Summary
- 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.
Rockstar Games has made history throughout the years with the smashing hits the developer has released and the franchises it's built. Millions of players constantly look forward to most of the titles this developer releases, hoping for the amazing game mechanics, deep stories, and attention to detail that they've come to expect.
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While every Rockstar Games studio and subsidiary deserves praise and recognition for the efforts of the people working within them, some of them have been tasked with larger projects than others. This results in wider recognition among the fanbase, and likely more funding to develop further titles. Here's every Rockstar Studio ranked.
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 is probably the most famous branch of the monster developer that has been taking the gaming world by storm for over two decades now. Located in Edinburgh, Scotland, this behemoth has released games including, but not limited to, GTA 3, GTA: Vice City, GTA: San Andreas, GTA 4, and GTA 5.
With a reported 650 employees in 2018, Rockstar North is the largest branch of Rockstar Games and is likely the one with the most funding. It was acquired in 1999 and has served a pivotal role in the company's franchises and projects since then.
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
While gargantuan projects like Red Dead Redemption 2 and other installments of the franchise require the joint efforts of several different branches of the company, Rockstar San Diego is credited as the main developer for these titles. This team was behind the creation of the iconic John Marston, Arthur Morgan, and the Van der Linde Gang, which is not a small accomplishment.
Rockstar San Diego is also credited for developing the Midnight Club series, Smuggler's Run, and collaborating in the development of L.A. Noire. While not as large as the Rockstar North division, San Diego still has over 300 employees, which is a considerable number.
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
While Rockstar Toronto hasn't been involved in as many flagship products as its bigger siblings, it has still contributed greatly to the developer's game history and success. Being one of the main developers for titles, such as Max Payne 3, Manhunt 2, and collaborators in the development of the GTA 5 PC port, they also deserve one of the top spots on the list.
With over 200 employees and a very diverse portfolio, Rockstar Toronto deserves a lot of praise as one of the building blocks of Rockstar Games' success.
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
Rockstar New York has not been credited with as many solo projects as other branches on this list, but that doesn't mean it's not important. In fact, this branch plays a critical piece in Rockstar Games' success, as it's one of the most important support studios in the company's large portfolio.
Without Rockstar New York, it's very likely that many of the company's most iconic titles, such as Red Dead Redemption 2, and GTA 5 would have been delayed for months or even years. With an employee count of about 150 employees, this branch isn't huge, but it isn't tiny 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
Just like Rockstar New York plays a critical role in helping the rest of the company's team to develop massive games that take years to make, Rockstar Lincoln is proud to be a branch that, among other things, specializes in quality assurance.
This studio ensures that all the company's products meet the high-quality standards Rockstar Games is known for, ironing out bugs and other issues before releasing any game. Without them, most of the iconic titles made by the company would likely have had a lot more problems.
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.
Back in the olden days of GTA: Vice City and GTA 3, titles like GTA: Liberty City Stories, and GTA: Vice City Stories served as amazing prequels that helped set the foundation of future games and answer many of the games' questions. None of this would have been possible without the efforts of the Rockstar Leeds branch, as it's credited for being one of the main developers behind these prequels.
Rockstar Leeds has also been credited with being a collaborator in the development of many of the GTA franchise's mobile releases.
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
Everybody knows that India is one of the most important countries when it comes to technological development and startups, which is why Rockstar Games has trusted Rockstar India with helping during the development of many of the company's most expensive and successful titles to date.
While this branch isn't credited with developing any full games on its own, they are credited with being one of the largest collaborators across a wide range of Rockstar Games' projects. This branch is significantly newer than others on the list, as it was established in 2016. It's estimated to have between 700–1000 employees.
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
Like other titles on this list, Rockstar London has had more of a supportive role in terms of the development of many of the company's smash hits. However, it is credited as one of the leaders in the development of Manhunt 2, and for playing an important role in the development of Max Payne 3, and the Midnight Club series.
While this branch isn't as new as Rockstar India, it is newer than others like Rockstar North, as it was established in 2005, right at the peak of the first GTA: San Andreas.
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
Along with Rockstar Vancouver (now Rockstar Toronto), Rockstar New England worked on the enhanced version of the critically acclaimed PS2 game, Bully. It has also played a considerable supporting role in the development of GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2. It might seem surprising that so many Rockstar Games' branches collaborate on large projects at the same time, but considering how hard high-quality games are to make, it makes a lot of sense.
Rockstar New England is also credited with helping to port many of the company's games to different platforms for a wider audience.
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