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Dan Houser’s announced post-Rockstar game is a separate project at Absurd Ventures: an open-world science-fiction action-adventure set in the A Better Paradise universe. Houser is writing and creative-directing it, and Smilegate is its announced global publisher. He has said he did not write Grand Theft Auto VI or develop its character set. The available announcements do not establish a release date or platforms for the Absurd Ventures game.
What game is Dan Houser making after Rockstar?
Houser’s clearest announced game project is being developed by Absurd Ventures, the storytelling company he founded. Smilegate’s August 6, 2025 announcement describes it as an AAA open-world science-fiction action-adventure in the A Better Paradise universe. Smilegate said it would publish the game globally, and that Houser is writing and creative-directing alongside the studio team.
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The announcement said the game was in early development at that time. It did not provide a distinct game title, platforms, or a release schedule. Absurd Ventures’ A Better Paradise page confirms the video game is in development, but does not add a date or platform information. Those details should be treated as unannounced unless the companies publish an update.
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Absurd Ventures describes A Better Paradise as a science-fiction thriller universe. Its page also lists audio fiction, a novel, and a forthcoming television series. Those formats establish a broader transmedia setting; they are not additional announced games.
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- Please note that although this game is Region Free or Region Unlocked and will work on all systems, this is the European version and may differ from the local version in age rating, labeling or instructions.
The studio’s other work shows that “Houser’s new projects” extends beyond games. Its American Caper page describes a crime comic created and written by Houser, with a first season of 12 issues and collected paperback editions. That is a comic series, not a game announcement.
Is Dan Houser involved in GTA 6?
Houser said he had no authorship role in GTA VI: he did not write its story or develop its character set. In an IGN interview reported by PC Gamer on September 29, 2025, he said, “They’re always a new story. It’s not going to be a story I wrote or a character set that I developed.” He also said he expected the game to be exciting; that is his personal expectation, not an independent assessment of its quality.
Rank #2
- Experience the world of Grand Theft Auto V like never before with the power of the PlayStation 4.
- Explore the City of Los Santos, the countryside and even the ocean.
- Play through an epic single player experience using three very different characters.
- Join your friends in GTA Online and see what trouble you can cause.
- Play golf, tennis, see a film or call someone and just hang out.
GTA VI is a Rockstar Games project, separate from Absurd Ventures’ A Better Paradise game. Rockstar’s official GTA VI page features Jason and Lucia and a criminal conspiracy across Leonida, including Vice City. Its trailers and extended look provide the official material to judge the setting; unshown mechanics and circulating rumors should not be treated as confirmed features.
How do the announced projects compare?
| Question | A Better Paradise game | GTA VI |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | AAA open-world science-fiction action-adventure, according to Smilegate’s August 2025 announcement | Rockstar story featuring Jason and Lucia amid a criminal conspiracy in Leonida, with Vice City featured |
| Houser’s role | Announced as writer and creative director | Houser says he did not write it or develop its character set |
| Company and publisher | Absurd Ventures is developing it; Smilegate announced global publishing | Rockstar Games; Take-Two Interactive publishes the current release lineup |
| Platforms | Not stated in the cited game announcement | PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in Take-Two’s current lineup |
| Timing | Schedule not stated in the cited game announcement | November 19, 2026, in Take-Two’s current lineup |
| What players can reasonably expect | A distinct new universe and game project, with key production details still unknown | A new Rockstar GTA story and setting, independent of Houser’s authorship |
Take-Two’s Fiscal First Quarter 2027 lineup lists GTA VI for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19, 2026. That is the company’s current announced plan, not a guarantee; release schedules can change.
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- This game will no longer support Windows 7 or 8 operating systems starting January 30, 2024.
What should players expect from Houser’s post-Rockstar work?
There is enough information to distinguish the creative direction at a high level, but not enough to compare the games’ quality or likely moment-to-moment play. A Better Paradise is officially framed as open-world science fiction, while Rockstar has shown GTA VI’s characters and Leonida setting. Neither description alone establishes how the games will feel to play, and there is no basis here for ranking one over the other.
In Smilegate’s August 6, 2025 announcement, Houser described the new game as “an opportunity to go somewhere entirely different and to take players on an entirely new adventure.” That explains his stated creative intention; it is not evidence of finished gameplay or a promised result. For now, the practical distinction is authorship: Houser’s announced new game is at Absurd Ventures, while GTA VI is a separate Rockstar project.
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Rank #4
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- Grand Theft Auto V also comes with Grand Theft Auto Online, the dynamic and ever-evolving Grand Theft Auto universe for multiple players.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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