Rockstar on a roll as pre-tax profit soars

The firm, which is part of US-based Rockstar Games, has helped to produce popular games such as LA Noire and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, which was released in 2009. It employs around 80 staff in Leeds. In the 17 months to March 31, 2011, Rockstar Leeds posted a £6.4m turnover, compared to £4.5m for the year ended October 31, 2009.

Its pre-tax profit rose from £212,365 to £412,816.

The company was founded as Mobius Entertainment in 1997 by Gordon Hall, Jason McGann, Dave Box, Ian Bowden and Justin Johnson. In April 2004, it was acquired by Rockstar Games and renamed Rockstar Leeds.

The games industry in Yorkshire is worth about £100m – 10 per cent of the UK’s £1bn industry. There are 28 games companies in the region, employing more than 500 people.

It is supported by Game Republic, which was established in 2003 by Yorkshire games companies, along with national games industry organisation TIGA, to encourage business and inward investment in the region.

In 2007, the network was incorporated into Screen Yorkshire in order to access the regional screen agency’s business development and production funds.

It was forced to become an independent organisation last March after the Government spending cuts.