Team Bondi and Rockstar Games’ L.A. Noire, the detective game set in the 1940s, was released on PlayStation VR in 2019 as L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files. The game contained seven cases from the original game starring Detective Cole Phelps.
The VR title was also released on other consoles, such as PC via Steam. The PS4 release contained new exclusive content, but now that exclusivity has ended with a new Steam update.
The core VR game remains the same across platforms, “Step into the painstakingly recreated world of 1940’s Los Angeles through the eyes of Detective Cole Phelps as you solve cases from across all five desks of the original L.A. Noire, including: Upon Reflection, Armed and Dangerous, Buyer Beware, The Consul’s Car, The Silk Stocking Murder, Reefer Madness, and A Different Kind of War – each picked for their suitability to the virtual reality experience. ”
The PlayStation 4 release added boxing, speed car racing, and shooting galleries. These mini-games don’t have much to do with the detective work of the game but give players additional challenges outside of cases to complete.
There were also a few technical upgrades just for the PS4, such as greater draw distance and upgraded visual fidelity. Additional gameplay features include a new sitting a standing mode, “Crouch” button, enhanced navigation, locomotion, and weapon tuning.
The Update 1.0.539.0 Steam patch includes improved support to the Valve Index, Vive Pro, Vive Pro Eye, Vive Cosmos, and Oculus Rift S VR hardware.
There were also a few unnamed bug fixes and other improvements to ensure a smoother gameplay experience. The list of updates is listed on the official Steam page for the game.
For those who have already completed L.A. Noire, the VR version is a whole new experience. Playing the cases from a first-person perspective gives players a unique way to solve cases and get to know other characters up-close and personal.
Often, the PC release of console games leave out exclusive features. Some features become outdated by the time the game is out on PC, so PC players never get to experience them. Now players on Steam can experience all of the L.A. Noire content that was previously only available on the PlayStation 4.
L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files is available now on PC via Steam and PlayStation 4.
