Video Games Deluxe, the developer of L.A. Noire, is rebranded as Rockstar Australia.

      Rockstar Games has taken over Video Games Deluxe, which will soon be known as Rockstar Australia. This Sydney-based studio is behind the 2017 re-release of L.A. Noire as well as the recent Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy. While the acquisition may come as a surprise since the two studios have collaborated for years, their relationship has been primarily a partnership until now. Brendan McNamara, founder of Video Games Deluxe, stated, “It’s been an honor to work closely with Rockstar Games this past decade. We are excited to be part of Rockstar Games and to continue our efforts to create the best games possible.”

      The acquisition allows for the potential development of more games in both franchises, although neither studio has indicated what may be in the pipeline. L.A. Noire was well-received and has since become a cult classic, with its fanbase expressing excitement for a sequel or a similar game.

      Currently, the most awaited title from Rockstar Games is Grand Theft Auto 6, with rumors circulating about the potential for Red Dead Redemption 3. While there’s always a possibility for future titles from different franchises, the likelihood of sequels to Bully or Max Payne appears very slim.

      When two studios merge, especially with a major player like Rockstar Games involved, it’s an exhilarating venture. Grand Theft Auto 6 is anticipated to release this fall, likely around mid-September, and is set to return players to the iconic streets of Vice City. However, PC players may have to wait until 2026 for access, giving them time for upgrades since GTA 6 is expected to demand high performance from hardware.

      Many upcoming games will be impacted by the SAG-AFTRA voice actors strike, but Grand Theft Auto 6 is not among them. A representative for the publishers mentioned, “I can confirm GTA 6 is exempt.” Any games that began development before September 2023 are also unaffected, as that’s when the union voted to authorize the strike.

      Whenever a new Grand Theft Auto title releases, it quickly dominates the gaming landscape, as seen with previous installments like GTA 4 and 5. We anticipate GTA 6 will once again break sales records upon its release. Following numerous rumors, leaks, and hacks, GTA 6 has been officially announced, though key details about the story and gameplay remain undisclosed. Questions regarding the release timing and availability on various platforms linger, especially for PC users, as Rockstar has not released a GTA game for PC simultaneously with consoles in the past. Will this trend continue?

      Yes, GTA 6 will be available on PC, but not at its initial launch. Currently, it is confirmed solely for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Historically, PC players may face a delay, as GTA 5 saw a PC version released roughly a year and a half after the console launch, and Red Dead Redemption 2 took a year and one month. There’s uncertainty if Rockstar will expedite the release for GTA 6, but players should brace for at least a year’s wait for the PC edition.

      A former Rockstar developer explained to IGN that the delay for the PC version happens for a couple of reasons. "The reason why a PC port comes later and not the first thing that comes out, is because they want to prioritize what sells. Most of the time, especially in the past, PlayStation was the big seller. PlayStation was the console to have. It sold more than any other console for the most part. Everybody’s playing PlayStation."

      Despite the imminent launch of Grand Theft Auto 6, stories and insights continue to emerge from the development of Grand Theft Auto 5. A former developer revealed that a story DLC was planned for GTA 5 but was canceled in favor of focusing on GTA Online. Joe Rubino appeared on the SanInPlay YouTube channel to discuss this, explaining that the DLC was exciting and well-developed but the success of GTA Online led company leaders to prioritize that project instead. He did not disclose specific details, but confirmed that Trevor's voice actor, Steven Ogg, was involved in the project.