Rockstar Expands Global Presence with Acquisition of Sydney Studio

03/03/2025

The gaming industry witnessed a significant development as Rockstar Games, renowned for its Grand Theft Auto series, announced the acquisition of an Australian studio. The Sydney-based team, previously known as Video Games Deluxe, will now operate under the name Rockstar Australia. This strategic move underscores Rockstar's commitment to enhancing its global development capabilities.

Prior collaborations between Rockstar and Video Games Deluxe have resulted in several memorable titles. Notably, the two teams worked together on the 2017 re-release of L.A. Noire, the virtual reality adaptation L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, and recent upgrades to Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition for various platforms. Brendan McNamara, founder of Video Games Deluxe, expressed his excitement about joining Rockstar, emphasizing the honor of working closely with them over the past decade. He stated that the transition would allow the team to focus on creating exceptional gaming experiences.

Rockstar and its parent company Take-Two Interactive are gearing up for the highly anticipated release of GTA VI in fall 2025. This sequel, coming more than a decade after GTA V, is expected to be a turning point for the business. With over 210 million copies sold worldwide, GTA V has been a continuous success, largely due to its multiplayer mode, GTA Online. The launch of GTA VI promises not only to captivate existing fans but also to attract new players, marking a significant milestone in the gaming world.