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Dan Houser is associated with two upcoming Absurd Ventures game projects: A Better Paradise, a sci-fi open-world action-adventure with Smilegate as its announced global publisher, and an untitled story-driven open-world game set in the Absurdaverse. Neither has a confirmed release date or platform in the available announcements and reporting.
What games is Dan Houser making?
Houser’s Absurd Ventures is connected to two distinct projects. A Better Paradise has a named fictional universe, a stated genre and an announced publishing partner. The Absurdaverse game has been reported as an original open-world project alongside an animated series, but fewer details are public.
| Project | What has been disclosed | Publishing and development details |
|---|---|---|
| A Better Paradise | AAA open-world sci-fi action-adventure set in the A Better Paradise universe. | Smilegate was named global publisher in its August 6, 2025 announcement. That announcement said development was in its early stages and that Smilegate planned to fund it. These are announcement-time details, not a verified status update for October 2026. Smilegate announcement |
| Untitled Absurdaverse game | Reported as an original AAA, story-driven open-world game, associated with an animated series. | GamesRadar reported the project in April 2026. The accessible report does not establish a publisher, platform or release date. GamesRadar report |
What is known about A Better Paradise?
A new story in the novel’s world
The game is not described as a direct adaptation of the A Better Paradise novel. In a Sunday Brunch interview quoted by GamesRadar, Houser said: “We are making a game set in the same world, but not exactly the same story.” The game shares the novel’s setting, but its story is distinct. GamesRadar interview coverage
Creative team and publisher
Smilegate’s August 2025 announcement said Houser would write and creative-direct the game with Absurd Ventures’ worldbuilding and creative team. It named longtime collaborators Lazlow and Michael Unsworth, and said studio development was led by Greg Borrud. Smilegate was identified as global publisher, with development funding planned from the company. These details describe the announcement, not necessarily the current team or project status.
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What is known about the Absurdaverse game?
GamesRadar reported in April 2026 that Absurd Ventures had an untitled original AAA story-driven open-world game in development, alongside an untitled animated series. The report includes performers associated with the projects, but the accessible information does not establish the game’s plot, mechanics, platforms or launch timing. The game should be treated as a reported development project, not as a fully revealed title.
Absurd V Mag summarized an October 2026 Variety podcast appearance as mentioning both games and suggesting Absurdaverse information might arrive in the coming months. Because this is secondary reporting rather than an accessible transcript, it does not confirm a specific reveal date or guarantee that one will happen. Absurd Ventures
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How do the two projects differ?
| What is known | A Better Paradise | Absurdaverse game |
|---|---|---|
| Universe and tone | Set in the A Better Paradise universe; described as sci-fi. | Associated with Absurd Ventures’ Absurdaverse, described as comedy-satire in reporting. |
| Stated genre | Open-world sci-fi action-adventure. | Story-driven open-world game. |
| Publishing relationship | Smilegate announced as global publisher. | Not stated in the accessible report. |
| Disclosure status | Genre, setting and publisher have been announced; gameplay details remain undisclosed. | Reported as in development alongside an animated series; core game details remain limited. |
Neither project has disclosed platforms, a launch window, pricing or detailed gameplay systems in the available material. The difference is how much has been formally specified so far: A Better Paradise has a clearer public genre and publishing relationship, while the Absurdaverse game remains less defined.
When will Dan Houser’s new games come out, and what platforms will they be on?
No confirmed release date or release window is available for either project, and no platforms have been announced in the cited information. Smilegate’s announcement said schedule and platform details would follow later. Houser said in a 2025 interview that work on A Better Paradise had begun about 18 months earlier and would take “another few years”; that relative estimate does not establish a launch year or guarantee a schedule.
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There is also no cited price, gameplay trailer, concrete description of game systems or complete plot synopsis for either title. For firm updates, look for announcements from Smilegate and Absurd Ventures.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Optional reading from Absurd Ventures
American Caper Volume 1: Red-Pilled Blues is a comic collection, not a game or a confirmed tie-in to either project. Absurd Ventures says it collects the first four issues and is available through Amazon; availability may vary. It is an optional way to read another work from Houser’s studio while waiting for more game information. Absurd Ventures
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