The Biggest Missed Opportunity In Rockstar History

Could Max Payne Remakes Give Hope For L.A. Noire 2?

While all eyes are currently on Rockstar as it develops GTA VI, the company is also set to publish its first non-GTA/RDR game since 2012 in the coming years - remakes of Max Payne and Max Payne 2, developed by Remedy Entertainment. Remedy's new project will update and repackage the first two Max Payne games as one epic remake, marking the first new instalment in the franchise since the Rockstar-developed third entry dropped 12 years ago. They're fundamentally Remedy titles, but their release feels somewhat significant as far as Rockstar is concerned. It's been non-stop GTA and Red Dead Redemption since 2013 - give or take one L.A. Noire remaster - and the fact Rockstar is funding and publishing the effort is the first sign we've seen in a while that it's still enthusiastic about pursuing its back catalogue outside of GTA and Red Dead.

This obviously doesn't mean a new L.A. Noire game is happening, or will ever happen, but it's a positive indication that Rockstar may finally be branching out beyond its GTA bubble for the first time in years. If that is the case, and with the likelihood being that Rockstar will be kept busy with GTA VI and its Online component, there could exist the possibility for other studios to step into the world Team Bondi vacated and for Rockstar to retain involvement as publisher. It might be a long shot, and there's no doubt Rockstar itself could develop a killer L.A. Noire title, but of all the outcomes that could lead to an L.A. Noire sequel, it does seem like it'll take an external studio to get some movement going.

In any case, L.A. Noire is too hot a commodity to be ignored for as long as it has, and the lack of a sequel typifies how even with critical successes and a new landmark title on the horizon, Rockstar today feels smaller than it used to. There's still plenty to look forward to with GTA VI, but that can't just be it for another generation of Rockstar.