Rockstar Australia: the studio Rockstar bought, and what it worked on before
Rockstar Games acquired the Sydney studio Video Games Deluxe and renamed it Rockstar Australia. The studio had worked on the L.A. Noire re-releases and on upgrades to the GTA Trilogy — and no source puts its name on Grand Theft Auto VI.
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In a press release carried by Take-Two Interactive’s investor relations newsroom, titled “Rockstar Games to Acquire Video Games Deluxe”, Rockstar Games states that it is proud to announce the acquisition of Video Games Deluxe, the Sydney-based development studio.
The release adds that the studio will be renamed Rockstar Australia.
That is the entire transaction as described: a studio in Sydney joins the company and takes the company’s name. No price, no headcount and no project assignment appears in the release.
What the studio worked on before
According to the release, Video Games Deluxe has worked with Rockstar Games on some of its most memorable titles, 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.
The relationship goes back further than that: Rockstar Games’ relationship with the Video Games Deluxe team began with founder Brendan McNamara’s former studio, Team Bondi, and the creation of the detective thriller L.A. Noire.
Read together, the two lines describe a studio that has spent its whole relationship with Rockstar on that company’s back catalogue — remasters, ports and a virtual reality version — rather than on a new entry in a series.
The quotes in the release
- Rockstar Games Head of Publishing Jennifer Kolbe: “After working together closely over many years, we are excited to have Video Games Deluxe join the team as Rockstar Australia.”
- Video Games Deluxe founder Brendan McNamara: “It’s been an honor to work closely with Rockstar Games this past decade.”
- McNamara again, on what comes next: “We are thrilled to be a part of Rockstar Games and to continue our efforts to make the best games possible.”
Neither quote mentions a project. Both describe the relationship that already existed and the decision to make it permanent.
What this has to do with GTA 6
The connection is indirect, and it is worth being precise about it: the Xbox Store credits Rockstar Games as both the developer and the publisher of Grand Theft Auto VI, and Rockstar Australia is now part of Rockstar Games.
The record, in one place
| Item | What the release says |
|---|---|
| Studio acquired | Video Games Deluxe, based in Sydney |
| New name | Rockstar Australia |
| Founder | Brendan McNamara, previously of Team Bondi |
| Past work with Rockstar | L.A. Noire re-releases, L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, upgrades to GTA: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition |
| Named on GTA 6 | Nothing in the release connects the studio to the game |
Frequently asked questions
+What is Rockstar Australia?
The new name of Video Games Deluxe, the Sydney-based development studio acquired by Rockstar Games.
+Is Rockstar Australia working on GTA 6?
No source tracked here says so. The acquisition release describes the studio’s past work and its new name, and never mentions Grand Theft Auto VI.
+What games did Video Games Deluxe make?
The release names the 2017 re-releases of L.A. Noire, L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, and upgrades to Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition for iOS and Android, Netflix and modern consoles.
+Who founded Video Games Deluxe?
Brendan McNamara, whose former studio Team Bondi created L.A. Noire — which is where the relationship with Rockstar Games began.
+Who develops GTA 6?
The Xbox Store credits Rockstar Games as the developer and the publisher of Grand Theft Auto VI.
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