Publisher Square Enix has confirmed that the next entry in its popular Life is Strange series will release this year. While only a teaser for the game has been released at this point, a full reveal is scheduled for January 20, next week, at 10 am Pacific/ 1 pm Eastern/ 6 pm UK time. The title, before this, was rumored to be in development with the title Life is Strange: Reunion with developer Deck Nine still attached after developing the 2024 title Life is Strange: Double Exposure, which saw the return of the original title’s protagonist, Max Caulfield.
The trailer itself gives us very little to go on, with two figures walking across the screen one after the other. Both are only visible from their torsos, so it can’t be fully confirmed who they are, but rumors surrounding the title have suggested that it will feature Max Caulfield yet again, but also feature the return of her best friend, and Before The Storm lead Chloe Price, who either died at the end of the first game, or later broke up with Max, according to a dialog choice featured in Double Exposure. Her potential death in the first title was based on a pivotal choice the play made during the final act of the title, which was probably that Max didn’t return to the series for as long as she did.
Double Exposure itself promised that Max would return in a sequel narrative, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see her return here, with the first girl in the teaser definitely having a resemblance to her. It’s the inclusion of Chloe that might cause some confusion here. The previous title, which also suffered from lackluster sales, drew some ire from fans of the series for its choice to exclude Chloe completely from the game, should players have made the choice to save her at the end of the first game.
This was explained through a dialogue choice to say they had not stayed together, but given what the player trades to save Chloe, the idea that this was not forever love did not sit well with them. In Don’t Nods Life is Strange 2, during the last chapter, where minor Life is Strange Character David reemerges, had the player chosen to save Chloe, it is implied they are still together, at least a few years after the events of the game. A popular comic series that was officially licensed, based on the original Life is Strange, also followed the outcome of saving Chloe at the end of Life is Strange and ran for 23 issues.
The rumors of the title came during what has been suggested was a tumultuous development cycle with leaks appearing via the European Ratings Board, as well as through a string of leaks from disgruntled employees, hinting at trouble behind the scenes. During development on the previous title, it was also found that the game was being developed amid a toxic work environment in which one then-terminated employee was suggested to have hidden nazi imagery in the game during development, with these being removed before the title was released. Sexual harassment, bullying, and transphobia were also found to be occurring within the studio.
Despite this, the teaser trailer asks fans to “separate the real from the rumor,” which is a potential acknowledgment of these ongoing leaks at the very least. On January 20, hopefully, we can do just that.
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