Rockstar Games Expands with Acquisition of Video Games Deluxe, Now Rebranded as Rockstar Australia

In a significant move, Rockstar Games has acquired Video Games Deluxe, a Sydney-based developer, and rebranded it as Rockstar Australia. Video Games Deluxe has previously collaborated on the re-releases of L.A. Noire and its VR counterpart, as well as upgrades for Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – Definitive Edition. Brendan McNamara, founder of Video Games Deluxe, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "We've been privileged to work closely with Rockstar Games over the past decade, and we're excited to officially join the team, continuing our pursuit of creating exceptional gaming experiences." Jennifer Kolbe, head of publishing at Rockstar Games, also shared her thoughts, saying, "After years of close collaboration, we're thrilled to welcome Video Games Deluxe as Rockstar Australia." Founded in 2013 by McNamara, a former creative director at Team Bondi, Video Games Deluxe brings a wealth of experience, including work on the detective game L.A. Noire, which was published by Rockstar in 2011. Team Bondi's development of L.A. Noire was marked by a lengthy and challenging production cycle, with reports of difficult working conditions, ultimately leading to the studio's administration in 2011 following its split from Rockstar.