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

Rockstar Games has recently acquired Video Games Deluxe, the developer behind Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, and has renamed it Rockstar Australia. This acquisition marks a significant milestone for Video Games Deluxe, which has a longstanding collaboration with Rockstar, having worked on several projects including the 2017 re-releases of L.A. Noire and L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, as well as 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 clarify that Video Games Deluxe is distinct from Grove Street Games, which faced criticism for the initial poor quality of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition released in 2021. The subsequent update that resolved many of the issues was developed by Video Games Deluxe, despite Grove Street Games' exclusion from the credits, which their leader described as a "d**k move."

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 previously founded Team Bondi, the developer of L.A. Noire. McNamara commented on the acquisition, saying, "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."

The establishment of Rockstar Australia is timely, as it precedes the anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6, slated for fall 2025. This move by Rockstar is seen as a strategic enhancement of their development capabilities ahead of this major launch.

In related news, a former Rockstar developer attempted to shed light on why GTA 6 will be released on PC after its debut on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S, urging PC gamers to be patient and trust in Rockstar's plans. Additionally, Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, has addressed concerns about the future of GTA Online once GTA 6 is released.

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