Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser has shared that Victorian novels, including George Eliot's Middlemarch and Sherlock Holmes stories, heavily influenced the writing of Red Dead Redemption 2. In a recent interview, he explained his aim to make the game's narrative feel more novelistic to match its stunning visuals. This inspiration drew from a desire for innovative storytelling in open-world games.
Inspiration from Victorian Era
Dan Houser, who co-founded Rockstar Games, disclosed in an interview with The Guardian that he immersed himself in Victorian literature while developing Red Dead Redemption 2. He listened to the audiobook of Middlemarch by George Eliot during his daily walks to and from the office, describing it as a beloved read that helped shape the game's tone.
Houser sought a 'slightly more novelistic' approach to the writing, aiming to innovate on the story side. With the game's art already exceptionally strong, he believed the narrative needed to complement it effectively. This led him to explore other Victorian works, including the Sherlock Holmes series, for their expansive storytelling style.
Parallels to Open-World Games
Houser noted that 19th-century novels share similarities with open-world titles like Grand Theft Auto, offering a 'sense of slightly spread out storytelling.' This approach allowed for broader, more immersive narratives in Red Dead Redemption 2, blending Western elements with literary depth.
Houser's Post-Rockstar Ventures
Having left Rockstar in 2020, Houser launched Absurd Ventures in 2023. The company is developing projects such as A Better Paradise, which explores a troubled video game development through a novel, podcast, upcoming TV series, and game. Other initiatives include the American Caper crime fiction universe and Absurdaverse, a story-driven action-comedy adventure game.