockstar. 2013's Grand Theft Auto 5 isn't just one of the most popular games of all time, it's also one of the most lucrative, with Rockstar selling over 140 million copies of GTA 5 as of February 2021. As of March this year, the game is the third highest-selling video game of all time, according to Digital Trends, following Minecraft and Tetris. GTA 5 and its online counterpart, GTA Online, will receive new-generation PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions later this year, which are likely to introduce even more people to the series. GTA Online, is also a huge money-maker for the company, and the success of both games sets high expectations for the next in the series.
Rockstar Games has yet to confirm GTA 6 exists, but rumors of its development have been rife for a while. Despite GTA 5 releasing nearly a decade ago, insiders have suggested GTA 6 is still years from launch. With GTA Online and Red Dead Online receiving regular updates and patches, plus the upcoming release of GTA 5 for new-gen consoles, it could be a while before Rockstar gives official word on the next game in the series. With any luck, Houser's new studio will deliver titles equally as compelling.
Grand Theft Auto V will be available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 11, 2021.
Source: GTA Forums (via VGC), Digital Trends