The longstanding episodic release structure of the graphic adventure game genre is going away in Life is Strange: True Colors, as the newly revealed (and leaked) third entry which will give customers the entire game at launch. Life is Strange 1 and 2 were both released episodically over time, with the mainline games releasing in five episode packages and Life is Strange: Before the Storm releasing in three.
This new entry, which sees a returning character from Life is Strange: Before the Storm (a prequel to the original), is the second game in the series developed by Deck Nine Games. Life is Strange: True Colors is also the second game to come from Deck Nine, which developed Before the Storm. The series was originally developed by Dontnod Entertainment, which has since moved on to other projects like Tell Me Why and Vampyr.
As shown during the Square Enix Presents stream, Life is Strange: True Colors will release as a complete game on September 10. Although the game won’t release episodically, the game will still feature chapter breaks for players who would like the option to pause at natural points in the story. Players will take control of Alex Chen, played by Erika Mori, to uncover the truth behind her brother’s death. Like the other games in the series, Chen has a supernatural power that is integral to the story and it's themes; this time, Alex's is power of Empathy. This allows the protagonist to see people’s emotional states as colorful auras, which will likely be a core gameplay hook for the story-driven sequel.
In addition to the announcement of the complete game releasing later this year, the game will also have three versions available for purchase: Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate. The Ultimate Edition will also be bundled together with the Life is Strange Remastered Collection, which contains remastered editions of the original Life is Strange and Before the Storm. All three editions are available for pre-order now, with the Ultimate Edition priced at $80.
Life is Strange started as a cult hit with its first release as a narratively rich indie game and has grown into a AAA franchise. With this entry being the first to feature full motion-capture performances, original songs from mxmtoon, and an exclusive soundtrack headlined by Radiohead, Life is Strange: True Colors is looking to be the most ambitious and largest Life is Strange yet.
Life Is Strange: True Colors will be available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Stadia on September 10, 2021.
Source: Square Enix