Rockstar Acquires GTA Trilogy Developer, Rebrands as Rockstar Australia

Rockstar Games has officially acquired Video Games Deluxe, the developer behind Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, and rebranded it as Rockstar Australia. This acquisition marks a significant move for Rockstar, given Video Games Deluxe's long history of collaboration on several key projects, including the 2017 re-releases of L.A. Noire and L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, as well as recent upgrades to Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition for iOS, Android, Netflix, and modern consoles.

It's important to clarify that Video Games Deluxe should not be confused with Grove Street Games, which faced backlash for the initial poor quality of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition released in 2021. Grove Street Games' leader expressed frustration over being omitted from the credits after a subsequent update, which was actually 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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16 ImagesVideo Games Deluxe was founded by Brendan McNamara, who also founded Team Bondi, the studio behind L.A. Noire. McNamara faced controversy in 2011 due to allegations of poor working conditions at Team Bondi during L.A. Noire's development. Following the studio's closure, McNamara maintained a low profile until now. Commenting on the acquisition, McNamara 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 is particularly timely, as it precedes the much-anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6, slated for fall 2025. In related news, a former Rockstar developer in December 2023 addressed the decision to release GTA 6 on consoles before PC, urging PC gamers to be patient and trust the studio's strategy.

For more on GTA 6, including insights from Take-Two's Strauss Zelnick on the future of GTA Online post-GTA 6 launch, keep an eye on our updates.