Rockstar Acquires GTA Trilogy Developer, Rebrands as Rockstar Australia

Rockstar Games has recently acquired Video Games Deluxe, the developer behind Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, and has renamed it Rockstar Australia. This studio has a history of collaborating with Rockstar on 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 differentiate Video Games Deluxe from Grove Street Games, which faced significant criticism for the initial poor quality of the 2021 release of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition. The head of Grove Street Games expressed frustration over being omitted from the credits of a subsequent update that addressed many of the issues. However, it was Video Games Deluxe that developed this crucial 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."

Every GTA Game Ranked

16 ImagesVideo Games Deluxe was founded by Brendan McNamara, who also founded Team Bondi, the developer of L.A. Noire. In 2011, Team Bondi faced allegations of terrible working conditions during L.A. Noire's development, leading to the studio's closure. Since then, McNamara has maintained a low profile. Regarding the acquisition, McNamara commented, "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 establishment of Rockstar Australia comes just ahead of the highly anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6, scheduled for fall 2025. In December 2023, a former Rockstar developer attempted to clarify 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 insights on GTA 6, including Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick's comments on the future of GTA Online post-GTA 6 launch, stay tuned.