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Rockstar Games

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Rockstar Games

Rockstar Games, Inc. is an American video game publisher based in New York City. The company was established in December 1998 as a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive, using the assets Take-Two had previously acquired from BMG Interactive. Founding members of the company were Terry Donovan, Gary Foreman, Dan and Sam Houser, and Jamie King, who worked for Take-Two at the time, and of which the Houser brothers were previously executives at BMG Interactive. Sam Houser heads the studio as president. Since 1999, several companies acquired by or established under Take-Two have become part of Rockstar Games, such as Rockstar Canada (later renamed Rockstar Toronto) becoming the first one in 1999, and Rockstar Australia the most recent in 2025. All companies organized under Rockstar Games bear the "Rockstar" name and logo. In this context, Rockstar Games is sometimes also referred to as Rockstar New York, Rockstar NY or Rockstar NYC. Rockstar Games also sports a motion capture studio in Bethpage, New York. Rockstar Games predominantly publishes games in the action-adventure genre, while racing games also saw success for the company. One of such action-adventure game franchises is Grand Theft Auto, which Rockstar Games took over from BMG Interactive, which published the series' original 1997 entry. The most recent main game in the series, Grand Theft Auto V, has sold over 220 million copies since its release in September 2013, making it the second-best-selling video game of all time. Other popular franchises published by Rockstar Games are Red Dead, Midnight Club, Max Payne, and Manhunt.

Infobox

Company type
Subsidiary
Industry
Video games
Predecessor
BMG Interactive
Founded
December 1998; 27 years ago (1998-12)
Founders
mw- Terry DonovanGary ForemanDan HouserSam HouserJamie King
Headquarters
New York City, US
Key people
Sam Houser (president)Jennifer Kolbe (vice president)
Products
Grand Theft AutoMax PayneMidnight ClubRed Dead
Number of employees
2,000 (2018)
Parent
Take-Two Interactive
Subsidiaries
See § Studios
Website
rockstargames.com

Tables

· Studios
Rockstar Australia
Rockstar Australia
Name
Rockstar Australia
Location
Sydney, Australia
Founded
2013
Acquired
2025
Notes
Developer of L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files
Rockstar Dundee
Rockstar Dundee
Logo
Name
Rockstar Dundee
Location
Dundee, Scotland
Founded
2008
Acquired
2020
Rockstar India
Rockstar India
Logo
Name
Rockstar India
Location
Bengaluru, India
Founded
2016
Acquired
Rockstar LA
Rockstar LA
Name
Rockstar LA
Location
Santa Monica, California, US
Founded
Unknown
Acquired
Rockstar Leeds
Rockstar Leeds
Logo
Name
Rockstar Leeds
Location
Leeds, England
Founded
1997
Acquired
2004
Notes
Developer of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, Liberty City Stories, and Vice City Stories
Rockstar Lincoln
Rockstar Lincoln
Logo
Name
Rockstar Lincoln
Location
Lincoln, England
Founded
1992
Acquired
2002
Notes
Handles localization and quality assurance
Rockstar London
Rockstar London
Logo
Name
Rockstar London
Location
London, England
Founded
2005
Acquired
Notes
Developer of Manhunt 2 and Midnight Club: L.A. Remix
Rockstar New England
Rockstar New England
Logo
Name
Rockstar New England
Location
Andover, Massachusetts, US
Founded
1999
Acquired
2008
Notes
Developer of Bully: Scholarship Edition
Rockstar North
Rockstar North
Logo
Name
Rockstar North
Location
Edinburgh, Scotland
Founded
1988
Acquired
2002
Notes
Developer of the Grand Theft Auto series and Manhunt
Rockstar San Diego
Rockstar San Diego
Logo
Name
Rockstar San Diego
Location
Carlsbad, California, US
Founded
1984
Acquired
2002
Notes
Developer of the Red Dead, Smuggler's Run, and Midnight Club series
Rockstar Toronto
Rockstar Toronto
Logo
Name
Rockstar Toronto
Location
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Founded
Early 1980s
Acquired
1999
Notes
Developer of The Warriors and several Windows ports
Cfx.re
Cfx.re
Logo
Name
Cfx.re
Founded
2016
Acquired
2023
Notes
Developer of the FiveM and RedM projects
Logo
Name
Location
Founded
Acquired
Notes
Rockstar Australia
Sydney, Australia
2013
2025
Developer of L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files
Rockstar Dundee
Dundee, Scotland
2008
2020
Rockstar India
Bengaluru, India
2016
Rockstar LA
Santa Monica, California, US
Unknown
Rockstar Leeds
Leeds, England
1997
2004
Developer of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, Liberty City Stories, and Vice City Stories
Rockstar Lincoln
Lincoln, England
1992
2002
Handles localization and quality assurance
Rockstar London
London, England
2005
Developer of Manhunt 2 and Midnight Club: L.A. Remix
Rockstar New England
Andover, Massachusetts, US
1999
2008
Developer of Bully: Scholarship Edition
Rockstar North
Edinburgh, Scotland
1988
2002
Developer of the Grand Theft Auto series and Manhunt
Rockstar San Diego
Carlsbad, California, US
1984
2002
Developer of the Red Dead, Smuggler's Run, and Midnight Club series
Rockstar Toronto
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Early 1980s
1999
Developer of The Warriors and several Windows ports
Cfx.re
2016
2023
Developer of the FiveM and RedM projects
· Studios › Former
Rockstar Vancouver
Rockstar Vancouver
Logo
Name
Rockstar Vancouver
Location
Vancouver, Canada
Founded
1998
Acquired
2002
Closed
2012
Notes
Developer of Bully and Max Payne 3; merged into Rockstar Toronto in July 2012.
Rockstar Vienna
Rockstar Vienna
Logo
Name
Rockstar Vienna
Location
Vienna, Austria
Founded
1993
Acquired
2003
Closed
2006
Notes
Developer of several Xbox ports; closed down in May 2006
Logo
Name
Location
Founded
Acquired
Closed
Notes
Rockstar Vancouver
Vancouver, Canada
1998
2002
2012
Developer of Bully and Max Payne 3; merged into Rockstar Toronto in July 2012.
Rockstar Vienna
Vienna, Austria
1993
2003
2006
Developer of several Xbox ports; closed down in May 2006

