It has been six years since L.A. Noire released, and developer Team Bondi has been quiet ever since Whore of the Orient fell through a couple years ago. Team Bondi might be relevant soon again, however, according to a “tipster” on Twitter. If the rumors are true, L.A. Noire might be getting remastered.
According to VG247, two anonymous reputable sources on Twitter have revealed plans for Rockstar to release the 1940s detective game onto modern consoles. If these sources are correct, a remastered version of L.A. Noire will be coming to PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch later this summer.
In L.A. Noire, players explore the story of Cole Phelps, a World War II veteran who works as a detective in a recreation of Los Angeles in 1947. Phelps works up the ranks as a detective, working a variety of different cases like arson or homicide. Gameplay includes finding clues at crime scenes, interviewing witnesses, and occasional shootouts. The highlight of L.A. Noire comes in the interviews and interrogations. Players need to read the faces of the characters they are interacting with in order to determine if they are telling the truth or if they are lying.
Along with the expected visual and technical enhancements seen in remasters, it seems like L.A. Noire might be getting some bonus features. ComicBook.com claims that the new version will be getting a first-person mode, akin to when Grand Theft Auto V jumped to the current console generation. For the PS4 version, there is rumored PlayStation VR support, but how that would work in a third-person action game has not been detailed. While several anonymous sources related to Rockstar have confirmed these rumors, the company itself has not gone on the record one way or the other.
Along with Bully, L.A. Noire is Rockstar IP that deserves a sequel. Especially for its time (and even still today), the facial animations were incredibly impressive, which immediately made the game stand out. Combining the incredible technology with a unique idea and incredible presentation, L.A. Noire seemed to have unlimited potential. If it does receive a remastered edition, it could be the start of building a franchise that could pay Rockstar dividends.