Rockstar Acquires GTA Trilogy Developer, Rebrands as Rockstar Australia

Rockstar Games has officially acquired Video Games Deluxe, the studio behind the development of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition. The studio has now been rebranded as Rockstar Australia, marking a significant expansion for the renowned gaming company. Video Games Deluxe has a rich history of collaboration with Rockstar, contributing to projects like the 2017 re-releases of L.A. Noire and L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, as well as recent enhancements to Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition for various platforms including iOS, Android, Netflix, and modern consoles.

It's important to clarify that Video Games Deluxe is distinct from Grove Street Games, which faced criticism for the initial poor reception of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition back in 2021. Grove Street Games' leader expressed frustration over being omitted from the credits after a significant update improved the game, an update that was actually developed by Video Games Deluxe.

Jennifer Kolbe, Head of Publishing at Rockstar Games, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, “After working together closely over many years, we are excited to have Video Games Deluxe join the team as Rockstar Australia.”

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16 ImagesVideo Games Deluxe was founded by Brendan McNamara, who also founded Team Bondi, the original developer of L.A. Noire. McNamara's previous venture, Team Bondi, faced severe allegations of poor working conditions during the development of L.A. Noire, leading to the studio's eventual closure. Since then, McNamara has maintained a low profile. Reflecting on the acquisition, McNamara commented, “It’s been an honor to work closely with Rockstar Games this past decade. We are thrilled to be a part of Rockstar Games and to continue our efforts to make the best games possible.”

The establishment of Rockstar Australia is timely, as it precedes the much-anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6, scheduled for fall 2025. In related news, a former Rockstar developer in December 2023 addressed the delay in GTA 6's PC release compared to its console counterparts, urging PC gamers to trust the studio's strategy.

For more insights on GTA 6, including comments from Take-Two's Strauss Zelnick on the future of GTA Online post-GTA 6 launch, stay tuned to our updates.