"This is a game about empathy," says developer Deck Nine Games.
Life is Strange True Colors is the next game in the popular franchise, a partial sequel to developer Deck Nine’s Life is Strange Before the Storm.
Deck Nine calls this new installment “a game about empathy,” complete with a new cast and a new power that forms the core of its narrative.
True Colors will put players in the shoes of Alex Chen, a character voiced by Erika Mori (though her singing voice is handled by musician mxmtoon), and follows Chen as she heads to Haven Springs, a picturesque sleepy town surrounded by mountains and lakes. Deck Nine says that the locale is meant to represent every small town in America.
Chen seemingly travels to the town to meet up with her brother Gabe, but he soon dies in what’s termed an “accident”. It’s here that Alex decides to use her unique power to get to the bottom of Gabe’s demise (though it seems very likely Gabe will still play a major part in the narrative, likely via the people in his life that he’s impacted).
Chen has what Deck Nine calls an “unparalleled empathic ability” which lets her feel — and manipulate — the emotions of those around her. Alex considers her power a curse, as the emotions of others can bleed into her own self.
Haven Springs is also home to two “new friends” and potential love interests for Alex, including Steph from Life is Strange Before the Storm. Deck Nine said that Steph’s time in Arcadia Bay is considered “darkness… still in her past.”
In a break from the franchise, True Colors will be offered up as a full game from release, though players can opt to use chapter breaks to keep the segmented feel of the titles that have come before it. True Colors will be broken into five main chapters, all up.
Life is Strange True Colors heads to platforms from 10 September 2021. Square Enix additionally announced that a Life is Strange Remastered bundle with Life is Strange and Life is Strange Before the Storm is coming this year.
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