Company:Absurd Ventures

From HandWiki
Absurd Ventures LLC
TypePrivate
Industry
FoundedFebruary 17, 2021; 5 years ago (2021-02-17)
FounderDan Houser
HeadquartersSanta Monica, California
Number of locations
2 (2025)
Key people
  • Greg Borrud (head of games)
  • Dan Houser (creative director)
  • Wendy Smith (COO)
Number of employees
~50 (2025)
SubsidiariesAbsurd Marin
Websitewww.absurdventures.com

Absurd Ventures LLC is an American media, entertainment, and video game company headquartered in Santa Monica, California, with an additional studio in San Rafael, California. The company was founded by Dan Houser in February 2021. The company aims to create new intellectual properties across various mediums, including video games, live-action and animated television, film, fiction podcasts, books, and comic books.[1]

History

Dan Houser founded Absurd Ventures in 2021.[2]

After leaving Rockstar Games in 2020, Dan Houser established Absurd Ventures to explore new creative avenues.[3] Houser registered Absurd Ventures LLC in Delaware on February 17, 2021, and incorporated Absurd Ventures in Games in Altrincham on June 23.[2] He announced the company in June 2023, headquartered in Santa Monica, California, emphasizing the company's mission to "create new universes and to tell great stories, wherever and however we can".[3][4] Several other former Rockstar employees joined Absurd Ventures, including marketing executive Adam Tedman in 2022, producer Lazlow Jones in June 2023,[5] and writer Michael Unsworth in October.[6] Wendy Smith, formerly of Creative Artists Agency, joined the company as chief operating officer in November.[7] Pandemic Studios co-founder Greg Borrud is the company's head of games.[5]

In September 2024, Absurd Ventures expanded its operations by establishing a new studio named Absurd Marin, based in San Rafael, California.[8] This studio was formed by integrating members from the former Ascendant Studios team, known for their work on Immortals of Aveum. Bret Robbins, the founder and game director of Ascendant Studios, was appointed as the head of Absurd Marin. The team, comprising approximately 20 developers from Immortals of Aveum, is currently working on a story-driven action-adventure game based on an unannounced new intellectual property.[9] In December 2024, Absurd Ventures secured a strategic investment from South Korean game development and publishing company Smilegate. [10]

In June 2024, the company partnered with QCode to release A Better Paradise, an audio fiction series exploring themes of artificial intelligence and virtual reality. The series debuted at number one on Apple's Fiction charts.[11][12] In September 2024, the season finale received a gold Signal Award for scripted fiction.[13] In August 2025, Smilegate signed an agreement with Absurd Ventures to publish an upcoming AAA open-world science-fiction action-adventure game set in the A Better Paradise universe.[14] In October, Absurd Ventures released a novel adaption of the A Better Paradise audio fiction series, published by their Absurd Ventures Press publishing imprint and distributed by Simon & Shuster, [15] alongside an Audible audiobook narrated by Ray Porter.[16]

In January 2025, the company unveiled the "Absurdaverse", featuring a diverse mix of characters. This universe includes animation projects and an upcoming story-driven action-comedy adventure game.[17] In 2025, Absurd Ventures released American Caper, a comic book series set to introduce a crime-fiction universe.[18][19] It revealed its first novel, Houser's A Better Paradise Volume One: An Aftermath, in March; an adaptation of the audio series, it is set to be distributed by Simon & Schuster in 2025.[20] A video game in the A Better Paradise universe is in development.[19] Houser felt the serious tone of A Better Paradise made it suitable as an audio series, novel, television series, and video game, while the Absurdaverse was more suited to animation and a video game, and American Caper to a comic book and trade paperback.[19]

In March 2026, Absurd Ventures announced a book publishing imprint that will feature fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, plays, and short stories from outside writers.[21] On March 11, 2026, Absurd Ventures Press acquired the English rights for Torsten Weitze's German fantasy series The Tower of Beggars.[22]

Projects

Year Title Type Series Ref.
2024 A Better Paradise Podcast series A Better Paradise [23]
2025 American Caper Graphic novel American Caper [18]
A Better Paradise Volume One: An Aftermath Novel A Better Paradise [20]
TBA Untitled animated series Series Absurdaverse [19]
Untitled book Trade paperback American Caper [19]
Untitled action-adventure game Video game Absurdaverse [24]
Untitled game Video game A Better Paradise [19]

