Showing posts with label GTA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GTA. Show all posts

FTS: Smilegate to Publish Absurd Ventures' AAA Open-World "A BETTER PARADISE" Game

 

Smilegate to Publish Absurd Ventures’ AAA Open-World Game Set in the A BETTER PARADISE Universe

 Smilegate expands partnership with former GTA creative director Dan Houser for global AAA publishing

New game set in A BETTER PARADISE universe in development, funded by Smilegate

August 6, 2025 – Smilegate today announced that it has signed an agreement with Dan Houser’s Absurd Ventures to globally publish the studio’s upcoming AAA, open-world, sci-fi action-adventure game, set in its mind-bending A BETTER PARADISE universe. The partnership follows Smilegate’s strategic investment in Absurd Ventures, announced last year.

A BETTER PARADISE is an expansive universe created by Absurd Ventures, the company founded by Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser, the former creative director and lead writer of the GRAND THEFT AUTO and RED DEAD REDEMPTION franchises, among others. Building on the studio’s talent for crafting incredible narrative worlds and characters, A BETTER PARADISE has already spawned a hit audio fiction series, A BETTER PARADISE Volume One: An Aftermath, which debuted at the top of Apple’s Fiction charts and won the 2024 Signal Award for Best Episode of Scripted Fiction. Absurd Ventures is also releasing a novelization of the first volume of A BETTER PARADISE’s story, due out in October 2025.

Currently in early development, the video game is being written and creative directed by Houser alongside his worldbuilding and creative team which includes longtime collaborators Lazlow, and Michael Unsworth. The game’s development at Absurd Ventures is being led by veteran studio head Greg Borrud who was previously General Manager of Niantic and co-founder of Pandemic Studios. Houser and Borrud have been building an elite team at Absurd Ventures studios and the A BETTER PARADISE game project boasts senior game development talent with previous experience from Bungie, Treyarch, Respawn, Insomniac, Riot, and more, with lead credits on best-in-class action and adventure games such as Call of DutyDestiny 2ValorantSpider-Man 2Hogwarts Legacy, and many others.

With a top-tier development team, Absurd is officially in development on this new AAA game, driven by an ambitious and exciting creative vision. The company expects Smilegate’s expertise and experience, as proven by its success in the global gaming industry, to bring strong synergy to their strategic publishing partnership. Following its equity investment in Absurd Ventures last year, Smilegate plans to make a full-scale investment, including development funding, into the A BETTER PARADISE project to help ensure its global success. 

Sung Joon-ho, CEO of Smilegate, 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 ABP 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,” he emphasized. “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 ABP project becomes a beloved success worldwide.”

Dan Houser, founder of Absurd Ventures, stated:

“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 am grateful that we are partnering with Smilegate who really understand and support our vision.”

Kwon Hyuk-bin, Chief Visionary Officer of Smilegate, added:

“Dan Houser and I have formed a deep friendship through our shared interest in games and the future, and I find it especially meaningful that we are now able to share our creative visions through this collaboration on the A Better Paradise project,” he stated. “We’re excited to present a title that reflects the vision we’ve often discussed—one that we hope will deeply resonate with gamers around the world.

Through this joint project, Smilegate aims to grow beyond Asia and become a major player in the global gaming industry.

Absurd Ventures was advised by Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks, P.C. and Fenwick & West LLP in connection with the transaction. Smilegate was advised by DLA Piper.


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Deliver At All Costs – A Delivery Driving GTA-Inspired Game?! Oh heck yeah!

If you thought being a delivery driver was all about following traffic laws and playing it safe, Deliver At All Costs is here to prove you wrong! This chaotic action-adventure throws you into a fully destructible world, where the only rule is get the job done... no matter what!

Inspired by GTA and Crazy Taxi, this game lets you plow through fences, smash storefronts, and dodge police as you race to complete the most absurd deliveries imaginable. You play as Winston Green, a courier with a mysterious past, navigating 1959’s retro-futuristic madness while hauling everything from giant marlins to unstable explosives. Don't believe me? Grab the snacks & watch:

While mastering the roads can be a challenge, the real fun kicks in when you stop worrying and just floor it. The physics-driven mayhem makes every delivery unpredictable, and the fast-paced gameplay keeps the adrenaline pumping while being chased by civilians... aliens, etc. When I say that the game is more than physics-driven mayhem, trust and believe the depth is there in this full blown action adventure game.

Developed by Far Out Games and published by Konami Digital Entertainment, this single-player thrill ride is available FREE for a limited time... so grab it while it’s hot, Daddyo!



Rockstar Games co-founder announces new media company!

