Lazlow Jones, the former Rockstar Games writer and producer known for his radio host roles in the Grand Theft Auto series, has opened up about his departure from the American game developer and shared a chilling encounter with an overzealous fan.
Jones, who spent nearly two decades shaping the satirical world of GTA, left Rockstar in 2020 after a series of personal and professional revelations. The reason behind this was his sister's terminal cancer diagnosis, which came just weeks after the launch of Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018.
"I spent a lot of time writing comedy from chemo wards," Jones shared in the IGN interview. This experience forced him to reevaluate his priorities, ultimately leading to his exit from the company that had been his creative home for over 19 years.
However, it wasn't just personal reasons that drove Jones away from Rockstar. After shipping nine GTA games between 2001 and 2020, he was ready for a change. "I was excited to work on a new intellectual property," Jones explained, revealing the fatigue that can come from working on a single franchise for so long. It's refreshing to see that the reason isn't drama or some disagreement leaving grudges.
Perhaps the most interesting revelation from Jones' interview was a disturbing phone call he received during the development of GTA V. A fan, claiming to represent followers of the game's fictional Epsilon Program, left a message on his work phone that sent chills down his spine.
