Dan Houser, Co-Founder of Rockstar, has Officially Left the Studio
Dan Houser, the co-founder of Rockstar and one of its most central creative figures, has officially left the studio. Houser, who was the company’s Creative Vice President, announced his upcoming depature last month, although he hasn’t given any specific reason for why he is leaving. In addition to being the studio’s co-founder, Houser was the lead writer for some of its bestselling games, including GTA V.
Dan Houser’s Departure from Rockstar
Dan Houser first founded Rockstar Games in 1998 with his brother, Sam Houser. Since then, he has been one of most important figures at Rockstar, both as a producer and a writer. He led development on most of their biggest releases, including the GTA and Red Dead franchises, among others. Indeed, he was the lead writer on GTA V, which has since become the most successful entertainment product of all time.
Neither Rockstar nor Houser himself have issued any sort of statement to explain his departure. Rockstar’s statement last month simply announced that he would be leaving in March and that the company was grateful for his contributions. However, it’s worth noting that Dan Houser took an “extended break” from the company starting in the spring of 2019; perhaps foreshadowing his eventual departure. As of yet, Houser has not announced that he is joining another company or starting any sort of new project.
Certainly, the departure of Dan Houser is a blow for Rockstar. His loss will no doubt be felt acutely at the company, where his creative vision has helped to shape so many of their franchises. At present, it’s unknown what Rockstar is actually planning to release next. After all, the studio hasn’t announced any game that they might have currently in development. Of course, GTA 6 is widely rumoured to be in development (although it is unlikely to release anytime soon). Additionally, recent teasers have seemed to point towards a Bully 2 announcement on the horizon. For now, Rockstar fans will have to wait and see.