Every Rockstar Studio, Ranked

Key Takeaways

Rockstar Games has multiple studios, with Rockstar North being the largest and most famous, known for GTA titles.
Rockstar San Diego is behind Red Dead Redemption, the Midnight Club, and collaborates on other titles.
Rockstar India, a newer branch, supports Rockstar Games with the development of major titles.

As a dedicated fan who’s spent countless hours exploring the gritty streets of Vice City and the vast plains of Red Dead Redemption 2, I can’t help but marvel at the intricate web of creativity that is Rockstar Games. Each of these studios, from the veteran Rockstar North to the budding Rockstar India, plays a vital role in weaving the tapestry of the Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption franchises.

Rockstar Games has left an indelible mark in gaming history with the blockbuster games they’ve produced and the series they’ve created. Countless gamers eagerly anticipate many of their releases, hoping for the engaging gameplay mechanics, rich narratives, and meticulous attention to detail that they’ve grown accustomed to.

Each Rockstar Games studio and its subsidiaries should be commended for the hard work of their team members. However, some studios have been assigned larger projects compared to others, which leads to a greater level of recognition among fans and potentially more resources to produce additional games. Here’s a ranking of every Rockstar Studio based on their projects.

9 Rockstar North

GTA 5, GTA : Vice City, GTA: San Andreas

Known for being the main developer of most of the company’s smash hits
Acquired by Rockstar Games in 1988

Rockstar North, a highly renowned subsidiary of a significant game developer, has been making waves in the gaming industry for more than two decades. Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, this powerhouse is responsible for popular titles such as Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto 4, and most recently, Grand Theft Auto 5.

In 2018, Rockstar North, which was bought by Rockstar Games in 1999, boasted approximately 650 employees, making it the largest division within the company. Given its size, it is reasonable to assume that this branch receives the most financial support. Since its acquisition, Rockstar North has played a crucial role in the development of Rockstar Games’ franchises and projects.

8 Rockstar San Diego

Red Dead Redemption Franchise, Midnight Club Series, L.A. Noire (Collaboration)

Over 300 employees
Credited for being the main developer behind the Red Dead Redemption franchise

In contrast to massive productions such as Red Dead Redemption 2 and other games within the series that necessitate collaboration across multiple departments within the company, Rockstar San Diego stands out as the primary developer for these titles. This team is renowned for creating memorable characters like John Marston, Arthur Morgan, and the Van der Linde Gang, a significant feat in itself.

Rockstar Studios in San Diego is also recognized for creating the Midnight Club series, Smuggler’s Run, and contributing to the development of L.A. Noire. Although it might not be as big as the Rockstar North division, the San Diego branch still employs more than 300 people, which is quite a significant workforce.

7 Rockstar Toronto

Max Payne 3, Several GTA PC Ports

Main developer behind Max Payne 3, Manhunt 2, and more
Collaborator in the development of the GTA 5 PC port, and several others

Although Rockstar Toronto might not have been part of as many headlining projects as its larger counterparts, it has significantly enriched Rockstar Games’ history and achievements. As a key contributor to various titles like Max Payne 3, Manhunt 2, and even collaborating on the PC version of Grand Theft Auto 5, they certainly earn a spot among the top developers in the company.

Rockstar Toronto, with its team of more than 200 members and an incredibly varied collection of projects, significantly contributes to the impressive growth and success of Rockstar Games.

6 Rockstar New York

Used Mainly As A Strong Support Studio For Rockstar Game’s Global Releases

A major supporter of most of Rockstar Games’ titles
Medium-sized branch

New York’s Rockstar Studio, while it may not have as many solo ventures compared to other branches on the list, doesn’t diminish its significance. In truth, this studio holds a crucial role in Rockstar Games’ triumphs. It is recognized as one of the key support studios within the company’s extensive collection.

It’s quite probable that if Rockstar New York wasn’t around, several of their famous games like “Red Dead Redemption 2” and “GTA 5” might have been postponed for months or even years due to delays. This branch may not be enormous with approximately 150 employees, but it certainly isn’t insignificant either.

5 Rockstar Lincoln

One Of The Largest Quality Assurance Stations For Rockstar Games

The studio focuses on quality control and ironing out bugs
The branch is estimated to have about 200 employees

Similar to how Rockstar New York contributes significantly to the creation of colossal games that require several years to complete by assisting other teams within the company, Rockstar Lincoln takes pride in its role as a specialized quality assurance branch.

In this studio, every product we produce adheres to the exceptional quality that Rockstar Games is renowned for, meticulously fixing glitches and other flaws prior to launching any game. Their absence might have led to numerous issues in many of the company’s beloved titles.

4 Rockstar Leeds

GTA: Liberty City Stories, GTA: Vice City Stories

Credited for helping develop GTA: Vice City Stories and GTA: Liberty City Stories
The branch has around 100 employees.

In earlier times, games like Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto 3 paved the way, and spin-offs such as Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories functioned as captivating prequels that established the base for subsequent games and provided answers to many game-related questions. It’s important to note that the Rockstar Leeds branch played a significant role in their development, as they were one of the primary creators behind these prequel titles.

Rockstar Leeds is recognized for its role as a partner in creating several mobile versions within the Grand Theft Auto series.

3 Rockstar India

Major Supporter In The Development Of GTA 5 updates, Red Dead Redemption 2, And More

A relatively new studio that opened in 2016
It has between 700–1000 employees

It’s widely recognized that India plays a significant role in technological advancements and startup scenes. Consequently, Rockstar Games has delegated key responsibilities for the development of several of their costliest and top-performing games to Rockstar India.

As a fan, I might rephrase it like this: Although we, at this Rockstar Games studio, haven’t created any complete games individually, we’ve been proud contributors to numerous projects across the Rockstar Games portfolio. Established in 2016, we are relatively new compared to other studios, but we’re a sizable team with an estimated 700–1000 members.

2 Rockstar London

Manhunt 2, And Supporting Roles In Max Payne 3, and Midnight Club: Los Angeles

Founded in 2005
Led the development of Manhunt 2

Similar to other titles mentioned on this list, Rockstar London has primarily contributed as a supportive entity in the creation of many of the company’s blockbuster games. Nevertheless, it is recognized for spearheading the development of Manhunt 2, and playing a significant part in the making of Max Payne 3 and the Midnight Club series.

Back in the day, when I was a kid gaming enthusiast, I couldn’t help but notice that this particular Rockstar studio wasn’t the freshest face on the block, but it was definitely one of the newer ones compared to others like Rockstar North. You see, this studio, which I believe was born in 2005, sprung up right around the time when the first Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was taking over the gaming world by storm!

1 Rockstar New England

Bully: Scholarship Edition, Supporting Role In The Development Of Red Dead Redemption 2, And GTA 5

Significant role in porting games to different platforms
Supporter in the development of GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2

In addition to Rockstar Toronto (formerly known as Rockstar Vancouver), Rockstar New England was instrumental in improving the highly praised PS2 game “Bully”. They also made significant contributions to the development of “Grand Theft Auto 5” and “Red Dead Redemption 2”. It’s worth noting that multiple branches of Rockstar Games often collaborate on large-scale projects simultaneously, which might come as a surprise. However, given the immense effort required to create high-quality games, this collaboration makes perfect sense.

Rockstar New England is also recognized for its role in adapting numerous games from the company to various platforms, increasing their accessibility to a broader public.

2024-09-19 08:06