Rockstar Buys Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition Developer, Renames It Rockstar Australia

Rockstar Games has acquired Video Games Deluxe, the developer behind Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, renaming it Rockstar Australia. Video Games Deluxe boasts a history of collaborations with Rockstar, contributing to the 2017 re-releases of L.A. Noire and L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, and more recently, overseeing crucial upgrades for Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition across iOS, Android, Netflix, and modern consoles. This acquisition distinguishes Rockstar from Grove Street Games, the original developer of the trilogy whose troubled launch in 2021 led to significant criticism. Video Games Deluxe, however, developed the update that addressed many of the initial issues, a fact highlighted by Grove Street Games' former boss's public comments.

"After a long and successful partnership, we're thrilled to welcome Video Games Deluxe to the Rockstar family as Rockstar Australia," stated Jennifer Kolbe, Head of Publishing at Rockstar Games.

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Video Games Deluxe was founded by Brendan McNamara, also the founder of Team Bondi, the studio behind L.A. Noire. McNamara's past, marked by allegations of difficult working conditions at Team Bondi during L.A. Noire's development, has been a topic of discussion. Following Team Bondi's closure, McNamara maintained a relatively low profile until this recent announcement.

"It's been an honor collaborating with Rockstar Games over the past decade," McNamara shared in a statement. "We're excited to officially join the Rockstar Games team and continue creating exceptional gaming experiences."

The formation of Rockstar Australia precedes the anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto 6, currently slated for Fall 2025. In December 2023, a former Rockstar developer offered insight into the staggered PC release, urging PC gamers to show patience. Further information on GTA 6, including Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick's comments on the future of GTA Online, is readily available.