Rockstar Acquires GTA Trilogy Developer, Rebrands as Rockstar Australia

Rockstar Games has officially acquired Video Games Deluxe, the developer behind the acclaimed Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, and has rebranded it as Rockstar Australia. This move comes after a fruitful collaboration spanning several projects, including 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 iOS, Android, Netflix, and modern consoles.

It's important to distinguish Video Games Deluxe from Grove Street Games, which faced significant backlash for the initial poor quality of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition in 2021. Grove Street Games' leader even labeled their removal from the game's credits after the much-improved update as a "d\*\*k move." Notably, it was Video Games Deluxe that developed this transformative update.

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 original developers of L.A. Noire. In 2011, Team Bondi came under scrutiny for alleged harsh 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 shared, "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 timing of this acquisition aligns with anticipation for the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6, slated for fall 2025. In late 2023, a former Rockstar developer attempted to shed light on why GTA 6 would first launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S before coming to PC, urging PC gamers to trust the studio's strategy.

For more on GTA 6, don't miss Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick's insights on the future of GTA Online following the release of GTA 6.