Rockstar brings L.A. Noire to Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One & HTC Vive

After a somewhat troubled and prolonged development cycle, L.A. Noire released to the masses on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2011. Created by the now shuttered Team Bondi, the game was picked up and published by none other than Rockstar Games of Grand Theft Auto fame. While not a perfect experience by any measure, with the backing of industry powerhouse, a unique mid 1940’s Los Angeles setting and what was groundbreaking facial capture technology at the time, the game went on to sell over 5 million copies.

We already knew some kind of VR remake of the title was coming in 2017, and that is indeed the case. But we now have word from Rockstar the game will be re-released on PS4, Xbox One and most surprisingly of all, Nintendo Switch as well.

Players take on the role of officer Cole Phelps as he moves up the ranks of the Los Angeles Police Department circa 1947. Eventually making the grade to Homicide, Arson, Vice and beyond, players are tasked with traversing the open world Los Angeles hunting for clues and interrogating suspects to solve various cases.

The game makes use of a technology known as MotionScan in which actors were recorded with 32 different cameras simultaneously in order to capture the most realistic facial expressions possible. This, as you can imagine, is what drives the game’s interrogation system, and enhances many of its more nuanced gameplay mechanics. If Bondi could nail it back in 2011, you’d think the folks at BioWare could have figured something out for 2017’s Mass Effect Andromeda.

The VR version is for the HTC Vive platform and is a somewhat stripped down experience featuring only 7 of the game’s major cases. Nonetheless, it has been built from he ground up for VR and it will be interesting to see how the game’s fantastic interrogations play-out in virtual reality.

As for PS4 and Xbox One we are basically getting updated visuals across the board with full 4K on PS4 Pro and Xbox One X. These versions will be the full game plus all additional downloadable content previously available.

Nintendo Switch is also getting the complete game and all the DLC along with a few special tweaks. It has something called Joy-Con mode which will feature gyroscopic/gesture controls and something Rockstar is referring to as a “wide and over-the-shoulder camera angle”. We are also getting “contextual touch screen controls” that sound like they are specific to playing the game on-the-go.

While that is a somewhat vague description, it is amazing to see the game being updated for current generation consoles. Needless to say, the Nintendo Switch could really use some more mature titles in its library and while the new No More Heroes will certainly help, a little more Cole Phelps couldn’t hurt either.

L.A. Noire for Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and HTC Vive will hit store shelves on November 14th. Pre-orders are yet to go live but we will update this post when they do.

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

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.

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. 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.