Rockstar Games has officially acquired Video Games Deluxe, the developer behind the recent updates to Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, and rebranded it as Rockstar Australia. This move comes after years of collaboration between Rockstar and Video Games Deluxe, which has worked on titles such as the 2017 re-releases of L.A. Noire and L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, as well as the latest enhancements for Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition across iOS, Android, Netflix, and modern consoles.
It's important not to confuse Video Games Deluxe with 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' boss even called it a "d**k move" when they were removed from the credits after a much-needed update, which was actually developed by Video Games Deluxe, fixed the issues.
Jennifer Kolbe, Rockstar Games' Head of Publishing, expressed excitement 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 kept a low profile since allegations of terrible working conditions at Team Bondi surfaced in 2011, leading to the studio's closure. Reflecting on 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.”
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The establishment of Rockstar Australia is timely, occurring just ahead of the anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6 in fall 2025. In December 2023, a former Rockstar developer tried to clarify why GTA 6 would launch on PC after its initial release on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S, urging PC gamers to trust the studio's plans.
For more insights on GTA 6, check out Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick's thoughts on the future of GTA Online once GTA 6 hits the market.