References

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    https://gamerant.com/rockstar-games-gender-pay-gap-improvements/
  2. Red Dead Redemption 2
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  3. GameSpot
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  4. Telecompaper
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  5. Design Museum
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  7. GameSpot
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  8. Retro Gamer
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  9. Gamesindustry.biz
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  10. GameSpot
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  11. Develop
    https://web.archive.org/web/20161220065823/http://www.develop-online.net/analysis/sam-houser-his-story/0116226
  12. GameSpot
    https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-rockstar-co-founding-brothers-squeeze-into-britain-s-1-000-richest-people-list-with-ps90-million/1100-6419714/
  13. Playboy
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170911102025/http://www.playboy.com/articles/grand-theft-auto-sam-houser-interview
  14. Take-Two Interactive
    https://web.archive.org/web/20000604162456/http://www.take2games.com/public/news/article.jhtml?articleid=30
  15. GameSpot
    https://www.gamespot.com/articles/terry-donovan-leaves-rockstar/1100-6164173/
  16. GameSpot
    https://www.gamespot.com/articles/capcom-exec-leaves-to-join-rockstar/1100-6163690/
  17. www.escapistmagazine.com
    http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/67318-Rockstar-Hires-New-COO
  18. The Hollywood Reporter
    https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dale-drives-back-rockstar-as-127071
  19. GameSpot
    https://www.gamespot.com/articles/rockstar-titles-have-now-shipped-250-million-copies-to-date/1100-6417508/
  20. International Business Times
    http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/grand-theft-auto-life-time-sales-hits-250-million-gta-5-gta-online-ships-70-million-units-1589687
  21. GTA 6
    https://web.archive.org/web/20251106220757/https://www.ign.com/articles/take-two-ceo-is-highly-confident-on-new-gta-6-release-date-but-says-when-games-are-released-too-early-bad-things-happen
  22. Bloomberg News
    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-27/gta-6-release-date-rockstar-cleans-up-image-after-employee-backlash
  23. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-26417488
  24. Polygon
    https://www.polygon.com/2014/3/3/5465544/rockstar-games-bafta-fellowship-gta
  25. Kotaku
    https://kotaku.com/inside-rockstar-games-culture-of-crunch-1829936466
  26. gamesindustry.biz
    https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-05-13-rockstar-acquires-dhruva-from-starbreeze-for-usd7-9m
  27. Starbreeze Studios
    https://www.starbreeze.com/2019/05/starbreeze-has-closed-the-transaction-of-indian-subsidiary-dhruva/
  28. Polygon
    https://www.polygon.com/2019/9/17/20870668/rockstar-games-launcher-pc-store-gta-san-andreas-free
  29. Polygon
    https://www.polygon.com/2020/2/4/21123170/dan-houser-departs-rockstar-games-red-dead-gta
  30. Video Games Chronicle
    https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/rockstar-has-taken-over-master-chief-collection-developer-ruffian-games/
  31. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/games/2022/sep/19/rockstar-owner-issues-takedowns-after-grand-theft-auto-vi-leak
  32. The Verge
    https://www.theverge.com/2022/9/18/23359156/gta-6-leak-gameplay-footage-90-videos
  33. Video Games Chronicle
    https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/rockstar-comments-on-gta-6-leak-and-claims-project-wont-be-delayed/
  34. Rockstar Games
    https://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/8971o8789584a4/roleplay-community-update
  35. IGN
    https://www.ign.com/articles/rockstar-officially-working-with-gta-roleplay-server-team-sparking-fresh-excitement-about-gta-6
  36. GamesRadar+
    https://www.gamesradar.com/with-gta-6-on-the-way-the-fivem-devs-are-expanding-the-possibilities-of-user-generated-content-at-rockstar/
