With Grand Theft Auto VI approaching its November 19, 2026 release, attention is already beginning to turn toward Rockstar Games’ next major project.

A new report claims that the studio could return to one of its older franchises after GTA 6 — and it isn’t Red Dead Redemption 3.

According to a recently resurfaced claim from a GTA Forums user, Rockstar’s next major project could be a sequel to L.A. Noire. The report has attracted attention because the same source previously shared information about GTA 6 that later appeared to match several known details. However, Rockstar has not confirmed that an L.A. Noire 2 is in development.

Is Rockstar Really Making L.A. Noire 2?

The current information comes from an unconfirmed report rather than an official Rockstar announcement.

The rumor claims that L.A. Noire 2 would be Rockstar’s next major project following GTA 6. According to the report, the game could move the detective series from 1940s Los Angeles to San Francisco and reportedly involve the Zodiac Killer.

The rumor also claims that Rockstar wants to push facial animation technology even further than the original L.A. Noire, which became famous for its facial-performance technology when it launched in 2011.

None of these details have been confirmed by Rockstar.

Why Are Fans Taking the Rumor Seriously?

One reason the report has attracted attention is the alleged source’s previous GTA 6 information.

According to GamesRadar, several details attributed to the source in 2023 reportedly matched information that later became known about GTA 6, including elements involving Jason and Lucia. That history has caused some fans to pay more attention to the new claim.

However, previous accurate information does not turn a new claim into official confirmation.

For now, L.A. Noire 2 remains unannounced.

What Would L.A. Noire 2 Look Like?

If the rumor is accurate, the sequel could take the franchise in a very different direction.

The original L.A. Noire was set in 1940s Los Angeles and followed detective Cole Phelps as he investigated increasingly complicated cases.

A sequel reportedly set in San Francisco during the 1960s would provide a completely different environment.

The period would also coincide with the historical Zodiac Killer investigation, which is why the alleged storyline has attracted so much attention.

The original game’s facial animation system was one of its defining features, and the rumor claims Rockstar wants to make that technology even more advanced in a potential sequel.

What About Red Dead Redemption 3?

The possibility of L.A. Noire 2 has naturally raised another question: what happens to Red Dead Redemption 3?

Rockstar has not officially announced Red Dead Redemption 3 either.

There have been separate reports claiming that the studio has begun early work on another Red Dead Redemption game, but those reports also remain unconfirmed.

That means there is currently no official Rockstar roadmap showing which franchise will follow GTA 6.

The company could also spend several years supporting GTA 6 and its online component before releasing another major single-player game.

Rockstar’s Officially Announced Lineup

Rockstar’s official website currently highlights Grand Theft Auto VI as its next major release, scheduled for November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Take-Two’s latest published lineup likewise lists Grand Theft Auto VI as Rockstar’s announced upcoming title and does not list L.A. Noire 2 or Red Dead Redemption 3.

That distinction is important.

Everything beyond GTA 6 should currently be treated as a report, rumor or speculation unless Rockstar makes an official announcement.

Could L.A. Noire Return?

The franchise hasn’t been completely forgotten by Take-Two.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick previously indicated that the company’s teams continue to consider its legacy intellectual properties, while noting that there was nothing specifically announced for L.A. Noire.

That doesn’t confirm a sequel, but it does show that older franchises remain part of the broader conversation around Take-Two’s portfolio.

For now, however, Rockstar’s focus remains on GTA 6.

What Happens Next?

The biggest Rockstar release in years is still Grand Theft Auto VI, and the company has yet to officially reveal what comes after it.

The new L.A. Noire 2 report provides an intriguing possibility, particularly because the franchise’s detective gameplay and facial-animation technology could fit well with modern hardware.

But until Rockstar confirms the project, the reported San Francisco setting, Zodiac Killer storyline and 2030 release window should all be treated as unverified information.

For now, the official picture is simple: GTA 6 arrives on November 19, 2026, while Rockstar’s next internally developed project remains officially unannounced.