Rockstar Games is gearing up for the anticipated launch of GTA 6 with a strategic acquisition, bringing on board Video Games Deluxe, a Sydney-based developer. Known for their collaboration on The GTA Trilogy: Definitive Edition, this team will now operate under the name Rockstar Australia.
This acquisition also marks the return of Brendan McNamara to Rockstar. McNamara, who directed LA Noire, had started Video Games Deluxe after departing from Team Bondi, the studio behind LA Noire that eventually closed its doors.
Discussing the acquisition, Jennifer Kolbe, Rockstar Games’ head of publishing, expressed enthusiasm: “After many years of working together, we are thrilled to welcome Video Games Deluxe as part of the Rockstar family, now as Rockstar Australia.”
The team from Video Games Deluxe has a history of successful collaborations with Rockstar, including the re-release of LA Noire and its VR Case Files. They most recently worked on an update to the GTA Trilogy: Definitive Edition. This update addressed the initial version’s quality issues, which had drawn criticism directed at another development studio, Grove Street Games. The update even sparked a bit of controversy, with Grove Street Games’ CEO calling out its removal from the game’s credits as unfair.
The acquisition not only reunites McNamara with Rockstar but also breathes new life into his career after the controversy that surrounded Team Bondi’s closure in 2011 due to allegations of poor working conditions. Reflecting on the merger, McNamara stated, “Working with Rockstar Games for the past decade has been an honor. Joining them as Rockstar Australia is exciting, and we can’t wait to continue creating outstanding games.”
It remains uncertain whether Rockstar Australia will contribute to GTA 6’s development, but the timing suggests it’s a strong possibility. The game is slated for a console release this fall, although Rockstar hasn’t provided any details regarding a PC version, despite some premature comments from a top executive.
With GTA 6 on the horizon, the formation of Rockstar Australia underscores Rockstar’s commitment to enhancing its development capabilities and meeting the high expectations of fans eagerly awaiting their next release.