References

  1. ↑ Lyles, Taylor (June 15, 2023). "Rockstar Games Co-Founder Dan Houser Announces New Studio, Absurd Ventures" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/rockstar-games-co-founder-dan-houser-announces-new-studio-absurd-ventures. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Scullion, Chris (July 2, 2021). "Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser has founded a new studio". Gamer Network. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/rockstar-co-founder-dan-houser-has-founded-a-new-studio/. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 McWhertor, Michael (January 31, 2025). "Rockstar Games co-founder teases his new game in absurd, Rockstar style" (in en-US). https://www.polygon.com/news/517281/absurd-ventures-absurdaverse-ex-rockstar-dan-houser. 
  4. ↑ Carnevale, Robert (June 15, 2023). "Rockstar Games Cofounder Dan Houser Launches Media Company Absurd Ventures" (in en-US). https://www.thewrap.com/absurd-ventures-launch-rockstar-games-cofounder-dan-houser/. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chalk, Andy (November 28, 2023). "Rockstar veterans Michael Unsworth and Lazlow Jones have joined Dan Houser's new studio" (in en). PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/rockstar-veterans-michael-unsworth-and-lazlow-jones-have-joined-dan-housers-new-studio/. 
  6. ↑ Wales, Matt (November 29, 2023). "Red Dead Redemption writer joins Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser's studio" (in en). https://www.eurogamer.net/red-dead-redemption-writer-joins-rockstar-co-founders-absurd-ventures-studio. 
  7. ↑ Maas, Jennifer (November 10, 2023). "Rockstar Games Co-Founder Dan Houser's Absurd Ventures Taps CAA Vet Wendy Smith as COO (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/rockstar-games-dan-houser-absurd-ventures-wendy-smith-coo-1235786397/. Retrieved March 12, 2025. 
  8. ↑ Dealessandri, Marie (September 13, 2024). "Absurd Ventures launches new studio with Ascendant Studios staff". GamesIndustry.biz. Gamer Network. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/absurd-ventures-launches-new-studio-with-ascendant-studios-staff. Retrieved March 12, 2025. 
  9. ↑ Chalk, Andy (September 13, 2024). "Immortals of Aveum developers find a new home at Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser's Absurd Ventures studio" (in en). PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/immortals-of-aveum-developers-find-a-new-home-at-rockstar-co-founder-dan-housers-absurd-ventures-studio/. 
  10. ↑ Blake, Vikki (December 3, 2024). "Smilegate makes strategic investment in Dan Houser's Absurd Ventures" (in en). https://www.gamesindustry.biz/smilegate-makes-strategic-investment-in-dan-housers-absurd-ventures. 
  11. ↑ Nawotka, Ed. "Rockstar Games Cofounder Novelizes Popular Podcast for New Imprint" (in en). https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/book-deals/article/97205-rockstar-games-cofounder-novelizes-popular-podcast-for-new-imprint.html. 
  12. ↑ Saunders, Tristram Fane (June 19, 2024). "This toe-curling sci-fi podcast proves good audio drama needs more than money and stars". The Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/what-to-listen-to/a-better-paradise-toe-curling-sci-fi-podcast-radio/. Retrieved March 17, 2025. 
  13. ↑ {{cite web | url=https://www.signalaward.com/winners/details/#absurd-ventures/a-better-paradise-volume-one-an-aftermath/0/537573 | title=Signal Awards Gold Winner: A BETTER PARADISE VOLUME ONE: AN AFTERMATH by Absurd Ventures | publisher=Signal Awards | website=Signal Award | access-date=April 1, 2026
  14. ↑ Romano, Sal (August 6, 2025). "Smilegate to publish Absurd Ventures’ AAA open-world A Better Paradise game". https://www.gematsu.com/2025/08/smilegate-to-publish-absurd-ventures-aaa-open-world-a-better-paradise-game. 
  15. ↑ Nawotka, Ed (March 4, 2025). "Rockstar Games Cofounder Novelizes Popular Podcast for New Imprint". Publisher's Weekly. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/book-deals/article/97205-rockstar-games-cofounder-novelizes-popular-podcast-for-new-imprint.html. Retrieved April 1, 2026. 
  16. ↑ Couch, Aaron (September 15, 2025). "Dan Houser Inks Audible Deal for Sci-Fi Thriller "A Better Paradise" (Exclusive)". https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/dan-houser-inks-audible-deal-a-better-paradise-1236369878/. 
  17. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (January 31, 2025). "Rockstar Games co-founder teases his new game in absurd, Rockstar style" (in en-US). https://www.polygon.com/news/517281/absurd-ventures-absurdaverse-ex-rockstar-dan-houser. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 DiCarlo, J. W. (November 30, 2023). "Rockstar Co-Founder Reveals New Studio’s First Projects" (in en). https://gamerant.com/rockstar-dan-houser-new-project-absurd-ventures/. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 Nawotka, Ed (March 11, 2025). "London Book Fair 2025: Q&A with Dan Houser, Video Game Creator Turned Author". Publishers Weekly. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/london-book-fair/article/97302-london-book-fair-2025-q-a-with-dan-houser-video-game-creator-turned-author.html. Retrieved March 17, 2025. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Tantimedh, Adi (March 2, 2025). "A Better Paradise: Rockstar Co-Founder Dan Houser's Podcast Gets Novel". Bleeding Cool. Avatar Press. https://bleedingcool.com/tv/a-better-paradise-rockstar-co-founder-dan-housers-podcast-gets-novel/. Retrieved March 17, 2025. 
  21. ↑ Nawotka, Ed (March 5, 2026). "Dan Houser Expands Absurd Ventures Book Imprint". https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/99837-dan-houser-expands-absurd-ventures-into-full-publishing-imprint.html. 
  22. ↑ Nathan, Lucy (March 11, 2026). "Absurd Ventures snaps up bestselling German fantasy series". https://www.bookbrunch.co.uk/page/article-detail/absurd-ventures-snaps-up-bestselling-german-fantasy-series/. 
  23. ↑ Cripe, Michael (May 16, 2024). "First Project From Rockstar Co-Founder's Studio Is an Audio Fiction Series Starring Andrew Lincoln" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/first-project-from-rockstar-co-founders-studio-is-an-audio-fiction-series-starring-andrew-lincoln. 
  24. ↑ Dastoor, Vaspaan (February 3, 2025). "GTA Creator Reveals New Project Called Absurdaverse" (in en). https://www.thegamer.com/gta-creator-dan-houser-absurd-ventures-absurdaverse/. 



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