Rockstar Games will be releasing L.A. Noire on the Nintendo Switch later this month, giving fans a chance to play the hit detective mystery game on the go. However, actually getting to play the game on the console will not be a straightforward process for players.

Today Rockstar confirmed that the file size for L.A. Noire on the Nintendo Switch is 29GB. While the Switch has built-in storage of 32GB, just over 6GB of that space is used for the console's operating system. This means that Rockstar's game will not fit on the console's standard storage and so the eShop version of L.A. Noire will have to be installed on a microSD card.

And Nintendo Switch owners also have a hurdle if they want to play L.A. Noire using a physical game cartridge instead. Rockstar explains that, "If using the physical cartridge version of L.A. Noire, the game will require a 14 GB digital download containing required gameplay data as well as general bug fixes and improvements."

Although the patch can be installed on the Switch's built-in storage or on a microSD card, the reason many players purchase physical versions of games over downloads is that their Internet speeds aren't fast enough. Switch owners with poor Internet connections could be faced to wait for ages in order for the game to become playable on their system.

This issue with the game's size is just the latest problem facing Nintendo Switch owners who want to play L.A. Noire. There have also been reports that the Switch version of the game could cost more than that of other platforms. While the Switch version does offer a touchscreen mode and Joy-Con support, L.A. Noire is a six-year-old game and so that (rumored) increased price still stings.

The technical hurdles will also raise questions about Rockstar's plans to bring other games to the console. There have been rumors that Rockstar is planning a Nintendo Switch version of Grand Theft Auto 5, possibly letting players take to the streets of Los Santos on the new console. While that is an exciting possibility, that game would likely require a microSD card to work too.

In the meantime though, Rockstar will be watching the sales of L.A. Noire on the Switch very closely. It will be hoping that the detective gameplay appeals to players enough so that that rumored increased price and the difficult file size won't matter.

L.A. Noire will launch on November 14th for HTC Vive, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One. The game is already available on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.

Source: Rockstar Games