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 has rebranded it as Rockstar Australia. This acquisition marks a significant expansion for Rockstar, bringing Video Games Deluxe's expertise in-house after years of collaborative work.

Video Games Deluxe has a rich history of partnering with Rockstar, notably 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. This should not be confused with Grove Street Games, which faced criticism for the initial poor quality of the same trilogy in 2021. Video Games Deluxe was responsible for the subsequent update that rectified those issues.

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

Every GTA Game Ranked

16 Images

Video Games Deluxe was founded by Brendan McNamara, who also founded Team Bondi, the developer behind L.A. Noire. McNamara faced allegations of poor working conditions at Team Bondi during the development of L.A. Noire in 2011, which led to the studio's closure. Since then, McNamara has maintained a low profile. Reflecting on the acquisition, McNamara stated, "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."

AnswerSee Results

The establishment of Rockstar Australia is particularly timely as it precedes the highly anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6, scheduled for fall 2025. In December 2023, a former Rockstar developer provided insights into why GTA 6 will launch on PC following its release on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S, urging PC gamers to trust Rockstar's strategy.

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