During the seventh console generation, the PS3 and Xbox 360 made the first jump to high definition graphics. Graphical fidelity saw a huge jump in quality between 2005-2007, and from there, gradually improved as developers started to come closer to photorealism in games. It wasn't until the PS4 and Xbox One where game visuals got as close to lifelike as possible, but there was one game that pushed the boundaries on the prior generation: L.A. Noire.
In many ways, Rockstar's noir detective tale was similar to many games that came before it. Detective mysteries and investigative games are a dime a dozen throughout gaming history, but L.A. Noire was different because of the innovative facial capture technology used in the game. This MotionScan tech transformed the game from a pretty good detective mystery into a truly unique gaming experience, as fans had to reply on facial expressions and more to determine answers and clues. With the next generation of consoles coming this fall, the PS5 and Xbox Series X would be perfect for a sequel/continuation of the series.
L.A. Noire's Innovations
The aforementioned tech utilized in L.A. Noire was a huge factor in what made the game so special. Dubbed "MotionScan" technology, this highly complex form of photogrammetry utilizes a system of several cameras capturing a subject from a variety of angles. From there, this tech would composite each capture together to produce a highly detailed 3D model, which in this case was the heads of L.A. Noire's cast. The result was the first time a video game had truly, realistically animated and depicted the human face to the highest amount of detail. Games prior often hand-animated actor's facial performances via keyframing, an arduous and imperfect process used to simulate human emotion.
Of course, even though the technology was aesthetically impressive, L.A. Noire functionally used this technology as a pivotal portion of the gameplay. Since players took on the role of a detective in the 1940s, they would search for clues and evidence like any other detective game. However, a key portion of the game is dialogue, interviews, and interrogations. L.A. Noire shines in these segments, as the player needs to deduce from emotions and facial mannerisms if a person is telling the truth or lying. No other game either had the capability or ambition to craft such a lifelike experience, especially considering how expensive the tech was. As such, the budget for L.A. Noire is estimated to have exceeded $50 million, making it one of the most expensive video games ever developed.
Using Advanced Tech for a LA Noire Sequel
That being said, performance capture in video games has come a long way in quality as well as cost efficiency. Justifying the cost for an L.A Noire would be very feasible in 2020 and beyond thanks to many advancements throughout the industry. Motion capture studio work had already improved immensely during L.A Noire's development, but since then facial capture has improved tenfold. Even though MotionScan technology is still impressive to this date, games like The Last of Us and Uncharted 4 have proven that facial capture technology doesn't need to restrict actor's performances for a scene. MotionScan tech was very limiting, requiring several takes as well as required a lot of post-production to perfect the scenes, but that actually bodes well for a L.A. Noire 2.
Obviously now, with performance capture technology vastly improved and more powerful graphics hardware in consoles, a L.A. Noire sequel or continuation of the series would be perfect for PS5 and Xbox Series X. Pairing an updated version of MotionScan with today's latest performance capture tech would provide some of the most lifelike graphics in a video game to date, as long as Rockstar Games was willing and able to foot the bill. The beauty of L.A. Noire's core gameplay loop could also show off the true capability of next-gen hardware in a truly impactful way, all while offering a simple yet effective gameplay loop to keep players intrigued.. Simulating faces accurately with highly accurate motion capture, the movement of characters' clothes and body, crafting highly detailed environments around these characters, all of which combined together would create a hyper-realistic game.
A Glimpse at the Future of Games
Most likely, Rockstar Games is hard at work on the next Grand Theft Auto game, but considering all the dispensable income the publisher must have after Grand Theft Auto 5's massive success, there are quite a few Rockstar Games franchises that could potentially return. L.A. Noire would be a strong contender considering how well received the first game was, and the opportunity a sequel would pose to show off the future of games' graphical fidelity could help solidify the impact L.A. Noire has had on the history of video games. It's perfect for the PS5 and Xbox Series X as not only would it really set a benchmark, it would show the power of next-gen tech. Not only that, but it would give fans a chance to return to Rockstar's incredible recreation of 1950s Los Angeles, or America in general, and that recreation is no less impressive.
Even if a sequel or continuation of the series is coming, the next entry in the L.A. Noire series would likely be several years away, considering the first game's long seven year development timeline. Rockstar's detective drama had a very profound impact on games, and a sequel would similar push the limits of the fidelity of games far beyond what's been seen so far.
L.A. Noire 2 is rumored to be in development.