Rockstar Acquires GTA Trilogy Developer, Rebrands as Rockstar Australia

Rockstar Games 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 move marks a significant milestone in their long-standing collaboration, which began with the 2017 re-releases of L.A. Noire and L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, and continued with the 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 distinguish Video Games Deluxe from Grove Street Games, the studio that initially faced backlash for the subpar quality of the 2021 release of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition. The latter's CEO even called it a "d**k move" after their team was omitted from the credits following a much-needed update, which was actually developed by Video Games Deluxe.

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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16 ImagesVideo Games Deluxe was founded by Brendan McNamara, the same visionary behind L.A. Noire developer Team Bondi. McNamara’s journey hasn't been without controversy; in 2011, Team Bondi faced severe criticism for its allegedly harsh working conditions during the development of L.A. Noire. The studio eventually shut down, and McNamara maintained a low profile until now.

Reflecting on the acquisition, McNamara shared, “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.”

For more insights on GTA 6, check out Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick’s comments addressing concerns about the future of GTA Online once GTA 6 launches.