Should we ever actually get another Grand Theft Auto game, it’s going to have a very different vibe to its predecessors. Key creative personnel Dan Houser and Leslie Benzies have already left the company, and now Lazlow Jones has joined them. You’ll probably know the name from the various radio shows that appear in the series, but he was also a writer and producer at Rockstar Games, having worked there almost 20 years.
Lazlow made his first radio appearance in Grand Theft Auto III, but his role was significantly increased in Grand Theft Auto V, where he made a cameo as the host of Fame or Shame. Fans will have recently seen him star in GTA Online’s After Hours update, as he tries to regain fame by acting as a kind of MC at your newly opened nightclub.
Writing on his Instagram account, Lazlow explained that his family have been struck by some serious health issues, which have been made all the more challenging by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. As such, this departure appears to be down to personal reasons, rather than any creative differences. Obviously, we’d like to wish Lazlow and his family all the best – and at least we’ll always have the memories of those long GTA drives with the radio on.
[source rockstarintel.com]
Comments 17
I look forward to his underground radio station in GTA 6 after having now left Rockstar.
Integrity 3.0
First it was Dan Houser, now Lazlow. Great work rockstar, you focus on milking your players dry of money will make everyone who is worth a damn in your company will leave.
His GTA radio shows were always so entertaining. Best wishes to him and his family.
He'll still be in my nightclub giving it large with glowsticks.
I never cared about any of the other departures. Lazlow going away? That's big. This is the guy that gave the tone to all the games R* put out in the past 20 years, which is like, all of them? It was his writing, his direction, everything. I sure hope he put the right people at the helm in his stead, but I for one am positive there will be a drop in quality at least on the GTA front in what regards the cynical world-building elements, you know, what makes GTA great. Huge loss.
I'm thankful for everything he's done, though and I'm sorry to hear it's on such heart-breaking terms that he has to leave, the personal problems he's having with his family and all. Hope he finds peace of mind.
Chatterbox (III) and Entertaining America (SA) were by far the best radio shows IMO.
His sense of humour was part of what made the old GTA game is better than the competition. It will certainly be missed if we get a GTA6.
I think for the most part Dan and Leslie leaving was already a sign that old style GTA will never make another appearance. We still have Sam tho, but it seems that eventually everyone who have started franchise will leave R*.
I love Lazlow. Ever since i was a kid playing III, and having a very limited understanding of english language through to V, where he made a full blown cameo. I want a tonal shift within GTA series for a long time now. But not having Lazlow on the radio in VI will be weird. Best of luck to him and his close ones. I really hope he revamps his podcast presence in some shape or form. Lazlow Show was brilliant.
His post on instagram makes for pretty sobering reading,& little wonder he's needed to step back from things a bit. But its sad his last appearance in GTA would be an online dlc...pretty much sums up present day take-two/rockstar.
Will always remember the likes of him,Fernando etc.,in the GTA III/VC/SA era providing great banter between songs & nailing their personas/era's so well.
Best wishes to him & his family & thanks for the memories Lazlow.
@Flyin45s
Was thinking exactly that when reading the article. Somehow I think this holds more truth than the reason Laslow gave.
Don't get me wrong here, I honestly believe his family is battling some health issues. But is that a reason to leave Rockstar? It can be, but it does seem this true story is used to hide the real reason of his departure, like a smokescreen.
Regardless, I wish him and his family lots of strength!
Rockstar can make great games, no doubt about that, but the company has turned into a greedy business. It would explain why Dan and Leslie left. And it would also explain why Laslow left as well.
GTA Online destroyed their love for making games and replaced it by love for making the big bucks. No wonder GTA6 hasn't arrived yet and why they didn't settle with 1 cash cow (GTA Online) and had to make a 2nd (RDR Online).
At this point, it wouldn't even surprise me if GTA Online 2 gets released alongside GTA6.
For some reason, I hope that GTA 6 flops so bad, that they get a well deserved wake-up call.
So many awesome IPs in-house, they literally drown in money. Yet, their output for games is laughable, to say the least. Shame on you Rockstar!! Or should we call them Blackhole? 🤔
Chatterbox and V Rock made me laugh so many times. He was great! Didnt like his stuff in GTA 4 or 5 though.
GTA 3 and Chatterbox was the best radio station in that game, I think his role in 5 was rather rubbish to be honest. It's big that he's left but I hope his family are going to be ok
It's honestly worth owning GTA 3 just to drive about and listen to chatterbox, it's just so entertaining. He'll be sorely missed in future games (if they happen...)
@Flyin45s You should also consider the pressure from the publisher though, they are generally the driving force behind these approaches.
He and Fernando Martinez are going to be up there with Legendary SNL sketches and early season episodes of The Simpsons
His irreverence was to me a huge part of my love for the series. Wish him the best in these tough times
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