L.A. Noire 2: Could Rockstar’s Next Game Take Players to San Francisco to Hunt the Zodiac Killer?
A resurfaced 2023 leak has reignited speculation about a possible L.A. Noire sequel, with claims pointing to San Francisco, the Zodiac Killer case and a potential 2030 release window. But how much of it can actually be trusted?
Rockstar Games may have another detective story waiting in the shadows.
A rumor surrounding a potential L.A. Noire sequel has resurfaced online, with claims that Rockstar could follow Grand Theft Auto VI with a new entry in its crime-investigation series. According to the circulating leak, the alleged sequel would move the action from 1940s Los Angeles to San Francisco and draw heavily from the infamous Zodiac Killer case.
There is one important catch: Rockstar has not announced L.A. Noire 2. The San Francisco setting, Zodiac storyline and 2030 release window remain unconfirmed rumors.
The L.A. Noire 2 Rumor Explained
The speculation comes from an older online post dating back to December 2023. It has recently received renewed attention because the person behind the post was credited with previously mentioning several details concerning GTA VI that have since resurfaced in discussions surrounding Rockstar’s upcoming game.
The alleged information claims that Rockstar’s next major project could be L.A. Noire 2, with development supposedly still in its early stages when the original post appeared.
The biggest claims are:
San Francisco would reportedly replace Los Angeles as the setting.
The story would allegedly revolve around the Zodiac Killer investigation.
Development was supposedly in a very early stage.
2030 was reportedly being considered as a possible release window.
Rockstar was allegedly interested in pushing facial-scanning technology much further than it did in the original game.
None of these details have been officially confirmed.
Why San Francisco and the Zodiac Killer Make Sense for L.A. Noire
On paper, the rumored direction fits the identity of L.A. Noire surprisingly well.
The original game transported players to 1947 Los Angeles, where detective Cole Phelps investigated crimes while moving through different divisions of the Los Angeles Police Department. One of the game’s defining features was its interrogation system, which relied heavily on reading characters’ facial expressions and reactions.
Moving the series to late-1960s or early-1970s San Francisco would provide an entirely different atmosphere while preserving the franchise’s fascination with real-world crime and detective work.
The Zodiac Killer case, meanwhile, is one of the most famous unsolved criminal investigations associated with the San Francisco Bay Area. That makes it an obvious source of inspiration for a detective-focused game—although the rumor does not establish exactly how Rockstar would fictionalize or structure such a story.
The Facial-Scanning Claim Could Be Particularly Interesting
Perhaps the most intriguing part of the rumor isn’t even the setting.
It’s the alleged return of the technology that made the original L.A. Noire so distinctive.
The 2011 game became known for its facial-animation technology, which allowed players to examine suspects’ expressions during interrogations. The system was designed around the idea that what a character says and what their face appears to say might not always match.
A modern sequel could theoretically take that concept considerably further.
Today’s hardware could allow Rockstar to create far more detailed facial animation, character models and environmental detail than was possible when L.A. Noire launched.
The rumor claims that Rockstar wants to push facial scanning to an extreme level, but there is currently no official evidence that such a system is being developed for L.A. Noire.
Take-Two Hasn’t Completely Closed the Door on L.A. Noire
Interestingly, there is a legitimate piece of information that makes the rumor worth watching.
In April 2026, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick was asked about the possibility of returning to L.A. Noire. Zelnick said the company was broadly looking at doing something in the future with its intellectual properties, while emphasizing that there was nothing specifically to announce about L.A. Noire. He also indicated that an actual announcement would come from Rockstar rather than Take-Two.
That statement does not confirm a sequel.
However, it does establish that the franchise hasn’t necessarily been forgotten internally.
And that distinction is important.
“The franchise could return” is very different from “L.A. Noire 2 is currently in development.”
Is 2030 Really the Release Date?
For now, no.
The 2030 date comes from the alleged leak rather than Rockstar or Take-Two. If the project really is in an early development phase, a 2030 window would also be far enough away that plans could change substantially.
Therefore, 2030 should be treated as a rumored target rather than a release date.
It is also worth remembering that Rockstar’s immediate publicly announced focus is Grand Theft Auto VI, which is scheduled for November 19, 2026.
What We Know vs. What We Don’t
Detail Current status
Another L.A. Noire project is possible Not ruled out
L.A. Noire 2 officially announced No
San Francisco setting Rumored
Zodiac Killer storyline Rumored
2030 release Rumored
Advanced facial-scanning technology Rumored
Rockstar developing the game Unconfirmed
Could L.A. Noire Actually Return?
At this point, the safest conclusion is that there are two separate pieces of information being mixed together.
One is an official statement from Take-Two indicating that the company’s legacy franchises remain under consideration.
The other is an unverified leak claiming that L.A. Noire 2 is already a project in development and providing specific details about its setting, story and potential release window.
Those aren’t the same thing.
For now, L.A. Noire 2 remains unannounced. But if the rumor eventually proves accurate, Rockstar could be preparing something radically different from the usual GTA and Red Dead formula: a detective thriller set against one of America’s most infamous unsolved cases.
And if Rockstar really does revisit the facial-investigation mechanics that made the original L.A. Noire unique, a modern sequel could potentially turn interrogation and investigation into an even bigger part of the experience.
Until Rockstar says otherwise, though, San Francisco, the Zodiac Killer and 2030 belong firmly in the rumor column.
