Rockstar Games’ partial VR port of L.A. Noire (2011) was delayed last month to much chagrin. The game, which promises to deliver 7 of the original’s case files in all of their immersive glory, is now officially coming to HTC Vive December 15th.

L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files was originally slated to launch alongside versions for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One—all set to release on November 14th. It wasn’t until Rockstar’s parent company Take-two Interactive published their quarterly earnings report last month that the classic noire title was given an indeterminate December launch date.

With a firm launch date now in sight, it’s still unclear whether Rockstar is necessarily locking the game to HTC Vive headsets, or if other SteamVR-compatible headsets like Oculus Rift or Windows VR headsets will be able to play as well. Advertisement for the VR title states an omnipresent ‘for HTC Vive’, so we’ll just have to wait and see closer to the launch date.

Pre-orders are now available on Steam for $30. Here’s a quick breakdown of the game’s features:

  • Search for clues by grabbing, inspecting and manipulating objects
  • Get behind the wheel and drive to your next crime scene 
  • Engage in chases, fistfights and shootouts as you track down suspects
  • Build your case by making notes or drawing freehand in your detective’s notebook 
  • Interrogate witnesses and use your wits to separate truth from lies in a city where everyone has something to hide

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Scott Hayden
Well before the first modern XR products hit the market, Scott recognized the potential of the technology and set out to understand and document its growth. He has been professionally reporting on the space for nearly a decade as Editor at Road to VR, authoring more than 4,000 articles on the topic. Scott brings that seasoned insight to his reporting from major industry events across the globe.
  • VRgameDevGirl

    Nice to see Rockstar leaning into VR territory. Maybe a partial GTA VR will be next??? We can only hope.

  • Brian Brown

    This looks to be a fantastic VR experience, and I can’t wait until the 12th. I have a Vive and can’t say enough positive things about it.

    • Duane Locsin

      Just like Skyrim, I have copies of this game on consoles, pc and just recently the Switch (waiting on the Vive VR version) LOL.

      It looks to built for VR too, so this along with Fall Out 4 VR, I’ll have some fun over the holidays.

  • Evol Love

    I’m buying this because I want GTA VR…

    • Duane Locsin

      I agree playing GTA in Virtual Reality is something kids in the 90’s could only fantasize about, and we are in striking distance this generation.

      I just wish so bad, that some company had the chutzpah to make consumer treadmills.

      seeing someone walking/running/driving in a modded VR GTA using the Virtuix Omni was incredible.

      • Evol Love

        I have Virtuix, it’s pretty sweet but non VR games in VR are very hard to run at an acceptable level GTA included. Honestly the Virtuix was pretty much crap until recently when I figured out how to get it working with all VR games that support Onward style locomotion which is like 250 games at this point. You can buy them second hand for around $1000.

  • Raphael

    GTA Vr with full trackpad locomotion.

    • yag

      Even better, with full joystick locomotion ;)

  • SHunter

    Did they really need to put “VR’ in the sub title of this. Cant you just call it LA Noire: Case Files