 

Dan Houser Announces Absurd Ventures


Dan Houser, the co-founder of Rockstar Games, and former creative director/lead writer of GTA, Red Dead Redemption, and many other games announced a new company. It's not considered a game studio, it's being described as a media company.

What they're going to be doing at Absurd Ventures is creating new IPs on all platforms and formats. Meaning, they're going to be producing live-action experiences, animation, books, graphic novels, scripted podcasts, video games, and other interactive content.

"We are building Absurd Ventures to create new universes and to tell great stories, wherever and however we can," said Dan Houser.

Dan has an impressive catalog under his belt, and I believe this company would make it even better. I think this will also keep the doors of the company open because they're diversifying their offerings.


There are no announcements beyond the mention of the company, but stay tuned.

www.absurdventures.com



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Are you too old to play video games? No! + A list of the most stressful games!

Why do grown-ups play video games? For some, it's a form of escapism from the pressures of work and everyday life. For others, it's simply a fun way to spend some time with friends. But for all adults who game, it's a chance to relieve stress, unwind, and just have a good time.

There's nothing wrong with that! In fact, gaming can be beneficial for both mental and physical health (i.e. games like Just Dance, and Nintendo Switch Sports). According to my research, gaming can help improve hand-eye coordination, memory, and problem-solving skills. So next time you're feeling bogged down by adulthood, pick up a controller and dive into a fun-filled world of gaming.

I know that some of you may beg to differ about games being a total stress reliever, and you would be partially right. Here is a list of the most stressful games played during a 30-minute period, according to information presented by NDC Media's Sanna L.

The full list of games played for a maximum of 30 minutes were:



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Electronic Arts is number one among US gamers?

Electronic Arts is the most popular video game producer among US gamers?! Yes, according to the numbers presented to us by V. Chaudhary, 64% of avid video gamers are still clawing for EA action. It's all good... as long as they're doing supporters right.

Rockstar Games is right behind EA at 63% for US gamers. Here's the breakdown as it was presented:

64% Of Avid US Gamers Take Interest In Electronic Arts 

Electronic Arts has been mired in controversies throughout most of its existence. Initially, the company was infamous for its acquisition practices and work culture. In recent years, the company has drawn the wrath of video gamers with its loot box mechanism in Star Wars Battlefront II. Furthermore, they constantly attract criticism from gamers due to minimal evolution in its sporting franchises such as FIFA, NHL, NBA Live, and Madden. However, the recent Morning Consult survey proves that no publicity is bad publicity.

Electronic Arts, despite its less-than-perfect image, generates interest from 64% of avid video gamers. 37% of gamers claimed to be very interested in the company, and 27% were somewhat interested.

In the second spot, Rockstar Games generates interest from 61% of avid gamers. The American company is responsible for producing open-world games like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. Ubisoft and Activision are third and fourth, respectively, with a total of 57% interest rate. 

Ubisoft is a French company and the first non-US company on the list. The French developers are responsible for some really popular franchises such as Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Watch Dogs, etc. Activision is another US-based developer, famous for its Call of Duty franchise.

In the fifth spot, Capcom is the first Japan-based developer on the list. The Japanese company is behind several franchises such as Resident Evil, Monster Hunter, Street Fighter, Devil May Cry, etc. 55% of avid US gamers keep an interest in the company and its products.

Blizzard Entertainment comes sixth with an interest level of 53%. The US-based developer is famous for its online games such as Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, etc. 

Amazon Games was only established in 2012, and it doesn’t have a significant amount of games in its portfolio yet. However, it has already generated curiosity among US gamers. 53% of these gamers claim to keep an interest in this offering from Jeff Bezos. "Wait... wait... what?!" - Blu

Bethesda Softworks attract interest from 47% of US gamers. The American developer, currently owned by Microsoft, has developed games like The Elder Scrolls, Doom, Fallout, etc.

At the ninth spot, Square Enix is the second Japanese company to feature with an interest rate of 46% in the US. The company is most famous for its Final Fantasy series.

American developer Gearbox Studios finishes the top-ten list with a 45% interest rate among US gamers. The Texas-based developer is famous for its Borderlands and Duke Nukem series. - V. Chaudhary

"I would be ashamed to list Duke Nukem, the last game was outdated at launch. They still have a chance to do a relaunch of the franchise." - Yang



There are solid listings, and we appreciate V. Chaudhary for the information but I would pull Amazon Games out of this. Interest in what's to come is different than interest in the games a studio already has.




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AMERICAN FUGITIVE

American Fugitive feels like GTA when you get 5-star attention from the cops. - Blu

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