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 studio has a long history of collaboration with Rockstar, contributing to projects like 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 differentiate Video Games Deluxe from Grove Street Games, which faced significant backlash for the initial poor quality of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition in 2021. Grove Street Games' leader criticized their removal from the game's credits after a subsequent update, which was developed by Video Games Deluxe, addressed the 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."
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Video Games Deluxe was founded by Brendan McNamara, who also founded Team Bondi, the developer of L.A. Noire. McNamara's previous studio, Team Bondi, was embroiled in controversy over alleged poor working conditions during the development of L.A. Noire in 2011, leading to its eventual closure. Since then, McNamara has maintained a lower profile.
In a statement regarding the acquisition, McNamara said, "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 is timely, as it precedes the anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6, scheduled for fall 2025. In December 2023, a former Rockstar developer shed light on 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's Strauss Zelnick's thoughts on the future of GTA Online post-GTA 6, stay tuned.
