It's a tumultuous day for Rockstar fans. Dan Houser, among the most talented names in the video game industry, has left Rockstar Games, a company he not only helped create but also nurture into the name it has attained today. Being the narrative mastermind behind some of the most legendary open-world sandbox titles, from Grand Theft Auto to Red Dead Redemption, Dan Houser remains an icon of world-building, story structure, and unforgettable characters.

To see him walk away from it all is only a recipe for disaster, one Rockstar will have to figure out as soon as possible, or else it may start looking like the inside of their own gaming worlds — absolute mayhem. Houser's departure only makes sense, being among the few creators who actually stands up for long-lasting single-player gaming. With the explosion of online multiplayer capabilities, due in large part to the massive success of GTA Online, gone are the days of everlasting single-player experiences. Houser will most certainly be missed, but his leaving has already directly diminished the longevity of Rockstar's market value and will only continue to have lasting effects on the industry.

RELATED: Impressive Grand Theft Auto 5 Mod Lets You Play In Virtual Reality

Rockstar's Statement

The head of Rockstar Games, Take-Two Interactive, released the crushing news in an SEC filing on February 4th. The statement reads:

"We are extremely grateful for his contributions. 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."

Almost immediately after news broke, Take-Two stock prices plunged. Until March 11, Houser retains his role as Vice President, Creative at Rockstar. His brother, Sam Houser, who together with Dan created Rockstar Games back in December of 1998, will remain as president of the company. Houser has already been on extended leave following the release of Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2019. It still remains unclear why Dan stepped down, though it's safe to assume that the success of multiplayer communities, such as GTA and Red Dead Online, have a lot to do with it.

There's also Dan's own comments recorded back at the DICE Summit in 2018, which now ring loud and true:

"It's really unclear what we would even do with [GTA 6], let alone how upset people would get with whatever we did."

Simply (and sadly) put, maybe Grand Theft Auto — and even massive open-world Rockstar narratives in general — are now a thing of the past. Maybe it's a time of radical change for the gaming company. With an ex-employee hinting at a long wait for GTA 6, and now Houser's own departure, it's clear that Take-Two is hedging their bets on the mountains of cash provided by merely updating their already existing (and relatively successful) online universes. Any potential future titles may be far, far down the line, and the nature of their success will be directly affected by Houser's absence.

Grand Theft Entertainment

Houser is undoubtedly one of the most creative minds in the gaming industry — some would argue entertainment as a whole. Let's not forget he was one of the many minds behind not only both Red Dead Redemption and its successor, but also Grand Theft Auto V, which was not only the bestselling game of the decade but also the most profitable entertainment product ever. That's to say nothing about his cult classics, from the likes of Midnight Club to Bully. Houser's contribution to narrative design in video gaming will be remembered forever, especially given the fact that such massive concepts will now be scarce in the future.

EA learned firsthand the nature of feeding off of multiplayer components. The release of Battlefront II was marred by their FIFA-like loot box schemes, yet their most recent single-player experience, Jedi: Fallen Order, proved that narrative is still a hot commodity in gaming. Dan's goodbye to Rockstar feels almost like a send-off to these story-driven gaming experiences. While plenty of different and more exciting narratives will arise out of the industry even this year alone, Cyberpunk 2077 being at the forefront of that space, any future Rockstar title simply won't have that same spice it once had.

And, we all could be looking at the company soon pivoting into multiplayer-only properties, which would itself spell the end of an era.

The Red Dead Future Of Rockstar

No matter what either Rockstar or even Take-Two have in store for gamers and fans alike, it's clear that their best days are long behind them. Despite being one of the most profound experiences of 2019, Red Dead Redemption 2 didn't come without its myriad of faults. In addition, news of crunch and overworked employees only highlights the reality of an ugly workplace environment. Compounding these issues was also the realization that Rockstar North was skipping out on 10 years worth of corporate tax. While their games might rank among the most memorable experiences in the industry, Rockstar isn't exactly in the best atmosphere.

READ NEXT: Should Red Dead Redemption 2 Launch On The Switch?