Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games and the lead writer of iconic game series such as Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, has revealed the first projects from his new studio, Absurd Ventures – and they’re not quite what fans might have expected.
After leaving Rockstar Games in early 2020, Houser announced the formation of Absurd Ventures in June 2023, alongside fellow Rockstar veterans Lazlow Jones and Michael Unsworth. The new multimedia company aims to produce projects spanning video games, TV, film, and comics – and now, the first glimpses of their new works have been unveiled.
Announced on November 29, Houser’s Absurd Ventures is currently at work on two original storytelling universes named “American Caper” and “A Better Paradise.” These projects will introduce audiences to new characters and stories through comics and audio dramas.
“American Caper” is described as focusing on two American families embroiled in a world of corrupt business, crime, and inept politicians. The first project from this universe will be a graphic novel illustrated by comic book artist Simon Bisley. Meanwhile, “A Better Paradise” is a suspense thriller set in the near future, with the first project being a 12-episode audio fiction series.
Both the “American Caper” comic and the “A Better Paradise” audio fiction series are scheduled to launch in 2024.
In a press release, Houser expressed his excitement about introducing these two universes, stating, “They represent our approach to storytelling and media. These initial releases will allow us to introduce these universes at the same time as we are working on other iterations and expansions. This is just the beginning.”
While Absurd Ventures’ focus is currently set on multimedia projects outside the realm of video games, Houser’s company revealed that they are currently working on a wide range of projects, including animation, video games, graphic novels, audio fiction, and more. They also confirmed that further information about these new franchises will be coming in the months ahead.
For fans hoping for a new video game from Houser’s new venture, it seems that for now, they’ll have to wait a little longer. However, the description of the “American Caper” universe does hint at a potential open-world game in the future. In the meantime, rockstar Games, the company Houser helped form and lead for decades, will release the first official trailer for the long-anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI, next month, possibly at the Game Awards.