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'{{Short description|English video game producer (born 1973)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Dan Houser | image = Dan Houser at Rockstar Games.png | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1971|05|04}} | birth_place = London, England | citizenship = {{hlist|British|American<ref name="VGC Absurd" />}} | alma_mater = [[St Paul's School, London]]<br />[[University of Oxford]] | occupation = {{hlist|[[Video game producer]]|[[Video game writing|video game writer]]}} | years_active = 1995–present | employer = [[BMG Interactive]] (1995–1998)<br />[[Rockstar Games]] (1998–2020)<br />{{nowrap|Absurd Ventures (2021–present)}} | known_for = ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' and ''[[Red Dead]]'' | spouse = Krystyna Jakubiak<ref>{{cite news |last=Chaban |first=Matt |date=21 March 2012 |title=A Rockstar Record! Grand Theft Auto Creator Dan Houser Buys Truman Capote Mansion for $12.5 M. |url=https://observer.com/2012/03/a-rockstar-record-grand-theft-auto-creator-dan-houser-buys-truman-capote-mansion-for-12-5-m/ |work=[[The New York Observer]] |publisher=[[Observer Media]] |access-date=8 February 2020 |archive-date=15 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215183548/https://observer.com/2012/03/a-rockstar-record-grand-theft-auto-creator-dan-houser-buys-truman-capote-mansion-for-12-5-m/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Variety LA">{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2020/dirt/moguls/grand-theft-auto-mastermind-dan-houser-skids-into-16-5-million-l-a-estate-1234748200/ |title='Grand Theft Auto' Mastermind Dan Houser Skids Into $16.5 Million L.A. Estate |first=James |last=McClain |date=25 August 2020 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=6 July 2021 |archive-date=3 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303034613/https://variety.com/2020/dirt/moguls/grand-theft-auto-mastermind-dan-houser-skids-into-16-5-million-l-a-estate-1234748200/ |url-status=live}}</ref> | family = Walter Houser (father)<br />[[Geraldine Moffat]] (mother)<br />[[Sam Houser]] (brother) | awards = [[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences#Hall of Fame|AIAS]] Hall of Fame Award (2014)<ref>{{cite web |title=D.I.C.E Special Awards |url=http://www.interactive.org/special_awards/details.asp?idSpecialAwards=30 |access-date=22 January 2017 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202013254/http://www.interactive.org/special_awards/details.asp?idSpecialAwards=30 |url-status=live}}</ref> }} '''Daniel Houser''' (born May 24, 1971) is an English<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2012/05/the-max-payne-comics-will-explain-why-rockstars-hard-boiled-cop-is-so-messed-up/ |title=The Max Payne Comics Will Explain Why Rockstar's Hard-Boiled Cop Is So Messed-Up |first=Evan |last=Narcisse |date=3 May 2012 |website=[[Kotaku]] |access-date=17 September 2013 |archive-date=29 November 2015 |archive-url=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/ |url-status=live}}</ref> video game producer and writer, and a co-founder and former vice president of creativity for [[Rockstar Games]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Rockstar-s-Position-on-Critics-10805.shtml |title=Rockstar's Position on Critics |last=Stahie |first=Silviu |date=20 October 2005 |website=[[Softpedia]] |access-date=12 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070321023329/http://news.softpedia.com/news/Rockstar-s-Position-on-Critics-10805.shtml |archive-date=21 March 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> As well as producing video games, Houser was the head writer for Rockstar Games,<ref name="NYT" /> being the lead for ''[[Bully (video game)|Bully]]'' (2006), ''[[Red Dead Redemption]]'' (2010) and ''[[Max Payne 3]]'' (2012). He has also written, or co-written, almost all of the titles in the ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' series.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news |last=Suellentrop |first=Chris |date=9 November 2012 |title=Americana at Its Most Felonious |url=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 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=18 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220223947/http://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 |archive-date=20 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="theguardian-hill">{{cite news |last=Hill |first=Matt |date=7 September 2013 |title=Grand Theft Auto V: meet Dan Houser, architect of a gaming phenomenon |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/sep/07/grand-theft-auto-dan-houser |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=14 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908031017/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/sep/07/grand-theft-auto-dan-houser |archive-date=8 September 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> ==Early life== Daniel Houser was born in [[London]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/jul/19/sam-and-dan-houser-mediaguardian-100-2010 |title=28. Sam and Dan Houser {{!