Rockstar Games

Quick Facts: Who was Rockstar Games?

Subject:

Rockstar Games

Known for:

American video game publisher known for the Grand Theft Auto franchise.

Born:

1998

Century / Era:

1998s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

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.

Career & Major Achievements

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.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In this context, Rockstar Games is sometimes also referred to as Rockstar New York, Rockstar NY or Rockstar NYC. Rockstar Games also owns 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.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1998: Birth of Rockstar Games — American video game publisher known for the Grand Theft Auto franchise.
2. 1999: 1999 Milestone — 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.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Rockstar Games

True or False: “It is a common misconception that Rockstar Games was founded solely by the Houser brothers and was initially focused only on the Grand Theft Auto franchise.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The founding group was larger than just the Houser brothers, and while GTA is iconic, the company's initial scope and publishing history were broader than just that single franchise.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aitana Bonmatí — Contemporary (Born in 1998) (1998): Star Spanish midfielder known for her decorated career with Barcelona and the Spain national team.
• Akira Kurosawa — Contemporary (Died in 1998) (1998): Master of Japanese cinema, known for dynamic style and epic storytelling.
• Alan Hodgkin — Contemporary (Died in 1998) (1998): Pioneering physiologist known for action potential theory and Nobel laureate.
• Alan J. Pakula — Historical peer (Died in 1998) (1998): American film director, writer, and producer known for political thrillers.
• Alan Shepard — Historical peer (Died in 1998) (1998): Pioneering American astronaut, second in space and first American on the Moon.
• Akhtar Hameed Khan — Historical peer (Died in 1999) (1999): Pioneering Pakistani social scientist and development practitioner.
• Akio Morita — Historical peer (Died in 1999) (1999): Visionary Japanese entrepreneur and co-founder of Sony.
• Alasdair MacIntyre — Historical peer (Died in 2025) (2025): Influential Scottish-American philosopher known for virtue ethics and political theory.
• Alfred Brendel — Historical peer (Died in 2025) (2025): Czech-born Austrian pianist, composer, and scholar renowned for Beethoven.
• 1998 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1998

Frequently Asked Questions about Rockstar Games