Dan Houser Teases New Game Absurd Ventures With Cast of Characters
Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games, has given fans a first look at his upcoming project under his new studio, Absurd Ventures. Known for his storytelling in Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, Houser has been working on this new title for a couple of years, but details have been scarce.
So far, Absurd Ventures has released a fever dream-style video in 2023 and a 12-episode narrative podcast to set the stage for its debut title. Before this, the studio announced two separate projects—American Caper, a graphic novel, and A Better Paradise, an audio fiction series. While neither was a game, they hinted at the kind of world-building Houser was working on.
On Friday, Absurd Ventures revealed the Absurdaverse, a universe featuring 20 unique characters. The artwork showcases a diverse cast, including angsty teens, a magician, and even a Viking, evoking a mix of Grand Theft Auto’s signature style and the animated TV show Archer. The reveal came with the caption, “Prepare to meet some new kinds of heroes (and watch them suffer).”
The new IP will kick off with animation projects set to release later this year. Alongside that, Absurd Ventures is developing an original story-driven action-comedy adventure game within the Absurdaverse, though no further details on the game were shared.
Absurd Ventures: Houser’s Legacy and the Future
Dan Houser co-founded Rockstar in 1998 with his brother Sam and played a major role in shaping some of gaming’s biggest franchises, including Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. He left Rockstar in 2020 after the release of Red Dead Redemption 2 and later founded Absurd Ventures in 2023 with the goal of creating new IPs across multiple platforms and formats.
Given Houser’s track record with Rockstar, the Absurdaverse could offer a similarly wild and unpredictable experience. While it’s unclear what the final product will look like, fans can expect sharp storytelling, dark humour, and a unique twist on familiar themes.
