GTA and Red Dead Redemption 2 Devs Unite for Massive New Project

Key Highlights

• Ex-Rockstar developers form new studio Absurd Ventures.
• Studio headed by GTA and RDR2 veteran creatives.
• Aiming to build expansive new worlds and tell great stories.
• RDR2 concurrent player count on Steam hits new peak.

Former Rockstar Talent Assembles to Craft Bold New Worlds

In an exciting industry development, several creators integral to seminal Rockstar Games projects have united under a new banner as reported by PCGamesn. Called Absurd Ventures, the fresh studio brings together decades of open world and narrative design expertise. Powering this venture is none other than Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser.

Houser departed his leadership role back in 2020 after shaping Rockstar’s distinct style across multiple iconic franchises. Now he looks to channel that ambitious creative vision into entirely novel properties. The talent joining him certainly seems poised to realise such aspirations.

For example, developer Lazlow Jones has signed on after contributing to numerous Rockstar titles over the years. But perhaps most intriguing is lead writer Michael Unsworth acting as Absurd Ventures’ vice president of narrative. Unsworth helped guide acclaimed storytelling and world building for the likes of Red Dead Redemption 2 and various Grand Theft Auto chapters.

In a statement, the studio announced intentions to craft wholly original universes capable of transcending traditional entertainment mediums. Rather than pure video game development, Absurd Ventures identifies as a transmedia entity freed from conventional category constraints.

This diversified approach allows the team full creative reign to build sprawling worlds not beholden to established formulas or platforms. It represents a fusion of Houser’s daring artistic perspective with Unsworth’s vivid interactive storytelling chops. The results promise to stretch imagination and engagement across myriad dimensions.

Of course, with such predominant Rockstar DNA embedded in Absurd Ventures, gamers will watch closely to see if any interactive projects emerge. The coalescence of visionaries responsible for pioneering open world adventures like GTA and Red Dead naturally spurs speculation.

Red Dead Redemption 2 Still Thriving

While the new studio’s efforts remain purely conceptual, Rockstar’s existing properties continue thriving years later. Red Dead Redemption 2 in particular has witnessed renewed player investment courtesy of discounted sales driving record numbers.

Despite releasing all the way back in 2018, Steam statistics show the epic gunslinger prequel setting new concurrent user peaks in late 2022. This resurgence comes even as fans pine for long rumoured next generation updates that remain unaddressed by Rockstar.

Ongoing player Support through active servers and bustling online communities keeps the definitive wild west sandbox feeling alive and engaging. From roleplaying frontier heroes to awe-inspiring vistas across picturesque plains, Red Dead Redemption 2’s world building mastery remains compelling.

It is this meticulously crafted sense of place that Houser, Unsworth and their team now look to channel into unprecedented new media ventures. If Absurd Ventures lives up to its narrative and aesthetic ambitions, perhaps it will one day evoke similar enduring affection as Rockstar’s catalogue of blockbusters.

More RDR Content:

• PS4/Switch Version Has Major Features Missing
• Red Dead Online Gets First New Missions in Ages with Latest Update

For now, with Red Dead Redemption 2 continuing to lure both new and returning cowpokes to its dense single player campaign, Rockstar’s original western epic shows no signs of riding off into the sunset just yet.

Source – IGN