LA Noire Director Rejoins Rockstar Before GTA 6; Studio Acquires and Renames GTA Trilogy: Definitive Edition Developer to Rockstar Australia

Rockstar Games has strategically expanded its team in anticipation of GTA 6 by incorporating Video Games Deluxe, a developer based in Sydney that previously collaborated with Rockstar on The GTA Trilogy: Definitive Edition. With this acquisition, the studio will now be known as Rockstar Australia.

This move marks the return of Brendan McNamara, the director of LA Noire, to Rockstar. McNamara had established Video Games Deluxe after leaving the now-defunct Team Bondi, the studio behind LA Noire.

Jennifer Kolbe, the head of publishing at Rockstar Games, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition in a statement released via BusinessWire: “After years of close collaboration, we are thrilled to welcome Video Games Deluxe into the Rockstar family as Rockstar Australia.”

Video Games Deluxe has a history of working alongside Rockstar on projects like the re-release of LA Noire, the VR Case Files, and more recently, an update to the GTA Trilogy: Definitive Edition. The initial version of the Trilogy faced heavy criticism for its quality, with most of the blame landing on Grove Street Games. This prompted a response from GSG’s CEO, who criticized the update for omitting Grove Street Games’ mention, calling it a “dick move.”

The acquisition also officially brings LA Noire’s director, Brendan McNamara, back into the Rockstar fold. He originally founded Team Bondi, which closed in 2011 amidst allegations regarding poor working conditions, characterizing the challenge he faced back then.

Commenting on the development, McNamara stated, “Over the past decade, it’s been a privilege to work closely with Rockstar Games. We are excited to be a part of Rockstar Games and look forward to continuing our commitment to developing the best games possible.”

While it remains uncertain whether Rockstar Australia will directly contribute to the development of GTA 6, their involvement could certainly make sense as the game’s Fall release window approaches.

The planned console launch of GTA 6 is still on track, but there’s been no official word from Rockstar about when the game might hit PCs, despite some quickly retracted hints that sparked a flurry of interest in the gaming community.