Rockstar has acquired Video Games Deluxe, the studio behind Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, and rebranded it as Rockstar Australia.
Video Games Deluxe has a longstanding collaboration with Rockstar, contributing to projects such as the 2017 re-releases of L.A. Noire, L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, and more recently, enhancing Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition for iOS, Android, Netflix, and modern gaming consoles.
It's important to distinguish Video Games Deluxe from Grove Street Games, which faced criticism for the subpar quality of the original Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition in 2021. The head of Grove Street Games expressed frustration over being removed from the game’s credits after Video Games Deluxe developed the recent update that resolved the issues.
“After years of close collaboration, we are thrilled to welcome Video Games Deluxe into the Rockstar family as Rockstar Australia,” said Jennifer Kolbe, Head of Publishing at Rockstar Games.
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Video Games Deluxe was founded by Brendan McNamara, who also established Team Bondi, the original developer of L.A. Noire. In 2011, Team Bondi came under fire for reportedly difficult working conditions during the development of L.A. Noire. The studio eventually closed, and McNamara has maintained a relatively low public profile since then.
“It has been a privilege to collaborate closely with Rockstar Games over the past decade,” McNamara stated in a comment following the acquisition announcement.
“We are excited to join Rockstar Games and continue our commitment to creating outstanding gaming experiences.”
The formation of Rockstar Australia comes as Grand Theft Auto 6 approaches its anticipated release in fall 2025.
In December 2023, a former Rockstar developer attempted to clarify why GTA 6 will arrive on PC after its launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S, urging PC gamers to trust the studio's controversial release strategy.
For more on GTA 6, explore insights from Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick regarding concerns about the future of GTA Online following the new game’s release.
