Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser has revealed his first major project since leaving the studio nearly five years ago, introducing a new transmedia universe named Absurdaverse from his fledgling company, Absurd Ventures.

The announcement came out on Friday via the studio's official blog and social media channels, showcasing a first look at an eclectic cast of 20 characters set to appear in an upcoming narrative-driven action-comedy adventure game and other related animated projects.

Absurd Ventures, founded by Houser after his break from Rockstar, aims to explore various media formats. “Prepare to meet new kinds of heroes (and watch them suffer)”, the studio teased, showcasing an image featuring characters: from modern hipsters and corporate execs to a steampunk inventor reminiscent of Tommy Vercetti, and even a skeletal Viking.

Key Details and Future Plans

• Multimedia Ambition:

Absurd Ventures intends to create narrative worlds not only through video games but also with animation, graphic novels, and scripted podcasts. Absurdaverse will serve as the overarching platform under which numerous projects and works will be developed.

• Future Projects:

In addition to the action-comedy adventure game set in the Absurdaverse universe, Houser's studio is preparing two other story-driven universes. American Caper will debut as a crime fiction graphic novel, while A Better Paradise is planned as an audio fiction series, with more details expected to be unveiled later this year.

• Development and Collaboration:

The action-comedy game is described as “story-driven” and is already in development at Absurd Ventures. Alongside Houser, Rockstar veterans including Lazlow Jones and Michael Unsworth are contributing decades of industry experience to this new project.

The Backstory of the Absurdaverse Project

Dan Houser, best known for his work on legendary projects such as Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, left Rockstar after more than two decades of leading revolutionary projects.

His departure in early 2020 followed an intense period of work during which he worked extremely long hours and eventually decided to take a break. With Absurd Ventures, Houser intends to rethink his creative legacy by expanding into a multimedia universe that challenges traditional genre boundaries.

The presentation of Absurdaverse marks a significant shift from the hyper-realistic worlds of previous Rockstar projects to a universe characterized by satirical humor and unconventional heroes. While details about gameplay and plot remain undisclosed, the studio has promised that additional information—including the launch of the first animated projects—will emerge in 2025.

Looking Ahead

Analysts and fans eagerly await the upcoming project, labeling the announcement a "bombshell". Will Houser's bold new direction achieve the same cultural impact as his previous work at Rockstar? Only time will tell.

As Absurd Ventures prepares to release new content across multiple platforms, the upcoming year is expected to bring several exciting announcements that will further illuminate the scope of Absurdaverse and its related projects.