Rockstar co-founder doesn't care about the physical vs digital debate, says companies should give players what they want

Q: How did Houser describe the value of digital releases when it comes to updating and fixing games?

Houser said that despite criticism of digital releases, the ability to update games and fix problems has been really useful for the quality of games. He framed updates and fixes as a key benefit of digital distribution.

Q: How does creating a physical comic book differ from digital work according to Absurd Ventures' team?

They said producing a physical comic is a different creative process than their years of digital work. The team found it especially fulfilling because it results in a tangible product you can hold, saying simply, "look, we made a thing."

Q: Did Houser express a personal liking for physical media, and in what context?

Yes. At San Diego Comic Con while promoting Absurd Ventures projects including the American Caper comic, Houser said he "doesn’t know that I personally care" about disc versus digital but later explicitly said, "I love physical media," referring to the physical American Caper comic book his company produced.

Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser comments on the ongoing digital vs physical debate, saying that he doesn't really have a personal stake in the matter.

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Derek Strickland

Senior Gaming Editor

Published Jul 26, 2026 7:40 AM CDT

30-second read time

TL;DR: Dan Houser says he's personally indifferent to the physical-versus-digital games debate but believes companies should offer physical options if consumers want them. He and Lazlow Jones noted digital updates' benefits and the convenience of downloads, while also valuing creating and owning physical media like their American Caper comic.

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Rockstar Games co-founder and Absurd Ventures CEO Dan Houser isn't bothered by the ongoing debate on how software should be delivered, but also says that consumer demand should be met for physical games.

Rockstar co-founder doesn't care about the physical vs digital debate, says companies should give players what they want 2

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Iconic Rockstar alums Dan Houser and Lazlow Jones recently attended San Diego Comic Con to promote projects from their Absurd Ventures multimedia group, including a new comic book in the American Caper series. At the event, IGN interviewed the duo, and one of the questions was about disc vs digital.

"I don't know that I care," Houser said. "But, if people want that, companies should provide it. But I don't know that I personally care."

"The ability to update games, as critical as people are of digital releases, the ability to update and fix problems in games has been really useful for the quality of games."

Absurd Ventures executive producer and former Rockstar alum Lazlow Jones also commented on the topic:

"We all have that feeling of when you get the game and sort of put the disc in the console," Jones said, "but I also really have to say that being able to be at [a place like] the airport and being able to download some quick games to my Steam Deck for this 12 hour flight."

"That's what's been interesting; we've worked in digital for a lot of years, and making a physical product of a comic book is a different creative process. But it's really fulfilling--look, we made a thing."

Houser then goes on to say that he loves physical media, referring to the American Caper comic book that Absurd Ventures produced.

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Question #1

How did Houser describe the value of digital releases when it comes to updating and fixing games?

Question #2

What example did Lazlow Jones give to illustrate a digital advantage for portable gaming?

Lazlow Jones said that being at an airport and downloading some quick games to his Steam Deck for a 12 hour flight illustrates a digital advantage for portable gaming.

Answered

Question #3