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 move signifies a closer integration between the two companies, which have collaborated extensively in the past. Video Games Deluxe's portfolio includes work on 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 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 expressed frustration over being removed from the game's credits following a much-needed update that addressed the issues, an update which 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.”

Video Games Deluxe was founded by Brendan McNamara, who previously established Team Bondi, the developer of L.A. Noire. McNamara's career saw a dip following allegations of poor working conditions at Team Bondi, leading to the studio's closure. Despite this, McNamara has maintained a low profile until now. He commented on the acquisition, saying, “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 Rockstar Australia's establishment is strategic, coming just ahead of the highly anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6, slated for fall 2025. Amidst excitement for the new title, discussions have emerged about its release strategy. A former Rockstar developer addressed the decision to launch GTA 6 on consoles before PC, urging PC gamers to trust the studio’s judgment. Additionally, there's ongoing conversation about the future of GTA Online post-GTA 6 launch, with insights from Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick.

For a comprehensive look at the Grand Theft Auto series, check out our ranking of every GTA game:

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