GTA Creator Shifts Focus to New Open-World Titles, Sidestepping GTA 6

Dan Houser, renowned as a co-founder of Rockstar and a key creative force behind the first five Grand Theft Auto titles, launched Absurd Ventures in 2023 to explore new creative avenues, including video games. He has hinted at the first two projects from Absurd Ventures, revealing that one will be a comedic open-world experience.

Interestingly, despite his history with successful comedic open-world titles, Houser admitted that he no longer plays games in that genre. He has even steered clear of the gameplay reveal for Grand Theft Auto 6, expressing a desire for Absurd Ventures’ initial offerings to “discover new things that haven’t been done before.”

In a recent interview, Houser provided insights into the two upcoming games. The first is described as “an open-world comedy that aims to deeply engage with humor and character memory,” while the second is “a dystopian sci-fi narrative about a video game development gone awry, featuring a rogue AI that has gained sentience.”

Absurd Ventures has also mentioned collaborating with Smilegate on a AAA sci-fi game set in the A Better Paradise universe, while the comedic title will take place in the “Absurdaverse.” The concept of an open-world game infused with humor certainly evokes memories of franchises like Grand Theft Auto and Saints Row. However, Houser noted that he doesn’t find enjoyment in playing the competition that his first game will encounter.

“When I play those games, I tend to dissect the strengths and weaknesses of the development team in real time, which can be distracting. I’m constantly thinking, ‘Their animation team is lacking, but this game design is brilliant.’ I can even picture the discussions that took place during the development of certain features. I’m not a game designer; I’m more of a creative director. My focus is on uncovering new ideas that haven’t been explored yet or borrowing concepts from older media.”

In essence, Houser feels that immersing himself in other open-world games could hinder his creative process, as he would be too preoccupied with analyzing their development. This is also why he chose to skip the gameplay reveal for Grand Theft Auto 6, aiming to “steer clear of anything that might distract or disrupt my creative flow.”

As of now, neither of Absurd Ventures’ games has been officially announced or given a release date. However, Houser hinted that more details about the Absurdaverse open-world game will be shared in the coming months.