  37. Video Games Chronicle
    https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/red-dead-redemption-series-writer-leaves-rockstar-after-16-years/
  38. Polygon
    https://www.polygon.com/news/533101/rockstar-games-acquisition-video-deluxe-australia-brendan-mcnamara-la-noire
  39. Escapist Magazine
    http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/113855-Rockstar-Make-Good-Games-and-the-Money-Will-Follow
  40. Game Rant
    https://gamerant.com/rockstar-games-avoiding-first-person-shooters/
  41. PlayStation LifeStyle
    https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2011/10/26/rockstar-assures-gamers-that-the-studios-priority-is-doing-new-things/
  42. Eurogamer
    http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/rockstar-sponsors-movember-charity
  43. GamesIndustry.biz
    http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/rockstar-offers-game-appearance-prize-for-charity
  44. Grand Theft Auto
    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-31/-grand-theft-auto-studio-accused-of-union-busting-after-firings
  45. Grand Theft Auto
    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-05/-grand-theft-auto-studio-says-fired-employees-were-leaking-information
  46. The Verge
    https://www.theverge.com/news/811999/gta-vi-rockstar-games-union-busting
  47. Grand Theft
    https://www.ign.com/articles/grand-theft-employment-protests-outside-take-two-and-rockstar-north-offices-as-fired-staff-deny-leaking-company-secrets
  48. GameRevolution
    https://www.gamerevolution.com/news/447299-rockstar-games-crunch-developer
  49. USgamer
    https://www.usgamer.net/articles/crackdown-2-makers-ruffian-games-are-now-rockstars-newest-studio
  50. GamesRadar+
    https://www.gamesradar.com/5-iconic-game-company-logos-that-must-not-be-messed-with/
  51. GamesIndustry.biz
    https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-10-26-houser-brothers-expected-to-receive-bulk-of-usd538m-red-dead-royalties
  52. Max Payne 3
  53. IGN
    https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/05/04/how-rockstar-is-making-its-open-worlds-even-better
  54. Variety
    https://variety.com/2018/gaming/features/red-dead-redemption-2-narrative-interview-1202992401/
  55. Rock Paper Shotgun
    https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/gta-6-developers-buy-la-noire-directors-studio-rename-it-rockstar-australia
  56. "Electronics Engineer / Rockstar LA (Code)"
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  57. Kotaku
    https://kotaku.com/that-time-rockstar-made-a-table-tennis-game-1750981913
  58. Digital Spy
    https://www.digitalspy.com/videogames/a795096/why-rockstars-table-tennis-was-even-more-important-than-gta/
  59. Eurogamer
    https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2017-red-dead-redemption-2-trailer-tech-analysis
  60. "Rockstar Games' Social Club Just Got a Lot More Social"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20230809143616/https://kotaku.com/rockstar-games-social-club-just-got-a-lot-more-social-5908510
  61. "Rockstar Scraps Social Club Branding Ahead of GTA 6 Reveal"
    https://www.ign.com/articles/rockstar-scraps-social-club-branding-ahead-of-gta-6-reveal
  62. Gamasutra
    https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/rockstar-games-now-has-its-own-game-launcher-on-pc
  63. Fanbyte
    https://www.fanbyte.com/features/the-strange-tale-of-rockstar-loft-rockstar-games-short-lived-club-night/
  64. New York
    https://nymag.com/nymetro/nightlife/barsclubs/features/1429/
  65. New York
    https://nymag.com/nymetro/news/media/internet/2285/
  66. NME
    https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/grand-theft-auto-rockstar-games-rejected-eminem-movie-deal-3349423
  67. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-14502671
  68. IGN
    https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/11/02/grand-theft-auto-san-andreas-special-edition-dvd-sunday-driver-the-introduction
  69. Complex
    https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/circoloco-rockstar-games-announce-circoloco-records
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