}} MediaGuardian 100 2010 |date=19 July 2010 |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=17 September 2013 |archive-date=15 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815070357/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/jul/19/sam-and-dan-houser-mediaguardian-100-2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> in November 1973,<ref name="VGC Absurd" /> the son of British lawyer Walter Houser and actress [[Geraldine Moffat]].<ref name="Meet the brains">{{cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/games/8122020/Meet-the-brains-behind-Grand-Theft-Auto |title=Meet The Brains Behind Grand Theft Auto |first=Ben |last=Mckelvey |date=27 December 2012 |website=[[Stuff.co.nz]] |access-date=2 April 2013 |archive-date=6 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210706101622/https://www.stuff.co.nz/enwiki/static/spade/fonts/roboto-v20-latin_latin-ext/roboto-v20-latin_latin-ext-italic.woff2 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/behind-grand-theft-auto-v--the--rockstar--creators-of-gaming-s-cult-hit.html |title=Behind Grand Theft Auto V: The 'Rockstar' creators of gaming's cult hit |first=Julian |last=Gavaghan |date=14 November 2012 |website=[[Yahoo! News]] |access-date=3 February 2013 |archive-date=17 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117051224/http://uk.news.yahoo.com/behind-grand-theft-auto-v--the--rockstar--creators-of-gaming-s-cult-hit.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Houser studied geography.<ref name="theguardian-hill" /> Despite wanting to be musicians, both Houser and his brother [[Sam Houser|Sam]] had a fascination with storytelling from a young age. Growing up near a video library in London, they watched many American crime and cult films and [[Spaghetti Western]]s. Houser has stated he is a fan of [[Walter Hill (director)|Walter Hill]]'s film ''[[The Warriors (film)|The Warriors]]'',<ref name="NYT2">{{cite news |last=Schiesel |first=Seth |date=16 October 2005 |title=Gangs of New York |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/arts/16schi.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=18 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529183049/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/arts/gangs-of-new-york.html |archive-date=29 May 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Rockstar Games]] went on to release [[The Warriors (video game)|a video game version]] of ''The Warriors'' in 2005.<ref name="NYT2" /> ==Career== In 1995, Houser got a part-time job at BMG Interactive testing CD-ROMs; he became a full-time employee until 1996.<ref name="Meet the brains" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/news/rockstar-dan-houser-big-japan |title=Rockstar's Dan Houser: Big in Japan? |first=Kevin |last=Gifford |date=26 October 2011 |website=[[1Up.com]] |access-date=8 April 2014 |archive-date=27 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427082450/http://www.1up.com/news/rockstar-dan-houser-big-japan |url-status=dead}}</ref> Dan and Sam later became interested in a video game called ''Race'n'Chase'' which was being developed by [[DMA Design]] after getting a preview of the game. The Housers signed ''Race'n'Chase'' to BMG Interactive as the publisher and changed the name of the game to ''[[Grand Theft Auto (video game)|Grand Theft Auto]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/05/06/ign-presents-the-history-of-grand-theft-auto-2 |title=The History of Grand Theft Auto |first1=Rus |last1=McLaughlin |first2=Lucas M. |last2=Thomas |date=6 May 2013 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=8 April 2014 |archive-date=22 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222211733/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/05/06/ign-presents-the-history-of-grand-theft-auto-2 |url-status=live}}</ref> Following the sale of BMG Interactive to Take-Two in 1998, Houser and his brother moved with the company to New York, where they founded Rockstar Games.<ref name="Meet the brains" /> He has cited the 3D ''[[Mario (franchise)|Mario]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda|Zelda]]'' games on the [[Nintendo 64]] as influences on his work.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/10/arts/video-games/q-and-a-rockstars-dan-houser-on-grand-theft-auto-v.html |title=Americana at Its Most Felonious |first=Chris |last=Suellentrop |date=10 November 2012 |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=18 February 2017 |archive-date=10 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110091527/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/10/arts/video-games/q-and-a-rockstars-dan-houser-on-grand-theft-auto-v.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Houser has been credited as a producer for five ''Grand Theft Auto'' games, and also worked as a writer and voice artist for the series.