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The release line-up of Take 2, both Rockstar studios and 2K, has looked somewhat thin this year, given the delay to Red Dead Redemption 2 and there only being a couple of major releases over at 2K as well. So Rockstar has looked into the past and unearthed detective-thriller, period piece LA Noire for the remastering treatment.
The game is not only coming to PS4 and Xbox One, but also to the Nintendo Switch, the first Rockstar game to appear on the console for a whopping eight years – since GTA: Chinatown Wars. That opens the possibility, remote though it may be, for bigger Rockstar titles to come to the Switch in future – in the same way it supported the PSP with GTA: Vice City Stories.
The original game never had backwards compatibility support on Xbox One, something Rockstar did do for the original Red Dead Redemption, and that should help drive up demand for the new version.
There will also physical releases for all console formats, great news for retailers who are sometimes shutout of re-releases by digital-only strategies. And there’s not long to wait either with the new versions of the game coming November 14th.
VIRTUAL NOIRE
In addition there will be LA Noire: The VR Case Files for HTC Vive, Rockstar’s first step into VR. There will be seven redesigned case files from the game for VR play. Again this potentially opens the door for VR takes on the company’s other licenses.
HTC Vive stated: "HTC Vive adds new layers of immersion and realism to Rockstar Games’ blockbuster crime thriller by putting you directly in the shoes of Detective Cole Phelps. With each of the seven cases rebuilt for virtual reality, players can use real world physical motions including grabbing, inspecting and manipulating individual clues or using the detective’s notebook to make notes or draw freehand. Experience first person driving in VR with additional real-world vehicle interactions including steering, operating car doors, changing radio stations, shooting from vehicles and much more."
NOIRE BOX
The new versions will have the usual visual upgrades we come to expect, probably based around high-end PC assets from the original release. Rockstar stated: "L.A. Noire for PlayStation 4 and Xbox Onedelivers 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. Plays natively in 1080p for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles, and stunning 4K for PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X, these versions capture the grit and grime of the City of Angels like never before."
Adding that: "L.A. Noirefor 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."
