Rockstar Acquires GTA Trilogy Developer, Rebrands as Rockstar Australia

Rockstar Games has officially acquired Video Games Deluxe, the developer behind the recent updates to Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, and has rebranded it as Rockstar Australia. This move marks a significant expansion for Rockstar, integrating a studio with which it has had a long-standing collaboration.

Video Games Deluxe has previously worked with Rockstar on various projects, including the 2017 re-releases of L.A. Noire and L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files. Most notably, they contributed to the enhanced versions of 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 criticism for the initial poor quality of the 2021 release of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition. Video Games Deluxe stepped in to develop the subsequent update that addressed the game's issues.

Jennifer Kolbe, Rockstar Games' Head of Publishing, 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 also founded Team Bondi, the original developer of L.A. Noire. McNamara has been relatively low-profile since allegations surfaced about poor working conditions at Team Bondi in 2011, leading to the studio's eventual closure. In response to 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 establishment of Rockstar Australia comes at a pivotal time, just ahead of the anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6 in fall 2025. This acquisition could play a crucial role in supporting the development and launch of the new title.

In related news, a former Rockstar developer in December 2023 attempted to clarify why GTA 6 will first launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S before coming to PC, urging PC gamers to trust the studio's strategy. Additionally, Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, addressed concerns about the future of GTA Online once GTA 6 is released.

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