Rockstar Acquires GTA Trilogy Developer, Rebrands as Rockstar Australia

Rockstar 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 move follows a long history of collaboration between the two studios, including their 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 clarify that Video Games Deluxe is distinct from Grove Street Games, which faced significant backlash for the substandard quality of the initial release of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition in 2021. Grove Street Games' leader expressed frustration over their removal from the game’s credits following a subsequent 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.”

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16 ImagesVideo Games Deluxe was established by Brendan McNamara, who previously founded Team Bondi, the developer of L.A. Noire. In 2011, Team Bondi faced severe criticism for alleged poor working conditions during the development of L.A. Noire. The studio eventually shut down, and McNamara maintained a low profile until now.

Reflecting on the acquisition, McNamara remarked, “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 formation of Rockstar Australia is timely, as it precedes the much-anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6, slated for fall 2025. In December 2023, a former Rockstar developer discussed the decision to release GTA 6 on PC after its launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S, urging PC gamers to trust the studio's strategy.

For more insights on GTA 6, check out Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick's comments on the future of GTA Online post-GTA 6 launch.