Technology and Science

Absurd Ventures: Dan Houser has a new studio and it’s the good kind of creepy

Dan Houser, a key figure in the gaming industry known for co-founding Rockstar Games, is embarking on a new journey – a new studio aptly named Absurd Ventures.

Houser’s new studio is centred around creating stories, characters, and immersive worlds that transcend various mediums – video games included.

If the tagline (‘Storytelling. Philanthropy. Ultraviolence’) doesn’t hook you, the bold, in-your-face announcement video surely will.

Advertisement

Watch at your own risk

Absurd Ventures’ launch video, a two-minute thrill-ride of their creative, unconventional, and edgy ethos, offers more hints than explicit details about the venture’s direction.

The video is vague, but don’t despair. Absurd Ventures clarified some details in a recent press release.

Absurd Ventures ethos

As per the statement, the team will be “building narrative worlds, creating characters, and writing stories for a diverse variety of genres, without regard to medium.”

Advertisement

They are also committed to encompassing live-action and animation, video games and other interactive content, including books, graphic novels, and scripted podcasts.

READ: Team Liquid and Alienware open world’s largest eSports operations

Advertisement

Rockstar Games legacy

During Houser’s 22-year tenure at Rockstar, his contributions were nothing short of seminal.

He was there when the studio was founded in 1998 and as Rockstar Games scaled up, he remained a critical contributor.

His works spanned five Grand Theft Auto (GTA) games production, as well as writing for every GTA instalment up to and including Grand Theft Auto V.

Advertisement

He also contributed to both Red Dead Redemption titles. Additionally, he lent his voice to Grand Theft Auto III and its standalone expansion games.

Houser parted ways with Rockstar Games in 2020.

LISTEN: All about the new ROG Ally gaming handheld [Podcast]

Advertisement

Tech Check-in newsletter

Sign up for The Citizen’s Tech Check-in newsletter, the perfect companion to our podcast, Tech Check with Kahla and Kruger.

Join our community of tech enthusiasts and stay up-to-date with the latest news and reviews. What do you get in exchange for signing over your soul subscribing to our newsletter?

Glad you asked!

There will be newsy things, unbiased and honest reviews, as well as expert opinions and insights from industry leaders. Every Tuesday at 11:30.

We might include a how-to guide every now and then, along with interviews, podcasts and puns. Bad puns. So, so many bad puns.

We’re not even sorry about the puns.

For more news your way

Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.

Published by
By Cheryl Kahla