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 for the studio, which has a long-standing collaboration with Rockstar, contributing to projects such as 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 crucial to distinguish Video Games Deluxe from Grove Street Games, the latter having faced significant criticism for the initial release of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition in 2021. The head of Grove Street Games expressed frustration over their exclusion from the credits following a much-anticipated update that addressed the game's issues, an update developed by Video Games Deluxe.
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 established by Brendan McNamara, who also founded Team Bondi, the original developers of L.A. Noire. McNamara's previous studio, Team Bondi, faced allegations of poor working conditions during the development of L.A. Noire, leading to its closure. Since then, McNamara has maintained a low profile. Commenting 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."
The establishment of Rockstar Australia is strategically timed ahead of the anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6, scheduled for fall 2025. This acquisition comes amidst discussions about the game's platform release strategy, with a former Rockstar developer suggesting that PC gamers should remain patient and supportive of the studio's plans to release GTA 6 on PC after its launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S.
For more insights on GTA 6, including comments from Take-Two's Strauss Zelnick on the future of GTA Online post-GTA 6 launch, stay tuned.
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