Rockstar Games has officially acquired Video Games Deluxe, the developer behind the recent updates to Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, and has rebranded the studio as Rockstar Australia. This acquisition marks a significant step for Rockstar, as Video Games Deluxe has a longstanding relationship with them, having previously collaborated on projects such as the 2017 re-releases of L.A. Noire and L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, as well as the mobile and console updates for Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition.

It's important to distinguish Video Games Deluxe from 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 was notably removed from the credits following a major update that addressed many of the game's issues, an action their boss labeled as a "d**k move." In contrast, Video Games Deluxe was responsible for developing this critical update.

Jennifer Kolbe, Head of Publishing at Rockstar Games, 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."

Video Games Deluxe was founded by Brendan McNamara, who also founded Team Bondi, the original developer of L.A. Noire. McNamara's career has been shadowed by past controversies, including allegations of poor working conditions at Team Bondi, which led to the studio's closure in 2011. Despite these challenges, McNamara has expressed his honor in working with Rockstar over the past decade and his excitement about being part of the Rockstar family moving forward.

This acquisition comes at a pivotal time, just ahead of the highly anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6 slated for fall 2025. The move to establish Rockstar Australia could be seen as part of Rockstar's strategy to bolster its development capabilities in preparation for this major release.

In related news, a former Rockstar developer in December 2023 tried to clarify why GTA 6 would launch on PC following its release on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S, urging PC gamers to trust in Rockstar's decision-making process. Additionally, Take-Two's Strauss Zelnick has addressed concerns about the future of GTA Online once GTA 6 hits the market.

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