A canceled sequel to LA Noire was reportedly set in pre-World War II Shanghai, and featured an RPG-style language system.
During a recent interview with YouTuber Cade Onder, former Team Bondi writer Daniel McMahon shared details about a canceled LA Noire sequel, titled Whore of the Orient, discussing gameplay systems that would have expanded significantly on the original’s investigative formula. Instead of returning to 1940s Los Angeles, the successor was set in 1936 Shanghai, just before World War II. Players would step into the shoes of a young British detective working in one of the world’s most dangerous and politically volatile cities. According to McMahon, the setting was chosen to facilitate a major component of the gameplay i.e. an RPG-style language progression system that would directly impact investigations (image credits).
Because many British police officers stationed in Shanghai couldn’t speak Mandarin or Cantonese, communication barriers became a core mechanic. According to McMahon, the development team envisioned language as an XP system. “The deeper you dig, the more language you learn, the better you’re able to communicate, the better you’re able to investigate rather than just whipping your gun out and killing everyone,” he said.
The sequel also planned to evolve L.A. Noire’s signature interrogation system. Instead of simply identifying whether a suspect was telling the truth or lying, players would have first determined if someone was being deceptive and then chosen how to respond. Whether players intimidated suspects, remained calm, or attempted to persuade them would influence how much information they received.
Unlike the original game, there also wouldn’t have been a single “correct” dialogue choice. McMahon said that the development team envisioned “gradations of right,” meaning excellent responses could reveal nearly everything a suspect knew, while weaker approaches may only provide a clue or two before players had to continue investigating elsewhere.
Rather than receiving one assigned case at a time, players would be able to freely explore Shanghai, uncover leads organically, and pursue multiple investigations across the city. McMahon described the concept as “much more about explore this city, discover leads, pursue crimes, pursue suspects… be a policeman,” shifting away from the more linear case structure of LA Noire.
Combat was set to receive major improvements as well. Alongside expanded gunplay, Team Bondi researched a martial arts system known as Defendu. McMahon said the development team also looked to Rocksteady Studios’ Batman: Arkham games for inspiration, with the aim of implementing a rhythm-based melee combat system.
McMahon also shared his thoughts on the game’s title. While he defended it during development, he now believes a different name may have been more appropriate. He explained that the title was intended to reflect the exploitation of China by Western powers and the protagonist’s outsider perspective, rather than exist purely for shock value.
According to McMahon, the project reached only “10, maybe 15%” completion, with only a prototype vertical slice completed, before publisher and funding issues halted production. Snippets of extremely early work in progress footage made its way online after the cancellation.
