The news had already been leaked, but it was finally confirmed by Square Enix: a new sequel to Life is Strange was on its way, featuring the beloved characters Max and Chloe from the first game. As many gamers know, leaks from official sources such as age rating boards are usually accurate, and this was no exception.
In a rare occurrence, the leak not only confirmed the existence of the new game, titled Life is Strange: Reunion, but also revealed some details about the story. This included the return of Chloe, who was notably absent from the previous game Life is Strange: Double Exposure, much to the disappointment of fans.
Interestingly, Double Exposure was met with a lukewarm reception, so it was surprising to see a new game announced so soon. However, Square Enix has since confirmed that Reunion is indeed real and will be released on March 26 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game will once again be developed by Deck Nine, who did a great job with the series after the original creators left.
The return of Chloe poses a challenge, as her fate in the first game depended on the player's choices. Reunion seems to address this by incorporating parallel universes and Chloe's dreams of her alternate destiny.
Meanwhile, the fictional Caledon University from Double Exposure is in danger of being destroyed, similar to Arcadia Bay in the original game. Max now has a more advanced version of her time-rewinding power, which she can use at any time by taking polaroid pictures to stay in the past. Chloe, on the other hand, has a new superpower called "backtalk," which allows her to dominate conversations.
In terms of voice acting, Max will be portrayed by Hannah Telle, while Chloe's voice actress will be Rhianna DeVries from Before the Storm, rather than Ashly Burch from the first game. This may come as a surprise to some, but many fans actually preferred DeVries' performance.
[Spoiler Alert] Shortly after the official announcement, rumors began to circulate about the game, supposedly from a former employee of Deck Nine's friend. This is somewhat believable, as the studio had layoffs last year, and it's a pleasant surprise that they are still operating after the underwhelming performance of Double Exposure.
According to the rumor, Chloe will also gain the ability to freeze time, and players will have to make decisions based on whether they agree with the main villain or not. However, the identity and motives of the villain are still unknown. More details can be found in a Reddit post, although the leaker may not be familiar with the first game, so some information may be inaccurate.
With the release date just a couple of months away, we won't have to wait long to get the full story. However, after the disappointment of Double Exposure, this may be the last chance for the franchise to redeem itself.
On a side note, Chloe and Max may not look exactly like their previous selves, but that seems to be a trend in the series. Regardless, fans are excited to see the dynamic duo back in action.
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