Rockstar Gameshas acquired Video Games Deluxe, the developer ofGrand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, and has renamed the studio Rockstar Australia. The two studios have a history of collaboration, with Video Games Deluxe previously working with Rockstar on projects like the re-release ofL.A. NoireandL.A. Noire: The VR Case Files. This merger is expected to support Rockstar’s ongoing development ofGrand Theft Auto 6, which isslated for release later this year.
Rockstar announced the acquisition in a press release posted byBusiness Wirethis morning. In the release,Rockstar Games' Head of Publishing Jennifer Kolbe expressed her enthusiasm for the new partnership, stating,
“After working together closely over many years, we are excited to have Video Games Deluxe join the team as Rockstar Australia.”
Similarly, Video Games Deluxe founderBrendan McNamara shared his excitement, stating that the studio is“thrilled to be a part of Rockstar Games.”McNamara is no stranger to Rockstar Games, having previously worked on the originalL.A. Noirethrough Team Bondi. However, that collaboration faced challenges and led to Rockstar and Bondi parting ways.
Video Games Deluxe Has Been Acquired By Rockstar Games
Who Is Video Games Deluxe?
Video Games Deluxe was founded by Brendan McNamara, the former lead of Team Bondi, the studio behind the originalL.A. Noire, which was published by Rockstar Games. However, leading up to the game’s 2011 release, several reports emerged about poor working conditions at Team Bondi. This included programmers doing four people’s jobs and over 100 contributors left out of the game’s final credits.This led to Rockstar Games parting ways with Team Bondi.
10 Best Rockstar Games That Aren’t GTA Or Red Dead, Ranked
While Rockstar is undeniably best known for its GTA and Red Dead Redemption games, it has produced a number of other great games worth checking out.
AfterL.A. Noire’srelease, Team Bondi shut down, and McNamara went on to create Video Games Deluxe in 2013. Soon after, both Video Games Deluxe and McNamara resumed working with Rockstar. They first collaborated onL.A. Noire: The VR Case Filesand later ton heenhancement of theGTA Trilogyin 2021.It was the work on theGTA Trilogythat solidified the partnership between the twoand likely led to the acquisition.
What We Know About Grand Theft Auto 6 So Far
Gearing Up For GTA 6
While it’s unclear exactly what projects Video Games Deluxe, now Rockstar Australia, will be working on, one obvious possibility stands out. Rockstar is preparing for the release ofGTA 6sometime this year, and given Video Games Deluxe’s valuable contributions to theGTAseries, it’s likely that they willplay a key role in the development of the game.
After all,GTA 6isshaping up to be a massive undertakingfor the studio, and the studio could use all the help it can get to get this launch right. Rumors are swirling about whatGTA 6will look like when it launches. While we know the game will take place in Vice City and will launch for both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S this Autumn, there is no word on a PC release. Surely, as the date draws near, more news will be revealed.
