Rockstar Acquires GTA Trilogy Developer, Rebrands as Rockstar Australia

Rockstar Games has officially acquired Video Games Deluxe, the developer behind the recent upgrades to Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, and has rebranded it as Rockstar Australia. This studio has a history of collaboration with Rockstar, having worked on various projects including the 2017 re-releases of L.A. Noire and L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, as well as the mobile and console enhancements for Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition.

It's important to differentiate Video Games Deluxe from Grove Street Games, which faced criticism for the initial release of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition in 2021. Grove Street Games' CEO expressed frustration over being removed from the credits after a subsequent update, developed by Video Games Deluxe, resolved many of the game's issues.

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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Video Games Deluxe was founded by Brendan McNamara, who also founded Team Bondi, the developer of L.A. Noire. McNamara's previous studio faced allegations of poor working conditions, which led to its closure in 2011. Since then, McNamara has maintained a low profile until now. In a statement regarding the acquisition, he said, “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 comes just ahead of the highly anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6, scheduled for fall 2025. In a related development, a former Rockstar developer in December 2023 explained the decision to release GTA 6 on PC after its console debut, urging PC gamers to trust Rockstar's strategy.

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