Dan Houser, the co-founder of Rockstar Games and influential writer for titles like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, recently participated in his first on-camera interview at LA Comic Con. Conducted by IGN’s Senior Executive Editor Ryan McCaffrey, this event offered fans a rare glimpse into Houser’s thoughts as he discussed both his past projects and future endeavors at his new studio, Absurd Ventures.
During the interview, which lasted for about 15 minutes, Houser touched on his feelings about the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6, expressing both curiosity and excitement about the project he will experience as an outsider. “In a way, it will be strange,” he admitted, highlighting the novelty of experiencing a game from the series he helped shape without his direct involvement.
Reflecting on the beginnings of the Grand Theft Auto series, Houser recalled the challenges faced during the launch of GTA III, noting the skepticism from the press despite the game’s eventual commercial success. The early doubts contrasted sharply with the game’s phenomenal reception, as demand outpaced production capacity.
Houser also shared insights into his upcoming project “American Caper” under Absurd Ventures. This new intellectual property, starting as a comic book and developed with Lazlow of Rockstar fame, promises a darker narrative than Houser’s previous work. It ventures into stories of “degenerate criminals” from unexplored perspectives and settings that wouldn’t fit within a GTA framework.
In terms of gaming, Houser teased projects like “Absurdaverse,” an open-world, third-person comedy, and “A Better Paradise,” a dystopian narrative still in its nascent stages. With new aspirations at Absurd Ventures, Houser expressed his excitement to explore ideas unbounded by his past work.
The interview, which hinted at a more extensive discussion with Lex Fridman in the future, marks a new chapter for Houser as he steps into a more public role post-Rockstar. Fans and followers can look forward to fresh and innovative directions in storytelling from his upcoming ventures.