The unnamed title is in early development with Houser serving as the writer and creative director. Lazlow and Michael Unsworth, who have also worked with him in the past on Grand Theft Auto, are also part of the creative team. It’s also worth noting that while Smilegate made a strategic investment in the company last year, it’s planning “full-scale investment” and funding development on the new title.

In a press release, Smilegate CEO Sung Joon-ho said, “We are thrilled to take on this new challenge in the global AAA game market alongside Dan Houser and Absurd. We are confident that the strong storytelling of the A Better Paradise universe, combined with the development capabilities of the Absurd team, will result in an outstanding title.

“We are a company with a developer-first DNA and truly understand what development studios need. Through our partnership with Absurd, we will fully support the A Better Paradise game project and do our utmost to help create a new title that will be loved by players around the world. Smilegate will leverage its extensive experience and success in global markets to ensure the A Better Paradise project becomes a beloved success worldwide.”

Houser added, “Absurd Ventures was set up to tell new and different kinds of stories, and to create what I hope are interesting and compelling original experiences. This new game is an opportunity to go somewhere entirely different and to take players on an entirely new adventure. I am excited to be going on this journey with the amazing team that we are building here at Absurd Ventures, and I am grateful that we are partnering with Smilegate, who really understand and support our vision.”

The results may take a while to manifest, but it should be interesting to observe, especially in the wake of MindsEye’s failure. Helmed by former Rockstar North president and GTA producer Leslie Benzies, it launched to negative reviews from critics and players. There have been updates to address the many issues, but the promised Hitman collaboration is delayed, and Build A Rocket Boy’s employees are allegedly at risk of layoffs.

Absurd Ventures – established last year by former Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser – has announced in a press release that it has established a new studio, Absurd Marin, that comprises of the Immortals of Aveum team, including being led by the shooter’s director and Ascendant Studios founder and CEO Bret Robbins. The studio is working on a new story-driven action-adventure title. 

“Bret has put together a highly talented, passionate team,” said Dan Houser. “We are very excited to have them join forces with us as we begin to work together on one of our original new titles.”

“We love the focus on storytelling and world building at Absurd Ventures,” said Bret Robbins. “We are thrilled to team up and bring our combined expertise to work on an original game set in an incredibly fun new universe.”

There isn’t much clarity on what specifically this will mean for Ascendant Studios’ future, but in a statement on Twitter, Robbins has stated that the studio will be “going quiet” as it focuses its efforts on its new project.

“Leading the Ascendant team has been one of the greatest experiences of my professional life,” Robbins’ statement reads. “I feel incredibly lucky to work with such a passionate and hard working team. From learning UE5, to building an acclaimed combat system, to crafting a new fantasy world for Immortals of Aveum, it has been an amazing journey. Now we move forward into our next chapter, and I can’t wait to share more details with you soon.”

“We are building Absurd Ventures to create new universes and to tell great stories, wherever and however we can,” said Houser in the press release announcing the company’s establishment.

According to the company’s announcement, it will work on projects regardless of what medium it exists in, be it live-action, animation, video games, and other medium, like books, graphic novels, and scripted podcasts.

Houser had officially left Rockstar Games and his position as VP of Creative at publisher Take-Two Interactive back in February, 2020 after serving an extended leave since Spring 2019. Ahead of Houser’s departure, Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick stated that “the label has really never been stronger“, while thanking Houser “for his contributions” and wishing him well.