Agreed it's a major loss, a few key people who've been picked as spokesmen for Rockstar in the days of better gaming press, we got to know them for their candid remarks on Rockstar's secretive operations, and their noted credits in all Rockstar products, but also, as one of the lead people in the transition from Direct Mind Access software to Rockstar North as it was in the early 2000s.
The sad thing is even though we respect the builders, It's been Sam Houser's stated mission to let the games speak for themselves, rather then Rockstar speaking for and about their games.
We wish him well, but like Hennig leaving Naughty Dog not long ago, I have great hopes that both their input and aspirations continue to inspire both companies as a whole. Just as we hope Apple honors Steve Jobs in the years ahead, without his presence.
I'll say this, I know the reports of harsh working conditions at Rockstar as a whole, it also caused internal friction for some time, most notably with Hot Coffee, since not everyone at the company was really onboard for the fallout and the way it went down, some left due to ever increasing pressure.
I also believe the pressure is outward in the sense of keeping the A list titles from back-sliding in popularity. Bill Wyman left the Rolling Stones because he says he'd rather go out on a high and not hang in there to suffer any coming down point from the dreams of success he was able to realise in the band. Leaving on good terms but with a desire to do something else, and perhaps step out of the pressure cooker environment that both industries can be.