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

Rockstar has acquired Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition developer Video Games Deluxe and renamed it Rockstar Australia.

Video Games Deluxe has a history of working with Rockstar on a number of games, including the 2017 re-releases of L.A. Noire, L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, and most recently on upgrades to Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition for iOS and Android, Netflix, and modern consoles.

It’s not to be confused with Grove Street Games, which came under fire for the poor quality of the original Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition in 2021, and whose boss said it was a “d**k move” to have been removed from the game’s credits after the recent, long-awaited update fixed the issues. Video Games Deluxe developed that update.

“After working together closely over many years, we are excited to have Video Games Deluxe join the team as Rockstar Australia,” said Rockstar Games Head of Publishing, Jennifer Kolbe.

Video Games Deluxe was founded by Brendan McNamara, the founder of L.A. Noire developer Team Bondi. Back in 2011, allegations of horrendous working conditions at Team Bondi during the development of L.A. Noire hit the internet. The studio later closed down, and McNamara kept a relatively low profile ever since.

“It’s been an honor to work closely with Rockstar Games this past decade,” McNamara said in a comment issued as part of the acquisition announcement.

“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 comes ahead of the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6, which is still set for release fall 2025.

In December 2023, a former developer at Rockstar attempted to explain why GTA 6 is coming to PC after it hits PS5 and Xbox Series X and S, and called on PC gamers to give the studio the “benefit of the doubt” over its controversial launch plans.

We’ve got plenty more on GTA 6, including Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick’s response to concern about the fate of GTA Online once GTA 6 comes out.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.