Rockstar Games may reportedly be preparing L.A. Noire 2 as its next major project after GTA 6, according to fresh reports circulating online. However, the alleged sequel has not been officially announced by Rockstar.
The long-dormant L.A. Noire franchise is suddenly back in the spotlight. New reports claim that Rockstar Games could be working on a sequel following the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI, with the rumored project potentially moving the detective series from 1940s Los Angeles to San Francisco.
The claims have been circulating again after an older anonymous leak resurfaced online. Reports currently being published suggest that the alleged sequel could involve the Zodiac Killer, upgraded facial technology and a possible 2030 release window.
However, there is an important distinction between what is being reported and what Rockstar has actually confirmed: there is currently no official announcement for L.A. Noire 2.
What the Latest L.A. Noire 2 Reports Claim
The newest reports trace the L.A. Noire 2 story back to an anonymous claim that was originally posted on GTAForums in 2023 and has recently gained renewed attention.
According to the claims, Rockstar’s next major project after GTA 6 could be a new L.A. Noire game. The rumored project is said to be set in San Francisco, rather than returning to the original game’s Los Angeles setting.
The same rumor reportedly connects the story to the Zodiac Killer, while also suggesting that Rockstar could once again make facial performance technology a major part of the experience.
A potential 2030 release has also been mentioned, although there is currently no official release date or development timeline from Rockstar.
Recent coverage from multiple gaming outlets has emphasized that these details remain unverified.
Rockstar Has Not Officially Announced L.A. Noire 2
This is the most important part of the story.
Rockstar Games has not officially announced L.A. Noire 2.
There is currently no confirmed trailer, release date, gameplay footage or official development announcement for a sequel.
Rockstar’s own store still describes the original L.A. Noire as a detective thriller featuring Cole Phelps and its facial-performance technology.
So while the latest reports are interesting, readers should treat the rumored sequel as unconfirmed until Rockstar itself makes an announcement.
Why L.A. Noire 2 Rumors Are Gaining Attention Now
There is one legitimate development that makes the renewed discussion particularly interesting.
In March 2025, Rockstar Games announced that it was acquiring Sydney-based Video Games Deluxe and renaming the studio Rockstar Australia.
This is significant because Video Games Deluxe had previously worked with Rockstar on the 2017 L.A. Noire re-release and L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files.
Rockstar also specifically connected the studio’s history to Brendan McNamara and his former studio Team Bondi, the team behind the original L.A. Noire.
That acquisition does not prove that L.A. Noire 2 is being developed. Rockstar Australia could be involved in a variety of projects.
Nevertheless, its connection to the original L.A. Noire makes the studio particularly relevant whenever discussions about a potential sequel emerge.
Take-Two Has Also Left the Door Open
Another interesting development came in April 2026.
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick was asked about the possibility of doing more with L.A. Noire.
His response was cautious rather than an announcement. Zelnick indicated that Take-Two broadly considers opportunities involving its intellectual properties, while stressing that there was nothing specific to announce about L.A. Noire and that any actual announcement would come from Rockstar.
That means the comments should not be interpreted as confirmation of a sequel.
Instead, they establish that L.A. Noire remains part of the company’s broader legacy IP portfolio and has not been publicly ruled out.
Could L.A. Noire 2 Be Set in San Francisco?
According to the current rumor, yes.
A move to San Francisco would give Rockstar an opportunity to create an entirely new setting while retaining the investigative identity of the franchise.
The original L.A. Noire was set in 1947 Los Angeles and focused heavily on crime investigations, evidence gathering and interrogations.
Rockstar’s official description highlights the game’s investigation mechanics, including searching for clues, chasing suspects and interrogating witnesses.
A San Francisco setting could therefore provide a completely different atmosphere while maintaining the core detective formula.
However, San Francisco has not been confirmed as the setting.
The Zodiac Killer Rumor
The most eye-catching part of the current reports is the alleged involvement of the Zodiac Killer.
The Zodiac Killer case is one of the most infamous unsolved criminal investigations in American history, making it an obvious subject for a modern detective thriller.
According to the rumor, the story could be inspired by the case.
But this is currently just an unverified claim. There is no official Rockstar statement confirming that the Zodiac Killer, or a fictionalized version of the case, will appear in a future L.A. Noire game.
That distinction is especially important because the original L.A. Noire itself used fictional characters and fictionalized stories inspired by real crimes.
Facial Technology Could Be a Major Part of a Sequel
One of the original L.A. Noire’s defining features was its facial-performance technology.
The game used MotionScan, allowing Rockstar and Team Bondi to capture detailed facial performances that became an important part of interrogation gameplay.
Rockstar’s own description of L.A. Noire specifically highlights its facial-animation technology and the role it played in detective investigations.
A modern sequel could theoretically push this concept much further.
Instead of simply looking for facial tells during interrogations, a next-generation L.A. Noire could potentially combine:
- More realistic facial animation
- More detailed body language
- Advanced NPC behavior
- Dynamic crime scenes
- More interactive environments
- Larger investigation areas
- More complex evidence systems
- Multiple possible interpretations of clues
None of these features have been confirmed for L.A. Noire 2. They represent what a modern sequel could potentially explore, rather than announced gameplay features.
How GTA 6 Could Influence a Future L.A. Noire
The timing of the rumor is particularly interesting because Rockstar has spent years developing increasingly sophisticated technology for its open-world games.
If Rockstar eventually creates another detective game, existing technology and development pipelines could potentially help accelerate parts of production.
However, that does not mean L.A. Noire 2 can simply reuse GTA 6’s world.
A period detective game would require its own:
- Historical environments
- Vehicles
- Clothing
- Architecture
- Weapons
- Police systems
- Crime scenes
- Characters
- Dialogue
- Investigation mechanics
The biggest potential advantage would instead be the underlying technology and production expertise.
What About the 2030 Release Date?
The rumored 2030 release window should be treated with extreme caution.
There is currently no official release date.
The original claim reportedly suggested that the project could arrive around 2030, but without official confirmation there is no reliable way to establish whether that timeline remains relevant.
Rockstar is also heavily focused on GTA 6, which means any future project would have to fit around the company’s enormous ongoing development commitments.
Therefore, 2030 is a rumor, not a confirmed release date.
The Bottom Line
The latest L.A. Noire 2 reports are certainly interesting, but they should not yet be treated as an official Rockstar announcement.
The most credible pieces of information surrounding the franchise are Rockstar’s continued ownership of the IP, its acquisition of Video Games Deluxe in 2025 and Take-Two’s comments that the company continues to consider opportunities involving its legacy properties.
The newer claims about San Francisco, the Zodiac Killer, advanced facial technology and a 2030 release remain unverified.
For now, the safest conclusion is simple:
L.A. Noire 2 is possible, but it has not been officially confirmed.
If Rockstar eventually brings the detective franchise back, a modern sequel could potentially combine the original game’s interrogation-focused gameplay with dramatically more advanced character animation, investigation systems and open-world technology.
Until then, fans should treat the current reports as rumors rather than confirmed news.
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