LA Noire, the popular detective game, has been announced for four platforms, including virtual reality. On Thursday, Rockstar Games revealed that the classic title will be coming to the PS4, Switch, and Xbox One, and there will be a spin-off virtual reality experience for the HTC Vive.
What to expect from the new versions of LA Noire
All three console versions of the game will be released on November 14, while there was no date announced for the VR version. Further, all the console versions will come with the full game in addition to the downloadable content.
According to Rockstar’s website, the PS4 and Xbox One version of the detective game will be enhanced with improved lighting, clouds, and textures, and it will run natively in 1080p. For the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X, there will be 4K support as well. The PS4 and Xbox One version “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,” the Rockstar says.
For the Switch version, there is no information on any graphics improvements, but LA Noire will use the “Joy-Con’s gyroscopic, gesture, rumble and touch-screen capabilities,” notes Eurogamer. This will be the first Rockstar title for the Switch, and the first for a Nintendo device in eight years, with the last one being Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the Nintendo DS. The game was originally meant to be a Nintendo exclusive, but it was later ported to PlayStation Portable and mobile devices, notes gamesindustry.biz. Nevertheless, now many will be hoping that other more popular Rockstar titles like Grand Theft Auto will eventually come to the Switch as well.
The virtual reality spin-off, titled The VR Case Files, is based on the seven case files from LA Noire. According to Rockstar, the VR version “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.” Players will be allowed to open doors, take notes, manipulate clues and drive in first-person VR, notes Express. There is no information on if the game will support the Oculus Rift.
Suspense on the developer’s name
Released originally in 2011 on the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3, LA Noire was able to attract gamers with its impressive face capture technology and film-like aesthetics. The game, set “against the seedy and violent underbelly of 1940’s Los Angeles,” puts players in the shoes of Cole Phelps (performed by Mad Men actor Aaron Staton), who is a “decorated veteran and newly minted detective.” Players are required to investigate cases which are based on “real-world crimes.” Each case brings the detective closer to the “dark criminal heart of post-war L.A.”
Originally, the game was developed by Australian studio Team Bondi, which is closed now. Though Rockstar gave no information on the team (or teams) developing the new versions, it did tell Gamespot that more details will be shared “in the weeks ahead.”
