Rockstar Games has recently acquired Video Games Deluxe, the developer behind Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, and has rebranded it as Rockstar Australia. This acquisition marks a significant step for Rockstar, as Video Games Deluxe has a robust history of collaboration with them, contributing to projects like the 2017 re-releases of L.A. Noire, L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, and recent enhancements to Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition for various platforms, including iOS, Android, Netflix, and modern consoles.
It's important not to confuse Video Games Deluxe with Grove Street Games, which faced criticism for the initial poor quality of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition released in 2021. Grove Street Games' leader expressed frustration over being omitted from the credits after a much-needed update that Video Games Deluxe developed to address 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.”
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Video Games Deluxe was founded by Brendan McNamara, who previously founded Team Bondi, the developer of L.A. Noire. In 2011, Team Bondi faced allegations of terrible working conditions, which eventually led to its closure. Since then, McNamara has maintained a low profile until now. He expressed his honor in working with Rockstar Games over the past decade and his excitement about continuing to create top-quality games as part of the Rockstar family.
The establishment of Rockstar Australia comes at a pivotal time, just ahead of the anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6, slated for fall 2025. In related news, a former Rockstar developer in December 2023 tried to clarify why GTA 6 would launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S before PC, urging PC gamers to trust the studio's decisions.
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.
