L.A. Noire returns, gets VR version

Game2k
Thursday, September 7, 2017 | 5:55 PM
15 comments

Press release PC PS4 Xbox One Switch

Take Two has announced new versions of Rockstar Games' detective thriller L.A. Noire. The game will hit PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch on November 14 with specific enhancements for the latter and technical enhancements, new cinematic camera angles and high resolution textures for Sony and Microsoft's consoles plus 4K resolution for PS4 Pro and Xbox One X. On top of that, the publisher will launch on the same date L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files for HTC Vive which delivers seven cases from the game rebuilt for virtual reality. Full details inside.

Rockstar Games Announces 4 New Versions of L.A. Noire coming November 14, 2017

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rockstar Games®, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO), is proud to announce new versions of the blockbuster detective thriller, L.A. Noire, are scheduled to release on November 14, 2017 for the Nintendo Switch™ system, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment systems and for Xbox One games and entertainment systems.
Alongside these three new console versions comes LA Noire: The VR Case Files, featuring seven select cases from the original game rebuilt specifically for a virtual reality experience on the HTC VIVE™ system.

L.A. Noire takes place in the seedy and violent underbelly of 1940’s Los Angeles as decorated veteran and newly minted detective, Cole Phelps investigates an escalating series of cases inspired by real-world crimes. Each successfully solved case brings Phelps greater success, but also brings him closer to the dark criminal heart of post-war L.A. The game was an Official Selection of the Tribeca Film Festival for its cinematic approach to gameplay and narrative.

Utilizing a unique type of facial capture technology called MotionScan, L.A. Noire breathes unprecedented life into character performances, creating brand new gameplay out of the art of interrogation.

“We’re excited to bring L.A. Noire’s unique mix of real detective work, classic Hollywood atmosphere and thrilling action to these new platforms,” said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. “Now with a choice of spectacular virtual reality, stunning 4K, or the freedom of portable play, these enhanced versions are a perfect opportunity for players to experience this richly detailed world in a whole new way."

L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files for HTC Vive delivers seven of the original engrossing, self-contained cases from LA Noire rebuilt specifically for virtual reality, blending breathtaking action with true detective work to deliver an unprecedented interactive experience.

L.A. Noire for the Nintendo Switch features the complete original game and all additional downloadable content, with specific enhancements including a Joy-Con mode with gyroscopic, gesture-based controls, HD rumble and new wide and over-the-shoulder camera angles, plus contextual touch screen controls for portable detective work.

L.A. Noire for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One delivers the complete original game and all additional downloadable content with a range of technical enhancements for greater visual fidelity and authenticity, including enhanced lighting and clouds, new cinematic camera angles, high resolution textures and more. L.A. Noire plays natively in 1080p for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles, and stunning 4K for PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X, capturing the grit and grime of the City of Angels like never before.

L.A. Noire is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information, please visit www.rockstargames.com/lanoire.

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2040

Commented on 2017-09-07 19:05:04

Rockstar games remasters are always good. Would love to see a good RDR remaster too though

In reply to

Dan2510

Commented on 2017-09-07 19:47:07

And there's no PC version? Are they insane? Such a good game. One of a kind. It'll shine full bright on PC.

MinorDespera

Commented on 2017-09-07 19:51:25 In reply to Dan2510

Posted by Dan2510

They're Rockstar, a dudebro 2cool4u devs that favor consoles because "PC is for nerds" (actually quoting one of Howser brothers).

MrWhite

Commented on 2017-09-07 20:34:50

No PSVR version?

AndreasZ94

Commented on 2017-09-07 21:04:03

I wonder if this remaster was done to raise interest for a potential sequel.
Great game that came out surprising good considering it had such a troubled development. Its a real shame that Whore of the Orient didn't happen, it looked really cool.
Also big chunk of the marketing was dumb, they were trying to sell it as a gta game really hard when it wasnt. The open world was just a backdrop like in Mafia 2 with some small side stuff that were clearly implemented to add more gunfights .

Commented on 2017-09-07 21:09:02

A max payne 3 remaster next please.

GriftGFX

Commented on 2017-09-07 21:11:49 In reply to Dan2510

The PC version of LA Niore already looks great and is regularly like five bucks... if there is a PC version hopefully no one is suckered into buying it :P

There's the exclusive VR thing too.

KORNdog

Commented on 2017-09-07 21:37:46

I don't really see the point. I can't imagine a ton of people were asking for this. So my theory is R* promised to support the switch. And this is what they chose to do it with. An old as shit last gen remaster...but why stop there. May as well stick it on the other platforms too, cash in as much as possible. . No thanks.

b0vril

Commented on 2017-09-07 22:00:24 In reply to KORNdog

Nice! Would defiantly like to give this a play through again.

