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Dan Houser

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Dan Houser

Daniel Houser (born November 1973) is an English video game writer and producer. He is one of the co-founders of Rockstar Games alongside his brother Sam Houser. He served as the head writer and vice president of creativity until his resignation in 2020. He founded Absurd Ventures in 2021, creating new intellectual properties across several mediums. Prior to his departure from the company, Houser was regarded as the primary creative driving force behind much of Rockstar's output. First serving as the sole writer for Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 (1997), he went on to become the lead writer for most titles in the Grand Theft Auto series, Red Dead Redemption (2010) and its 2018 prequel, Bully (2006), Midnight Club: Los Angeles (2008), and Max Payne 3 (2012).

Infobox

Born
Daniel HouserNovember 1973 (age 52)London, England
Occupations
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Years active
1995–present
Employers
mw- BMG Interactive (1995–1998)Rockstar Games (1998–2020)Absurd Ventures (2021–pres.)
Spouse
Krystyna Jakubiak
Children
3
Mother
Geraldine Moffat
Relatives
Sam Houser (brother)

Tables

· Works › Video games
1999
Role(s)
Producer, writer
Role(s)
Writer
2000
Role(s)
Voice actor
2001
Role(s)
Producer, voice actor, writer
2002
Role(s)
Executive producer
Role(s)
Producer, voice actor, writer
2004
Role(s)
Producer, voice actor, writer
2005
Role(s)
Voice actor, writer
2006
Role(s)
Executive producer, writer
Role(s)
Writer
2008
Role(s)
Writer
2010
Role(s)
Executive producer, writer
2011
Role(s)
Executive producer
2012
Role(s)
Executive producer, writer
2013
Role(s)
Executive producer, writer
2018
Role(s)
Executive producer, writer
2019
Role(s)
Executive producer, writer
TBD
Role(s)
Untitled A Better Paradise game
Notes
TBA
Year
Title
Role(s)
1999
Grand Theft Auto: London 1969
Producer, writer
Grand Theft Auto 2
Writer
2000
X-Squad
Voice actor
2001
Grand Theft Auto III
Producer, voice actor, writer
Smuggler's Run 2: Hostile Territory
Writer
2002
Smuggler's Run: Warzones
Executive producer
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Producer, voice actor, writer
2004
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Producer, voice actor, writer
2005
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
Voice actor, writer
2006
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Executive producer, writer
Bully
Writer
2008
Grand Theft Auto IV
Writer
Midnight Club: Los Angeles
Writer
2009
Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned
Writer
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Writer
Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony
Writer
2010
Red Dead Redemption
Executive producer, writer
Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare
Writer
2011
Noire
Executive producer
2012
Max Payne 3
Executive producer, writer
2013
Grand Theft Auto V
Executive producer, writer
2018
Red Dead Redemption 2
Executive producer, writer
2019
Red Dead Online
Executive producer, writer
TBD
Untitled A Better Paradise game
TBA
· Works › Others
2024
A Better Paradise: Volume 1: An Aftermath
Role(s)
Writer, creator
Notes
Fiction podcast
2025
A Better Paradise Volume One: An Aftermath
Role(s)
Writer
Notes
Novel
Year
Title
Role(s)
Notes
2024
A Better Paradise: Volume 1: An Aftermath
Writer, creator
Fiction podcast
2025
A Better Paradise Volume One: An Aftermath
Writer
Novel

