Rockstar Games has recently strengthened its team with a noteworthy acquisition as it gears up for GTA 6. They’re welcoming Sydney-based developer Video Games Deluxe into the Rockstar family, rebranding it as Rockstar Australia. This partnership isn’t entirely new since they’ve previously collaborated on The GTA Trilogy: Definitive Edition, but it’s now become official.
The decision is bringing a familiar face back to Rockstar—Brendan McNamara, the director of LA Noire. After leaving Team Bondi, which shuttered several years ago, he founded Video Games Deluxe. So, in a sense, it’s a homecoming for McNamara.
Jennifer Kolbe, Rockstar Games’ head of publishing, expressed her enthusiasm over this development. “After working together closely for many years, we are excited to have Video Games Deluxe join the team as Rockstar Australia,” she remarked in an announcement that was shared via BusinessWire.
Video Games Deluxe has been a part of Rockstar’s creative endeavors before. They’ve teamed up on the re-release of LA Noire, its VR Case Files, and most notably, an update to the GTA Trilogy: Definitive Edition. This particular update was significant because the original version of the Trilogy faced backlash for not meeting quality expectations. The heat mostly fell on Grove Street Games, which even led to GSG’s CEO commenting on Rockstar’s decision to reconsider some references, calling it a “dick move.”
The integration of Video Games Deluxe into Rockstar also signifies the return of McNamara, following the closure of Team Bondi in 2011 amidst reports of harsh work conditions. He responded at the time to these allegations, but now he’s back in action with Rockstar. McNamara said, “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.”
While it remains uncertain if Rockstar Australia will directly contribute to the development of GTA 6, the acquisition certainly adds depth to Rockstar’s resources. With the game poised for a fall release, there’s speculation about who will be involved in its creation.
As fans eagerly await the console launch, Rockstar is yet to provide details for a PC release. Meanwhile, there have been mixed signals from company execs that have stirred up some excitement within the gaming community.