Commented on 2017-09-07 22:07:08

I think they think that people will buy it. I don't think that developers/publishers just monitor their inbox waiting to see how many gamers asked for X game. Their market analysis is probably a little broader than that.

nostradamus

Commented on 2017-09-07 22:33:17

still have to finish, prolly one of the best world building of last-gen but so effin booooooring.

Sdarts

Commented on 2017-09-07 23:41:41 In reply to KORNdog

L.A. Noire is not a bad game, it has a MetaCritic score of 89 for both the PS3 (78 critics) and X360 (83 critics) versions. Also, I doubt that trying to "milk it as much as possible" is the only or the biggest reason behind the decision. If that was the case, they might as well have done Red Dead Redemption instead of L.A. Noire.

RDR was released back in 2010 and many people would want to replay it on new hardware with new enhancements, specially considering that RDR2 is coming next year. Which again, many people would want to play it for the first time or replay it just to have it fresh in their minds before RDR2 arrives. Then you have the fact that it's a far more popular/recognizable franchise with both gamers and casuals. Also, a port of RDR would work fine on Switch and they wouldn't need to make a PC port as this remaster was only announced for consoles. So everything would be fine - Yes, PC players would complain, but Rockstar doesn't care, so whatever.

For all of the above reasons, if Rockstar just wants money, RDR would sell a whole lot more. They also commissioned those awful mobile ports of GTA 3, Vice City and San Andreas just for smartphones when they could have easily ported them to consoles and/or PC on a trilogy bundle like the Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City, which frankly would have sold like "cold water in the scorching desert".

Of course Rockstar wants to be as profitable as possible, like all companies, but I believe they wanted to give L.A. Noire a second chance, which to be fair, it didn't had with all the controversy with Team Bondi's work conditions. It has been many years and the game is very well known now, as is Rockstar after selling so many goddamn copies of GTA 5 - the more fans the developer has, the more people will be interested in whatever they release.

L.A. Noire is not a bad game, it has a [b]MetaCritic score of 89[/b] for both the PS3 (78 critics) and X360 (83 critics) versions. Also, I doubt that trying to "milk it as much as possible" is the only or the biggest reason behind the decision. If that was the case, they might as well have done Red Dead Redemption instead of L.A. Noire.

RDR was released back in 2010 and many people would want to replay it on new hardware with new enhancements, specially considering that RDR2 is coming next year. Which again, many people would want to play it for the first time or replay it just to have it fresh in their minds before RDR2 arrives. Then you have the fact that it's a far more popular/recognizable franchise with both gamers and casuals. Also, a port of RDR would work fine on Switch and they wouldn't need to make a PC port as this remaster was only announced for consoles. So everything would be fine - Yes, PC players would complain, but Rockstar doesn't care, so whatever.

For all of the above reasons, if Rockstar just wants money, RDR would sell a whole lot more. They also commissioned those awful mobile ports of GTA 3, Vice City and San Andreas just for smartphones when they could have easily ported them to consoles and/or PC on a trilogy bundle like the Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City, which frankly would have sold like "cold water in the scorching desert".

Of course Rockstar wants to be as profitable as possible, like all companies, but I believe they wanted to give L.A. Noire a second chance, which to be fair, it didn't had with all the controversy with Team Bondi's work conditions. It has been many years and the game is very well known now, as is Rockstar after selling so many goddamn copies of GTA 5 - the more fans the developer has, the more people will be interested in whatever they release.

andrewsqual

Commented on 2017-09-08 22:52:12 In reply to AndreasZ94

I don't think there would be a sequel. Look up all the strife between Team Bondi the developers and 2K/Rockstar games at this game's release.

I think after LA Norie, Team Bondi became owned by the director of the Mad Max films (no kidding). They were working on a new game like LA Noire called Whore of the Orient Express set in Shanghai. Unfortunately the studio was shut down a year or 2 ago. :( Here is leaked footage of it from 4 years ago https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzlVkkAl2bA

They were pretty much the same team that made The Getaway for PS2. Its even the same person that did the music in the game and that comes out very clearly at times.

Shame, I would love this team to be still making games. The Getaway still to this day has very good looking facial expressions during its ingame cutscenes.

Commented on 2017-09-09 04:24:22 In reply to andrewsqual

I meant a sequel with maybe even a different name made by a rockstar studio
For example Rockstar Toronto has been quiet for a long time. Although there are some rumours they are working on something else like bully2 or agent but maybe its an la noire sequel that could be a new ip because of a name change.

gonzax

Commented on 2017-09-10 13:30:51

L.A. Noire was a fantastic game, everybody should give it a try. It starts slow but after you spend a few hours with it you can't stop playing.
I'd really really love to play those VR missions, perhaps it will come out for PSVR or the Rift in the future. I hope so.