A leaker on the GTA Forums claims that Rockstar is planning a sequel to the detective game L.A. Noire, tentatively titled L.A. Noire 2, with a tentative release target of 2030. This user previously provided information about the development of Grand Theft Auto VI; this latest claim about the sequel remains a forum leak.
This user claimed in 2023 that Grand Theft Auto VI originally planned to feature four protagonists, which was later reduced to just Jason and Lucia. Rob Nelson, head of development at Rockstar North, recently confirmed this change in an interview. The leaker had also previously described the relationship system between the two protagonists and the "Crime Archives" mechanic before the official showcase.
According to this leak, L.A. Noire 2 is still in the early planning stages. Rockstar plans to shift its main development resources to this sequel after the release of Grand Theft Auto VI, so the details currently circulating may still change.
The leaker claims that the sequel's setting will move from Los Angeles to San Francisco, with the main investigation revolving around the "Zodiac" serial killer who was active in the area in the late 1960s.
The news has sparked discussion among players. Some doubt whether Rockstar will invest in another major narrative-driven game after Grand Theft Auto VI; others recall that in 2020, a music draft labeled as L.A. Noire 2 appeared on YouTube before being taken down by Take-Two Interactive for copyright reasons.
The leak also states that Rockstar aims to further enhance facial scanning and animation technologies, allowing the sequel to surpass the MotionScan technology used in the 2011 original in terms of visual realism. These development goals, along with the 2030 release window, are currently just claims from the leaker.