Take Two stock dips as Rockstar scribe Dan Houser announces departure

Enlarge / Artist's depiction of Houser departing Rockstar, shown here as (somewhat exaggerated) flaming wreckage without his guidance.

Rockstar co-founder and Creative Vice President Dan Houser will be leaving the company in March "after an extended break beginning in spring of 2019," according to a document filed with the SEC by Rockstar parent Take Two Tuesday evening. Take Two stock is down more than 4 percent in early trading following the news, dipping to its lowest level since December 9.

"We are extremely grateful for his contributions," Take Two wrote in the filing. "Rockstar Games has built some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful game worlds, a global community of passionate fans and an incredibly talented team, which remains focused on current and future projects."

Houser has been instrumental in creating Rockstar's wry, satirical voice over the past two decades, serving as the writer or co-writer for most of the company's best-selling titles, including the Grand Theft Auto series. Houser's brother Sam, who co-founded the company with Dan in 1998 and serves as executive producer on most of Rockstar's products, will continue to work at Rockstar, and his role at the company "remains unchanged," according to a statement Take Two issued in the wake of the news.

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