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/gta-6-loses-long-time-rockstar-leader-dan-houser |title=GTA 6 loses long-time writer and Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser |last=Lynch |first=Gerald |date=5 February 2020 |website=[[TechRadar]] |access-date=5 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206160743/https://www.techradar.com/news/gta-6-loses-long-time-rockstar-leader-dan-houser |archive-date=6 February 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Despite the high profile of the ''Grand Theft Auto'' series, Houser and his brother have shied away from the celebrity spotlight, preferring to focus on the Rockstar Games brand rather than giving any one person the credit for the games' success.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thegamershub.net/2012/05/gaming-gods-dan-and-sam-houser/ |title=Gaming Gods: Dan and Sam Houser |first=Ryan |last=P. |date=18 May 2012 |website=The Gamer's Hub |access-date=19 March 2013 |archive-date=20 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120520211124/http://thegamershub.net/2012/05/gaming-gods-dan-and-sam-houser/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2009, both Dan and Sam Houser appeared in [[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]]'s 100 most influential people of 2009 list.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1894410_1893836_1894428,00.html |title=Sam and Dan Houser – The 2009 Time 100 |first=Matt |last=Selman |date=30 April 2009 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=19 March 2013 |archive-date=26 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826201022/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1894410_1893836_1894428,00.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2012, he bought a house in Brooklyn that once belonged to author [[Truman Capote]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Rockstar boss buys Truman Capote's New York mansion |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-03-21-rockstar-boss-buys-truman-capotes-new-york-mansion |first=Fred |last=Dutton |date=21 March 2012 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |access-date=5 July 2013 |archive-date=23 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123115857/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-03-21-rockstar-boss-buys-truman-capotes-new-york-mansion |url-status=live}}</ref> === Departure from Rockstar and founding of Absurd Ventures === In February 2020, Rockstar Games's parent company, Take-Two Interactive, announced Houser's resignation from Rockstar Games. He left Rockstar on 11 March 2020, following an extended break in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/2/4/21123170/dan-houser-departs-rockstar-games-red-dead-gta |title=Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser leaving the company |first=Colin |last=Campbell |date=4 February 2020 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |access-date=4 February 2020 |archive-date=18 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918155332/https://www.polygon.com/2020/2/4/21123170/dan-houser-departs-rockstar-games-red-dead-gta |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/4/21123171/rockstar-games-co-founder-dan-houser-leaves-steps-down |title=Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser is leaving the company |first=Cameron |last=Faulkner |date=4 February 2020 |website=[[The Verge]] |access-date=25 February 2020 |archive-date=6 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210706101635/https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/4/21123171/rockstar-games-co-founder-dan-houser-leaves-steps-down |url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2020, he bought a {{US$|16.5&nbsp;million|long=no}} estate in the [[Brentwood, Los Angeles|Brentwood]] neighborhood of Los Angeles.<ref name="Variety LA" /> In February 2021, Houser registered two companies in [[Delaware]]: Absurd Ventures LLC and Absurd Ventures in Games LLC, the latter with a [[subsidiary]] based in [[Altrincham]]. Houser is listed as the company's producer and creative director.<ref name="VGC Absurd">{{cite web |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/rockstar-co-founder-dan-houser-has-founded-a-new-studio/ |title=Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser has founded a new studio |first=Chris |last=Scullion |date=2 July 2021 |website=[[Video Games Chronicle]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]] |access-date=3 July 2021 |archive-date=2 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702094732/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/rockstar-co-founder-dan-houser-has-founded-a-new-studio/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2023, Houser officially announced his involvement in the studio, which he said will "create new universes" in video games, books, graphic novels, scripted podcasts, live-action, and animation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Good |first=Owen S. |date=2023-06-15 |title=Rockstar founder announces new narrative studio |url=https://www.polygon.com/23762438/rockstar-founder-studio-absurd-ventures-dan-houser-gta-red-dead |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref> === Other work === By September 2022, Houser joined the advisory board of Revolving Games, a [[blockchain game]] studio, after investing in a {{USD|13.2 million}} funding round for the company;<ref name="VGC Revolving">{{cite web |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/rockstar-co-founder-dan-houser-invests-in-blockchain-games-studio-joins-its-advisory-board/ |title=Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser invests in blockchain games studio, joins its advisory board |last=Ivan |first=Tom |work=[[Video Games Chronicle]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]] |date=12 September 2022 |accessdate=14 September 2022 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912154341/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/rockstar-co-founder-dan-houser-invests-in-blockchain-games-studio-joins-its-advisory-board/ |archivedate=12 September 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref> Houser met co-founder Saad Zaeem some years earlier to explore ideas, but they ultimately chose different projects, leading Houser to become an adviser and investor instead.<ref name="VentureBeat Revolving">{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/revolving-games-raises-13-2m-to-make-blockchain-games-with-ex-rockstar-cofounder-dan-houser-as-an-adviser/ |title=Revolving Games raises $13.2M to make blockchain games with ex-Rockstar cofounder Dan Houser as an adviser |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |work=[[VentureBeat]] |date=9 September 2022 |accessdate=14 September 2022 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909130107/https://venturebeat.com/games/revolving-games-raises-13-2m-to-make-blockchain-games-with-ex-rockstar-cofounder-dan-houser-as-an-adviser/ |archivedate=9 September 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref> ==Works== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role(s) |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2" | 1999 | ''[[Grand Theft Auto: London 1969]]'' | Producer, writer |- | ''[[Grand Theft Auto 2]]'' | Writer |- ! scope="row" | 2000 | ''[[X-Squad]]'' | Voice actor |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2" | 2001 | ''[[Grand Theft Auto III]]'' | Producer, voice actor, writer |- | ''[[Smuggler's Run 2: Hostile Territory]]'' | Writer |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2" | 2002 | ''[[Smuggler's Run: Warzones]]'' | Executive producer |- | ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]'' | Producer, voice actor, writer |- ! scope="row" | 2004 | ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]'' | Producer, voice actor, writer |- ! scope="row" | 2005 | ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories]]'' | Voice actor, writer |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2" | 2006 | ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories]]'' | Executive producer, writer |- | ''[[Bully (video game)|Bully]]'' | Writer |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2" | 2008 | ''[[Grand Theft Auto IV]]'' | Writer |- | ''[[Midnight Club: Los Angeles]]'' | Writer |- ! scope="row" rowspan="3" | 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 |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2" | 2010 | ''[[Red Dead Redemption]]''<ref name="NYT" /> | Executive producer, writer |- | ''[[Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare]]'' | Writer |- ! scope="row" | 2011 | ''[[L.A. Noire]]''<ref name="NYT" /> | Executive producer |- ! scope="row" | 2012 | ''[[Max Payne 3]]''<ref name="NYT" /> | Executive producer, writer |- ! scope="row" | 2013 | ''[[Grand Theft Auto V]]''<ref name="NYT" /> | Executive producer, writer |- ! scope="row" | 2018 | ''[[Red Dead Redemption 2]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-10-16-rockstar-attepts-to-defuse-100-hour-work-week-controversy-amidst-storm-of-criticism |title=Rockstar attempts to defuse 100-hour work week controversy amid storm of criticism |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=15 October 2018 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |access-date=20 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016142850/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-10-16-rockstar-attepts-to-defuse-100-hour-work-week-controversy-amidst-storm-of-criticism |archive-date=16 October 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> | Executive producer, writer |- ! scope="row" | 2019 | ''[[Red Dead Online]]'' | Executive producer, writer |} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * {{IMDb name|0396744}} {{Rockstar Games}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Houser, Dan}} [[Category:1973 births]] [[Category:Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame inductees]] [[Category:English expatriates in the United States]] [[Category:English male voice actors]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People educated at St Paul's School, London]] [[Category:Rockstar Games]] [[Category:Video game producers]] [[Category:Video game writers]]'