Rockstar's Next Game Could Be LA Noire 2, While GTA 6 Faces Sky-High Expectations

Rockstar Games may already have its next project planned after GTA 6, and if a new rumor is accurate, it could be a sequel to LA Noire rather than another Red Dead Redemption game. The rumored sequel would reportedly move the action from Los Angeles to San Francisco and focus on the infamous Zodiac Killer case.

The game is said to be unlikely to arrive until around 2030, but that timeline makes more sense when you consider what Rockstar could be trying to accomplish with its technology. The rumor claims that Rockstar wants to push facial scanning even further, which would be particularly fitting for a new LA Noire.

The original LA Noire made facial animation and interrogation central to its identity.

You could study characters' faces during questioning and try to determine whether they were telling the truth. A sequel that takes that technology further would give Rockstar another chance to build around facial expressions and character interactions, rather than relying on the physics systems it has already developed for GTA 6.

There is also a reason this particular rumor is getting attention. The person behind the leak reportedly described several GTA 6 mechanics in 2023, including the relationship and criminal profile systems and how those mechanics could influence the story. The same leaker also claimed that GTA 6 would feature four protagonists, something Rockstar's Rob Nelson later confirmed.

That previous accuracy is what gives the new LA Noire rumor some credibility, although the sequel itself remains unconfirmed.

The idea also fits with the way Rockstar has approached its technology across different games. GTA 6 appears to be the next major step for Rockstar's physics and game engine, with the studio pushing its systems further than what was possible in previous releases.

Once those systems are established, Rockstar could potentially spend more time developing a different part of its technology for its next project. Instead of rebuilding the same physics technology again, the studio could focus on facial scanning and character animation.

From there, Rockstar could eventually bring those technologies together for another major open-world game. One possibility would be Red Dead Redemption 3, although that remains speculation rather than something the studio has confirmed.

If Rockstar really is working toward a 2030 release for its next major game, the timing could also make sense given how long its development cycles have become.

Of course, Rockstar would still have to support GTA 6 after launch, including its online component. That makes the rumored 2030 window harder to take as a firm release target. Still, games planned that far out are no longer particularly unusual, and Rockstar's long development cycles make a project still several years away plausible.

Before any of that happens, though, GTA 6 is entering another major phase of its marketing campaign. Game Informer is expected to release a new batch of information, including 12 new screenshots, exclusive interviews, additional details about the game's advanced weather system and wildlife, and more information about Vice City and Leonida.

Rockstar has also established a clear pattern since releasing the extended GTA 6 trailer on August 27.

New information has continued to appear on Thursdays, so another update later in the week would not be surprising. With the Game Informer coverage arriving alongside the rest of Rockstar's marketing, this is shaping up to be another busy period for GTA 6.

The game's marketing is also moving beyond screenshots and interviews. Rockstar has also been using real-world promotional material, including the large Vice City sign installed on the roof of the arena at the Kaseya Center. When the sign first appeared, some people criticized its appearance, although it looks considerably better when illuminated at night.

The installation reportedly cost around $1 million, making it another example of just how much Rockstar is willing to put into GTA 6's marketing campaign. The scale of the promotion also reflects expectations for the game, which is becoming one of the most anticipated releases in the industry.

Those expectations are now shaping the conversation around GTA 6's eventual reviews. 

The discussion stems from a problem GTA 6 will have regardless of how good the final game is: expectations have become enormous. When a game has been anticipated for this long and comes from Rockstar, it becomes increasingly difficult for the final product to match everything players have imagined during the years of waiting.

Criticism is almost certain when GTA 6 launches. Even a minor graphical glitch or technical issue could become a major talking point because of the game's size and reputation. The same applies to its writing, characters, and design decisions.

With so much attention on Lucia, Jason, and the world around them, different parts of the game will inevitably be scrutinized. That does not necessarily mean GTA 6 will be poorly received. The point is that the game could be extremely well reviewed while still failing to meet every expectation players have built up over the years.

Rockstar's previous games also set a very high bar for critics to compare against.

GTA 5 currently sits at a 97 Metacritic score for its original major console releases, while GTA 4 reached 98 on Xbox 360. Red Dead Redemption scored 95, while Red Dead Redemption 2 reached 97. Those numbers help explain why even an 80s score would be viewed differently when attached to a Rockstar game.

The situation becomes even more complicated when you look across different platforms and versions. Some PC releases and later versions have lower scores, but Rockstar's major releases have still maintained exceptionally high critic scores on their original platforms. That history means GTA 6 will be judged against more than just other open-world games. It will also be judged against Rockstar's own track record, leaving little room for the game to feel merely good.

Expectations could also shape how the wider media covers the game. If GTA 6 ends up with a score in the low 80s, headlines would probably play up the disconnect between the game's huge budget, years of development, and the final review score. A score that would be good for many other games becomes a much bigger story when attached to GTA 6. But a 90s score would still invite debate, as some players will inevitably compare it to Rockstar's previous games.

It would be especially hard to hit 99, as so few games have ever even gotten close to that kind of critical score.

The bigger problem is that GTA 6 has been hyped to something close to impossible. And even if critics consider it a great game, it may still feel like it never quite changed the face of gaming the way some people hoped. A very strong game can still fall short of an expectation that has been growing for years.

Another interesting part of GTA 6's launch is that GTA Online will not be available immediately alongside the main game. Some players have been unhappy about that decision. Still, some argue that giving the single-player world time to breathe before opening up the online experience could work in Rockstar's favor.

Instead of immediately shifting everyone's attention to GTA Online, Rockstar can let players experience Vice City and Leonida on their own before moving into the multiplayer side of the game. Considering how much attention GTA Online has received over the years, separating the two experiences could give the main game more room to establish itself.

For now, Rockstar has not confirmed the rumored LA Noire sequel, its supposed San Francisco setting, the Zodiac Killer storyline, or a 2030 release window. Those details should be treated as rumors rather than an announced project.

What is confirmed is that GTA 6 is moving deeper into its marketing campaign, with new Game Informer coverage and more promotional activity arriving as Rockstar continues building toward launch. With the game's reputation already so massive, the eventual release will be judged not only on what Rockstar delivers, but also on years of expectations built around it.