Publisher and Developer from South Korea Smilegate has made an investment in Absurd Ventures, the studio founded by former Rockstar Games Creative Director and Lead Writer Dan Houser Gematsu reports. Dan Houser is credited with work on the Grand Theft Auto Series, Bully, Red Dead Redemption, and Max Payne 3, to name a few.
Houser spent over twenty years at Rockstar games in a creative role, in which his game’s sold more than 550 million units, or thirty three billion dollars worth in games according to Venturebeat. Houser eventually left Rockstar in 2020 and revealed Absurd Ventures existence in mid 2021.
From this new partnership, Smilegate stands to benefit by leveraging Absurd Venture’s teams experience in AAA storytelling; both companies stand to gain from the other’s experience in their respective markets including live services such as Smilegate’s CROSSFIRE and Dan Houser’s work in Grand Theft Auto Online.
Dan Houser spoke on the new partnership in a press release “This collaboration with Smilegate was borne from a mutual respect and a philosophical alignment with founder Kwon, and the great passion he and his team bring to making AAA games, we both want to build interesting worlds and new player experiences.”
Joohno Sung, the CEO of Smilegate also made a statement “We are thrilled to collaborate with the developers behind globally renowned series that have millions of fans worldwide. Together with Absurd Ventures, Smilegate aims to deliver games that players across the globe will love. This partnership marks a critical milestone in Smilegate’s journey toward becoming a global IP powerhouse.”
Absurd Ventures played a major role in the creation of Absurd Marin last year, assisting the now-defunct Ascendant Studios in a time of layoffs after their release of Immortals of Aveum. Given the new partnership with Absurd Ventures, Smilegate stands to set itself apart as a gaming powerhouse. With Houser and Absurd Venture’s creative prowess and Smilegates experience this may be a match to elevate yet a another studio and maybe Absurd Ventures in the process.