GTA Writer, Dan Houser, Forms New Studio

Grotesque, horrible, and downright disgusting are just a few words some would use against Dan Houser’s writing of the Grand Theft Auto series, Red Dead Redemption, and a few other games from Rockstar Games. Of course, the co-founder of the publisher known for the aforementioned games has left the company he started with his brother Sam (and others) last year. However, that doesn’t mean he’s out of the gaming… game.

According to documents filed in the UK (Thanks GTA Forums) and US (thanks VGC), the Houser brother has formed a new studio. At least, he has begun the paperwork on said formation. Absurd Ventures LLC, the new studio is (of course) in its infancy, so don’t expect a new open-world game-changer in the immediate future.

In fact, don’t expect anything from this, as there is literally nothing concrete we know about it. Polygon noted the SIC code (a Standard Industrial Classification code) 62011, which outlines the company’s intentions in the economic market, making money. They might outline the purposes of making money, and supposedly note of how, but as usual with business and legal documents, they are as vague as I am when asked a straight question. For all that we know the studio could be just that, a new standalone studio with offices in the US and UK, or it could be a new publisher.

With Houser’s departure from Rockstar last March, he was leaving a 22-year tenure as writer/co-writer, producer, and sometimes voice actor for several of the publisher’s games. He often courted controversy in the wake of several sensitive touchstones among parental guidance groups. Be it the multitude of issues that Grand Theft Auto would find itself in, Bully (Canis Canem Edit) being set in a school and having a gay kiss, or grand theft horsey’s many gruesome details. As I’ve said, and I’m sure many others have said in other news articles, there is no telling what Houser will be doing from here on out.