Speculation is mounting regarding a potential sequel to Rockstar Games' detective title, LA Noire. An unverified rumor originating from GTA Forums suggests that Rockstar is developing LA Noire 2, with a narrative centered on the hunt for the notorious Zodiac Killer. This concept has ignited interest among some players, who express greater enthusiasm for this rumored project than for the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6.
The rumor claims the game would be set in San Francisco and is slated for a 2030 release. However, the source of these claims is questionable, having emerged amid a wave of unverified GTA 6 "leaks" from 4chan. The franchise has been largely dormant since the original LA Noire launched in 2011, with only The VR Case Files appearing in 2017. Rockstar Games currently owns the intellectual property, as the original developer, Team Bondi, closed in 2011.
Despite the dubious origins of the rumor, the premise alone has captured the imagination of some fans. The original LA Noire was praised for its detailed recreation of 1940s Los Angeles, its nuanced storytelling, and its innovative facial-capturing technology. This technology, which brought performances to life with remarkable realism for its time, stands in contrast to modern advancements in facial capture used in titles like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and through tools like Unreal Engine 5's MetaHuman Animator.
The prospect of a new LA Noire game leveraging current facial capture technology to explore the dark mystery of the Zodiac Killer, a case that continues to fascinate the public, is seen by some as a more intriguing proposition than the expected trajectory of GTA 6. While Grand Theft Auto 6 is anticipated to be a significant expansion of Rockstar's established formula, some players express a desire for a change of pace. The rumored LA Noire sequel, with its focus on a dark, single-player narrative and a shift away from massive open-world design, is viewed by these players as a potentially refreshing departure that could highlight Rockstar's talent for compelling crime narratives.