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This could be the start of something big (Picture: Absurd Ventures)

The first two releases from Absurd Ventures are a graphical novel and an audio fiction series but they could become games in time.

Although a GTA 6 reveal trailer is imminent, it’s been so long since GTA 5 first released that many of the people involved have since moved on, most obviously Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser and fellow writers Lazlow Jones and Michael Unsworth.

Earlier in the week it was revealed that the latter two had joined Houser at his new company Absurd Ventures, which is not a game developer exactly but a transmedia company that also intends to make live action content, books, comics, and scripted podcasts.

They’ve now announced their first two projects and while neither of them are video games they are described as ‘universes’, implying that more projects will result from both – potentially including games.

Nobody’s expecting a GTA clone from the studio, but Houser set up a separate company at the same time called Absurd Ventures in Games, so they’re certainly at the forefront of his mind.

For now though the first universe is called American Caper and will debut as a graphic novel by comic book artist Simon Bisley, famed for his 90s works with 2000 AD and Lobo.

Although his subject matter is usually more fantastical, American Caper will focus on ‘two normal, badly-damaged American families in a world of corrupt business, inept politics and bungling crime.’

That makes it sound very much like GTA, so it’s not unreasonable to expect some similar characters and dialogue, and another scathing critique of modern America.

AMERICAN CAPER centers on two normal, badly-damaged American families in a world of corrupt business, inept politics and bungling crime. AMERICAN CAPER will debut as a graphic novel that is being illustrated by renowned comic book artist, Simon Bisley. pic.twitter.com/k6Lcr1IEhA— Absurd Ventures (@AbsurdVentures) November 29, 2023

The other universe will start life as an ‘audio fiction’, aka scripted podcast, and doesn’t seem to have much in common with anything Rockstar has ever done before.

It’s described as a 12-part ‘existential suspense thriller, set in the near future’, with the title in particular making it sound like something along the lines of Black Mirror.

Although GTA 2 was technically set in the near future, science fiction is not something Rockstar has ever really tackled in the modern era, so it’s going to be interesting to see what Houser and the others come up with.

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It’s not clear when either project will be released, with A Better Paradise described only as ‘in production’, so that in particular might be a while.

If and when any new games will be released, that are set in either universe, is impossible to guess but much will no doubt depend on how these first projects are received.

The Absurd Ventures website has sections devoted to American Caper and A Better Paradise but at the moment they’re just animated logos, so it may be a while till we get more information.

A BETTER PARADISE is an existential suspense thriller, set in the near future. A 12-episode audio fiction series based on the A BETTER PARADISE universe is currently in production. Absurd Ventures is partnering with @QCODEmedia to co-produce the audio series. pic.twitter.com/JxgKauK5JS— Absurd Ventures (@AbsurdVentures) November 29, 2023

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MORE : GTA writers Lazlow Jones and Michael Unsworth join Dan Houser’s new company

MORE : Rockstar Social Club has been discontinued as GTA 6 reveal looms

MORE : GTA 5 single-player DLC and Bully 2 referenced in leaked code

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