L.A. Noire 2 Could Be Rockstar’s Next Game After GTA 6

A resurfaced leak claims Rockstar could return to L.A. Noire after Grand Theft Auto VI, with a potential San Francisco setting and a Zodiac Killer-inspired investigation.

A resurfaced leak suggests Rockstar Games might return to one of its most distinctive crime franchises after Grand Theft Auto VI, with L.A. Noire 2 possibly as the studio's next big release. This rumor has gained attention as Grand Theft Auto VI's November 19, 2026 release date gets closer. Still, Rockstar has made no new announcement or confirmed that L.A. Noire 2 is in development.

The information comes from an anonymous 2023 leak that has recently resurfaced in gaming communities and on social media. The leak claims that Rockstar's next big project after GTA 6 could be a sequel to L.A. Noire instead of another Red Dead Redemption game. It also suggests the sequel would be set in San Francisco and focus on investigating the Zodiac Killer. L.A. Noire first came out in 2011 and stood out from Rockstar's usual open-world games.

Set in 1947 Los Angeles, it followed LAPD detective Cole Phelps as he solved murders, corruption, arson, and organized crime. The game was known for its interrogation system and advanced facial-performance technology. A new sequel would let Rockstar return to that detective style, this time with much more advanced technology. The rumored San Francisco setting: Setting the sequel in San Francisco would be a big change from the original game.

Instead of post-war Los Angeles, the story would move north, with the Zodiac Killer case as the main mystery. The Zodiac Killer is a serial killer associated with Northern California during the late 1960s. A historical investigation surrounding the case would naturally provide opportunities for crime-scene investigation, interrogations, evidence gathering, and a large mystery spanning different locations.

Remember, these are just rumors. Rockstar has not announced L.A. Noire 2, and there is no official trailer, release date, platform information, or development news. The rumor is not new. It started with an anonymous post later shared on GTAForums, not from Rockstar or Take-Two. Fans are paying attention again because the same source reportedly leaked some GTA 6 details that turned out to be true. Still, this does not confirm anything about L.A. Noire. Some have linked the rumored project to a possible 2030 release, but no official evidence supports that date.

Even reports about the rumor admit Rockstar has not confirmed the game or any release plans.

However, one real development has fueled speculation about the franchise. In April 2026, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick was asked if the company planned to do more with L.A. Noire. He answered positively but added that the company reviews all its intellectual properties and had nothing to announce.  He also said that any news about a Rockstar franchise would come from Rockstar.

This does not confirm L.A. Noire 2, but it shows the franchise is still on Take-Two's radar. The timing of the rumor matters. Rockstar is focused on Grand Theft Auto VI, set to launch on November 19, 2026. Because GTA 6 is such a big project, the studio may spend years supporting it before releasing another major game. This makes the rumored 2030 release possible, but there is no solid evidence that Rockstar is aiming for that date.

If L.A. Noire 2 is real, it could be much bigger than the original. With Rockstar's current technology, the game could have a denser city, more detailed interiors, larger crime scenes, better NPC behavior, and more advanced facial animation.
The first L.A. Noire already focused heavily on facial performances. Rockstar's official description pointed out its facial-animation technology, which captured actors' expressions in great detail for interrogation scenes.

This technology was central to the original game, so it makes sense that a rumored sequel would focus on even better facial scanning and character performances. However, any talk of a new facial-scanning system comes from an unverified leak and shouldn't be taken as confirmed. A sequel would face different challenges than GTA. Instead of focusing on criminal freedom and big action scenes, L.A. Noire stood out by slowing things down, letting players examine evidence, question suspects, spot contradictions, and connect clues.

A story set in San Francisco about the Zodiac Killer would fit this style well. The case is still one of America's most famous mysteries, giving Rockstar lots of room for a fictional detective story that stays true to the series' focus on real-world crime. For now, though, this is only a possible direction, not a confirmed Rockstar project. The truth is that L.A. Noire 2 is just a resurfaced rumor, based on an old anonymous leak and some recent comments from Take-Two. Rockstar has not announced the sequel, confirmed its setting, shared its story, or given a release window.

As GTA 6's launch gets closer, people will keep speculating about Rockstar's next big project. L.A. Noire 2 is one possibility, and the idea of a bigger detective game set in San Francisco is definitely interesting. Until Rockstar makes an official announcement, this rumored sequel should be seen as just that—a rumor, not a confirmed project after GTA 6.