References

  1. Kotaku
    https://web.archive.org/web/20151129130804/http://www.kotaku.com.au/2012/05/the-max-payne-comics-will-explain-why-rockstars-hard-boiled-cop-is-so-messed-up/
  2. Softpedia
    https://web.archive.org/web/20070321023329/http://news.softpedia.com/news/Rockstar-s-Position-on-Critics-10805.shtml
  3. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/10/arts/video-games/q-and-a-rockstars-dan-houser-on-grand-theft-auto-v.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
  4. "Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser set to leave company in March"
    https://www.inverse.com/gaming/rockstar-dan-houser-gta-red-dead-rdr-leave-company-take-two
  5. "How Dan Houser & Lazlow's Departure Will Change GTA 6"
    https://screenrant.com/gta-6-development-dan-houser-lazlow-jones-leaving
  6. "Take Two stock dips as Rockstar scribe Dan Houser announces departure"
    https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/02/take-two-stock-dips-as-rockstar-scribe-dan-houser-announces-departure
  7. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/sep/07/grand-theft-auto-dan-houser
  8. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/jul/19/sam-and-dan-houser-mediaguardian-100-2010
  9. Video Games Chronicle
    https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/rockstar-co-founder-dan-houser-has-founded-a-new-studio/
  10. Stuff.co.nz
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/games/8122020/Meet-the-brains-behind-Grand-Theft-Auto
  11. Yahoo! News
    https://uk.news.yahoo.com/behind-grand-theft-auto-v--the--rockstar--creators-of-gaming-s-cult-hit.html
  12. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/aug/10/wally-houser-obituary
  13. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/arts/16schi.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
  14. 1Up.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20140427082450/http://www.1up.com/news/rockstar-dan-houser-big-japan
  15. IGN
    https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/05/06/ign-presents-the-history-of-grand-theft-auto-2
  16. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/10/arts/video-games/q-and-a-rockstars-dan-houser-on-grand-theft-auto-v.html
  17. TechRadar
    https://www.techradar.com/news/gta-6-loses-long-time-rockstar-leader-dan-houser
  18. The Gamer's Hub
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120520211124/http://thegamershub.net/2012/05/gaming-gods-dan-and-sam-houser/
  19. Time
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130826201022/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1894410_1893836_1894428,00.html
  20. "D.I.C.E Special Awards"
    http://www.interactive.org/special_awards/details.asp?idSpecialAwards=30
  21. Polygon
    https://www.polygon.com/2020/2/4/21123170/dan-houser-departs-rockstar-games-red-dead-gta
  22. The Verge
    https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/4/21123171/rockstar-games-co-founder-dan-houser-leaves-steps-down
  23. Polygon
    https://www.polygon.com/23762438/rockstar-founder-studio-absurd-ventures-dan-houser-gta-red-dead
  24. gamesradar
    https://www.gamesradar.com/gta-5-and-red-dead-redemption-2-writer-joins-rockstar-co-founders-new-studio/
  25. gamesradar
    https://www.gamesradar.com/rockstar-co-founder-and-gta-lead-writers-new-project-kicks-off-with-a-graphic-novel-and-podcast-series-not-a-video-game/
  26. GamesIndustry.biz
    https://www.gamesindustry.biz/absurd-ventures-launches-new-studio-with-ascendant-studios-staff
  27. gamesradar
    https://www.gamesradar.com/games/action/rockstar-games-co-founder-and-gta-5-red-dead-redemption-2-writer-dan-housers-new-studio-shows-off-its-story-driven-action-comedy/
  28. Polygon
    https://www.polygon.com/news/517281/absurd-ventures-absurdaverse-ex-rockstar-dan-houser
  29. "The lead writer of Grand Theft Auto, Dan Houser on his debut novel, about a video game which goes horribly wrong"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002mmy3
  30. Video Games Chronicle
    https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/rockstar-co-founder-dan-houser-invests-in-blockchain-games-studio-joins-its-advisory-board/
  31. VentureBeat
    https://venturebeat.com/games/revolving-games-raises-13-2m-to-make-blockchain-games-with-ex-rockstar-cofounder-dan-houser-as-an-adviser/
  32. Lex Fridman
    https://lexfridman.com/dan-houser-transcript/
  33. Variety
    https://variety.com/2020/dirt/moguls/grand-theft-auto-mastermind-dan-houser-skids-into-16-5-million-l-a-estate-1234748200/
  34. Architectural Digest
    https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/step-inside-this-new-york-city-familys-ultimate-adirondacks-lodge
  35. Eurogamer
    http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-03-21-rockstar-boss-buys-truman-capotes-new-york-mansion
  36. The New York Observer
    https://observer.com/2012/03/a-rockstar-record-grand-theft-auto-creator-dan-houser-buys-truman-capote-mansion-for-12-5-m/
  37. Playboy
    https://web.archive.org/web/20131118231710/http://www.playboy.com/playground/view/grand-theft-auto-sam-houser-interview?page=3
  38. The Foundation Directory Part 2
  39. Eurogamer
    https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-10-16-rockstar-attepts-to-defuse-100-hour-work-week-controversy-amidst-storm-of-criticism
  40. GameSpot
    https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-game-from-former-gta-boss-will-be-introduced-via-an-upcoming-audio-series/1100-6523557/
  41. Publishers Weekly
    https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/london-book-fair/article/97302-london-book-fair-2025-q-a-with-dan-houser-video-game-creator-turned-author.html
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