Veteran Red Dead Redemption writer leaves Rockstar after 16 years
Story’s over
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Michael Unsworth, whose work includes bothRed Dead Redemptiontitles as well asGTA 5,has left Rockstar Games after 16 years (via VGC). A user on theGTAforums namedRuckefound that Unsworth had updated his LinkedIn profile to show that he no longer works for Rockstar Games.
The veteran writer is one of only three people credited with work not only onRed Dead Redemption 2but also on its original predecessor, making him a consistent part of the critically acclaimed series.
Unsworth is also credited with work onGTA 5,GTA 4, Max Payne 3,andLA Noire- an impressive range of titles spanning not only diverse settings but also a significant portion of Rockstar’s 24 years of game development.
Rockstar has been no stranger to high-profile departures in recent years. One of the other three figures credited with work on bothRed Dead Redemptiontitles, former creative lead and studio co-founderDan Houser, left the company back in 2020. This year also saw thedeparture ofGrand Theft Autowriter and producer Lazlow Jones, who was known for his dialogue work on both the series' characters and radio stations - an iconic part ofGTA’s soundscape.
That said, work continues on Rockstar’s upcoming open-world crime simulatorGTA 6.Last month, Rockstar also revealed anewRed Dead Redemptionlogo, prompting speculation as to whether or not a remake might be on the horizon.
Red Dead Redemption 2and its predecessor have both made indelible marks on the gaming landscape, offering realistic, story-driven, and deeply emotional experiences that captivated players with heart-wrenching setpieces and true-to-life dialogue.
The loss of Unsworth signals the end of a chapter inRed Dead Redemptionhistory, marking the end of a creative throughline between the series' two games. The work of Unsworth and his colleagues has done a great deal to uplift and enrich the tapestry of video game storytelling, We can only hope that the legacy of figures like Unsworth, Lazlow, and Houser is carried forward in Rockstar’s future work.
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An editor and freelance journalist, Cat Bussell has been writing about video games for more than four years and, frankly, she’s developed a taste for it. As seen on TechRadar, Technopedia, The Gamer, Wargamer, and SUPERJUMP, Cat’s reviews, features, and guides are lovingly curated for your reading pleasure.
A Cambridge graduate, recovering bartender, and Cloud Strife enjoyer, Cat’s foremost mission is to bring you the best coverage she can, whether that’s through helpful guides, even-handed reviews, or thought-provoking features. She’s interviewed indie darlings, triple-A greats, and legendary voice actors, all to help you get closer to the action. When she’s not writing, Cat can be found sticking her neck into a fresh RPG or running yet another Dungeons & Dragons game.
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