Rockstar Games Expands with Australian Studio Video Games Deluxe Acquisition

Rockstar Games has officially acquired Sydney-based developer Video Games Deluxe, marking a new chapter in their decade-long partnership. The studio, founded in 2013 by Brendan McNamara, is known for its work on L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files and contributions to Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition. With this acquisition, Video Games Deluxe will now operate under the name Rockstar Australia.

Strengthening Rockstar’s Global Network

Jennifer Kolbe, Head of Publishing at Rockstar Games, highlighted the significance of this move:

“After working together closely over many years, we are excited to have Video Games Deluxe join the team as Rockstar Australia.”

Brendan McNamara, founder of Video Games Deluxe, shared his excitement about the transition:

“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.”

Though the financial details of the acquisition remain undisclosed, Rockstar’s decision underscores its commitment to expanding its development capabilities in Australia.

The Future of Rockstar Australia

In 2020, Video Games Deluxe was reportedly working on an open-world VR project for Rockstar, though the fate of that project remains uncertain given the slow growth of virtual reality gaming. It’s more likely that the former Video Games Deluxe team will now be utilized in upcoming Rockstar projects, particularly Grand Theft Auto VI, which is set for release later this year.

Upcoming Grand Theft Auto V Update

Meanwhile, Rockstar Games is preparing to release a major free update for Grand Theft Auto V, bringing several technical enhancements. The update, launching tomorrow, includes:

• NVIDIA DLSS 3 for better AI-driven upscaling and performance improvements.
• AMD FSR 1 and FSR 3, providing enhanced upscaling for AMD users.
• Ray-traced visual improvements, including upgraded shadows, reflections, ambient occlusion, and global illumination.
• SSD and DirectStorage support, significantly reducing load times for supported hardware.
• Better support for higher resolutions, aspect ratios, and frame rates, catering to modern displays.
• DualSense controller enhancements, adding adaptive trigger feedback for PlayStation 5 users.
• Improved audio fidelity, with support for Dolby Atmos and clearer dialogue, cinematics, and music.

PC players can preload the update now ahead of its official release tomorrow.

Rockstar’s Expanding Vision

By bringing Video Games Deluxe fully into the fold, Rockstar strengthens its talent pool ahead of what is expected to be one of the biggest game launches in history with Grand Theft Auto VI. The move also reinforces Rockstar’s presence in Australia, a region that has played a crucial role in the development of some of its past projects. With ongoing support for GTA V and a major new title on the horizon, Rockstar continues to solidify its position at the forefront of the gaming industry.

Source