Rockstar Australia is a Sydney-based development studio owned by Rockstar Games. Rockstar announced on March 3, 2025 that it had acquired Video Games Deluxe and renamed the team Rockstar Australia.1

History

Video Games Deluxe was founded in Sydney by Brendan McNamara after his work at Team Bondi. Before the acquisition, the studio had worked with Rockstar on the 2017 re-releases of L.A. Noire and on L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files.1

The team also contributed upgrades to Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition. Rockstar cited this established working relationship when announcing the acquisition.1

Work as Rockstar Australia

Rockstar's announcement says the newly renamed studio would continue contributing to Rockstar projects. It did not identify a specific unannounced game, confirm a role on Grand Theft Auto VI, or define the studio solely as a remaster, port or virtual-reality specialist.

Rockstar has not identified which projects the studio is now working on. Its acquisition announcement does not confirm a role in Grand Theft Auto VI.

Relationship to Team Bondi

Rockstar Australia is not the same company as Team Bondi. The connection is through McNamara and other developers who later worked at Video Games Deluxe. Team Bondi developed the original L.A. Noire; Video Games Deluxe later worked on its re-releases and VR adaptation before becoming Rockstar Australia.

Location

The studio is based in Sydney, Australia. Rockstar has not published its exact office address or current headcount.

References

  1. Rockstar Games to acquire Video Games Deluxe, Take-Two Interactive, published March 3, 2025.