Think of a classic Rockstar game that you want to see brought to modern consoles. OK, L.A. Noire probably isn’t your first choice. But that open-world detective game is now heading to Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on November 14. Rockstar is also releasing L.A. Noire: The VR Cases for the HTC Vive, which puts seven cases from the original game into virtual reality.
L.A. Noire released in 2011 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. You play as a detective investigating seedy Los Angeles crimes in the ’40s. The game shipped over 5 million copies, and many fans and critics praised its realistic facial animations. But others criticized L.A. Noire’s open world for feeling empty, despite its large size.
The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions will feature enhanced graphics and 4K support for the PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X. The Switch release will add gyrospcope control options for the Joy-Cons, contextual touchscreen buttons when in portable mode, and new camera angles (wide and over-the-shoulder).
“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, a founder of Rockstar Games, in a press release sent to GamesBeat. “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.”
Releasing last-gen games for modern systems has worked out for Rockstar in the past. It’s kept Grand Theft Auto V a top-seller long after its 2013 debut. L.A. Noire might seem like a stranger choice (especially when the more loved Red Dead Redemption is still an option), but these new versions can help expose the game to more players. That could be a big help if Rockstar wants to turn L.A. Noire into a franchise and make a sequel.
It’s also not a small deal that this is coming to the Switch. Rockstar has not given Nintendo platforms much support in the past. But the Switch has been a success since launching in March, and this is another sign that the console is attracting third-party partners that are usually more skeptical of Nintendo.
The HTC Vive version is also interesting, as it represents Rockstar’s first dip into the VR market. Of course, just making a handful of missions from an older game VR compatible isn’t a full commitment, but it could signify bigger and better VR ventures to come from the studio.