NEWS
by Dan Lenois
Life is Strange: Reunion leaked by PEGI
Since the departure of original developer DontNod, following the release of Life is Strange 2 in 2018, control over the Life is Strange series has reverted to its publisher, Square Enix. The series was then handed off to Deck Nine Games, who developed subsequent entries such as the prequel Life is Strange: Before the Storm, as well as the standalone spinoff, Life is Strange: True Colors. Deck Nine would then be assigned its first mainline entry with Life is Strange: Double Exposure, a direct sequel to the original Life is Strange. (Life is Strange 2 being its own standalone narrative.)
While Deck Nine would achieve initially overwhelming success with both Before the Storm and True Colors, Life is Strange: Double Exposure would fail to meet said standards. Despite appealing to longtime fans with the return of Life is Strange 1 protagonist Max Caulfield, Double Exposure would alienate the community by distancing itself markedly from the stakes established in the original game, including prominently removing character Chloe Price from her previous co-starring role. The relationship between Max and Chloe would barely be mentioned in Double Exposure's dialogue and made no lasting impression on the game's narrative.
Whether this narrative deviation was planned in advance in preparation for a later bait-and-switch, or whether the critical failure at release and generally lukewarm reception caused Square Enix to tighten the reins over Deck Nine Games, is unclear. However, both developer and publisher have now set themselves upon a new course of action.
In a new filing posted by PEGI, the European ratings board, a new title in the Life is Strange series has been officially revealed, including a planned title, Life is Strange: Reunion.
The product description is as follows:
Chloe Price was Max Caulfield’s partner in time… Losing her is Max’s greatest regret. Now Chloe has come to Caledon University. Haunted by nightmares and impossible memories, Chloe needs Max’s help. But Max is already in crisis: in three days, a deadly inferno will destroy the campus.
Square Enix has thus far declined to comment on any details pertaining to Life is Strange: Reunion, or any other future plans for the series.
Update: Following press coverage of this story, PEGI has removed their listing for Life is Strange: Reunion from public viewing.