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 it as Rockstar Australia. This move marks a significant step in their ongoing collaboration, which has included projects such as the 2017 re-releases of L.A. Noire and L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, as well as enhancements for Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition across iOS, Android, Netflix, and modern consoles.
It's important to differentiate Video Games Deluxe from Grove Street Games, which faced backlash for the initial poor quality of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition released in 2021. Grove Street Games' leader criticized their exclusion from the credits after a major update that addressed the game's issues, which was actually 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 founded by Brendan McNamara, who also founded Team Bondi, the original developer of L.A. Noire. McNamara, who has kept a low profile since Team Bondi's closure following allegations of harsh working conditions, commented on the acquisition, "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, occurring just before the anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6 in the fall of 2025. This comes amidst discussions about the game's release strategy, particularly the decision to launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S before coming to PC, a move that a former Rockstar developer defended, urging PC gamers to trust in Rockstar's plan.
For more insights into GTA 6, including comments from Take-Two's CEO Strauss Zelnick about the future of GTA Online post-GTA 6 launch, stay tuned.
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