Rockstar's Bold Move: Acquiring San Andreas VR Developer Sparks Controversy in Gaming Community - Mixed Reality System

Rockstar Games has snatched up Australian developer Video Games Deluxe in a surprise move that's raising eyebrows across the gaming industry. The March 2025 acquisition transforms the Sydney-based studio into Rockstar Australia, with industry veteran Brendan McNamara, creator of L.A. Noire, leading the charge. Jennifer Kolbe, Rockstar's Head of Publishing, expressed that the team's proven track record makes them an ideal addition.

This isn't just any random studio purchase – Video Games Deluxe has quite the history with Rockstar. They're the folks who breathed new life into GTA: The Trilogy's 2022 updates and brought L.A. Noire to modern platforms, including that nifty VR spinoff that had players feeling like real detectives in their living rooms. The community has long considered San Andreas the best in the Grand Theft Auto series.

The timing couldn't be more interesting, especially with Meta stumbling through its VR adventures and that San Andreas VR project gathering dust. It's like Rockstar is saying, "Thanks, but we'll take it from here!" The move seems to be Rockstar's way of getting a better grip on their legacy games, particularly after fans weren't exactly thrilled with how the GTA Trilogy turned out initially. With the immersive entertainment market now worth over $60 billion, the acquisition makes strategic sense.

The gaming community's reaction has been a mixed bag of nuts. While some players are crossing their fingers for better remasters, others can't help but wonder if this is just Rockstar's way of dodging questions about GTA 6. It's like watching your friend buy a new gaming setup when they haven't finished their current playthrough – sure, it's cool, but what about that main quest?

Looking ahead, Rockstar Australia seems poised to focus on bringing classic titles to modern platforms rather than diving into new VR adventures. The studio's joining Rockstar's global family, including heavy hitters like Rockstar North, but they're keeping mum about any involvement with GTA 6.

For now, it looks like Rockstar's playing it smart, bringing quality control in-house while trying to balance their classic hits with whatever's cooking in their development kitchen. The gaming world's watching closely to see if this bold move pays off.