Update 08/07:Developer Video Games Deluxe denies that a new L.A. Noire game is in the works.
“We are working exclusively on projects for Rockstar,” thestatementreads. “We commissioned some music from a local composer Freyja Garbett for a VR project that we were working on a number of years ago when between projects. It is based on a case from L.A. Noire that did not make the cut but was more of a tech demo than anything else. We have no idea whether this will ever see the light of day but we decided to finish the score commission to support a local composer.”
Our original report follows.
Summary
RememberL.A. Noire? The 2011 detective thriller set in 1940s-era Los Angeles by Team Bondi and published by Rockstar. Iteventually received a re-release on modern hardware, as well as a VR version, thoughTeam Bondi had been shuttered shortly after the game’s initial release in 2011. And so, as a result, hopes of a sequel or prequel utilizing the original’s dynamic facial capture technology had all been dashed. But never say never.
That’s because it appears that a spiritual successor to L.A. Noire from the same group of devs that helped bring about the original is reportedly in the works.Taking to Instagram, Freyja Garbett, a composer and musician, posted two separate videos of a recording session for music that will apparently be utilized in the unannounced game.
“From the creators of LA Noire comes Sowden House, a psychological thriller also set in the 1940’s in LA that will have you questioning your sanity,” the posts reads in part.
Additionally, they wrote, “This project has been HUGE and it is still unravelling and revealing itself to me. I never thought I’d be writing for video game but I’m grateful for the opportunity!”
The Sowden House Might Point To What The Game Is About
The working title of “Sowden House” isn’t some kind of misnomer.That’s because it’s a real landmark which people can actually visit. It’shosted everything from film and television shoots to charity galas. It is also a key figure in the real-life Black Dahlia murder. That’s because Dr. George Hodel, a prime suspect in the infamous crime, actually owned the property for a period of time.
In other words, the game will presumably focus on solving the case, with the home being a key point of interest. That would make sense given that the original L.A. Noire focused on a string of murders that closely resembled the case. It’s certainly in the developers' forte to revisit that key event.
That said, it’s best to take any of this with a grain of salt, or at least some form of cautious optimism. Back in 2011, it was announced that “Whore of the Orient” was in the works by former Team Bondi devs. It had targeted a mid 2010s release,but was then subsequently canceled despite having some sort of gameplay created. Perhaps “Sowden House” will have a different fate, but it’s best to wait it out.
