A new Life is Strange game has leaked on the internet, but fans of the franchise are suspicious of it. The new Life is Strange game, titled Life is Strange: Reunion, has players scratching their heads due to its details regarding the plot, characters, and even release date.
Life is Strange kicked off in 2015 in episodic format, which saw considerable success, leading to a prequel, a spin-off, and three sequels. The series started with Max Caufield navigating a disaster as she tries to utilize her newfound time powers, but over the entries since, it's moved on to new characters exploring their own abilities, including brothers Sean and Daniel in Life is Strange 2 and Alex Chen in Life is Strange: True Colors, before returning to Max in the latest, Life is Strange: Double Exposure.
Life is Strange is Getting Its Own TV Series
A Life is Strange TV series is officially greenlit at Amazon Prime Video.
Spoilers for the Life is Strange franchise, including Double Exposure, follow.
Life is Strange: Reunion Emerges Online
Now, evidence has been found of a new game in the franchise, entitled Life is Strange: Reunion. The game was discovered on the PEGI ratings board website, which typically reviews games as they approach their reveal or release to determine what age ranges the game is appropriate for. Though the official listing has since been taken down, that hasn't stopped players from debating it and pointing out some issues they're taking with it. According to the PEGI listing, Life is Strange: Reunion will see the return of Max Caulfield, as well as that of Chloe Price. However, this time around, the phrasing makes it seem as though Chloe may be returning to the playable character role for the first time since Life is Strange: Before the Storm.
In the game's outline, the synopsis states that Chloe's greatest regret is losing Max, and that now she has come to Caledon University, which is the setting for Double Exposure, in need of her help. Chloe is experiencing nightmares and "impossible memories," which she seems to think Max can help with, but Max has a crisis of her own: a major fire will destroy the university in three days' time. The game has been rated as PEGI 16 due to the use of strong language, illegal drugs, and violence.
Life is Strange Players Express Confusion
Life is Strange fans are confused for a number of reasons regarding this listing. To start, the game's release date was listed as March 3, 2025, which is nearly a year in the past at this point. Some have theorized that the date may be wrong, and the game could be coming out in March 3 of 2026, instead. The removal of the game's listing also seems to have convinced some fans that may be the case.
However, it's the plot of the unannounced game and its characters in particular that have players feeling unsure. Max was expected to return based on the ending of Double Exposure, but Chloe's return is puzzling some fans. The original Life is Strange gave players a choice regarding Chloe Price's fate, and later games have carried that on, with the player deciding whether she survived in the first game or not. However, if she is to return in Life is Strange: Reunion, that would cement her survival as the canon ending of the original Life is Strange, potentially frustrating players who preferred the other outcome. Others have pointed out how similar the plot sounds in comparison to the original game, making them worry it's going to be a rehash of the overall story.
The reception to Life is Strange: Double Exposure wasn't very good, receiving a 5/10 from The Best War Games and mixed reception overall from critics and fans. Some players have expressed doubts about whether the series can find its footing again, with some declaring that they intend to skip it entirely unless they hear good things post-release. For the moment, Life is Strange: Reunion isn't guaranteed to release, but if the theory regarding a March 2026 release date turns out to be accurate, players will likely get an official reveal soon.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 71 /100 Critics Rec: 54%
- Released
- October 29, 2024
- ESRB
- M For Mature: Mild Blood, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Deck Nine
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
