Life is Strange: Double Exposure Devs Talk Honoring First Game While Moving the Franchise Forward

Life is Strange: Double Exposure Devs Talk Honoring First Game While Moving the Franchise Forward

As a seasoned gamer who’s been around since the golden age of gaming, I can confidently say that my heart skipped a beat when I heard Max Caulfield was making a comeback in Life is Strange: Double Exposure. The original game left such an indelible mark on me and countless others that it feels like reuniting with an old friend after a long time apart.


The Life is Strange series, celebrated for delving into deep, emotional subjects through its authentic characters and innovative gameplay mechanics that shape the narrative’s scope and outcomes, has earned numerous accolades, including a Games for Impact award from TGA 2015. As this popular franchise approaches its tenth anniversary, the original heroine, Max Caulfield, is poised to embark on another time-twisting adventure in the upcoming title, Life is Strange: Double Exposure.

Although some fans are thrilled about Max’s comeback following her tough decision in the initial game, others express concerns because the original Life is Strange concluded a story that was appropriate for its era. This leaves many new players questioning whether Life is Strange: Double Exposure will uphold its legacy and the impact it had on fans for nearly a decade. During Gamescom, Game Rant spoke with game director Jon Stauder and writer Aysha Farrah, who confirmed that Double Exposure is being developed with sensitivity towards its past while also taking lessons from other installments in the series.

Deck Nine Respects Life is Strange’s Original Ending

One reason why fans have kept Life is Strange close to their hearts for so long is because it presents a tough decision at its climax: whether Max and the player should save Arcadia Bay from a disaster caused by Max’s time-manipulation abilities or protect Chloe Price, the first person she saved with those powers. In subsequent games, Life is Strange has offered various endings, but it’s the unresolved nature of the original game that makes it memorable. The different endings aren’t considered canonical in the broader storyline. Not even Double Exposure definitively chooses an ending; instead, players get to decide how Max perceives her past as they progress through the sequel. This ambiguity affects the narrative of Max’s new journey, according to Stauder, who spoke with Game Rant about this very point.

“[The ending selected] significantly influences the game’s narrative. A fundamental aspect is that Max, regardless of the ending chosen, carries an emotional burden she must work through. The type of trauma she experiences varies depending on the player’s choice, and this shapes her character development immensely, influencing how she overcomes it. This also impacts your interpretation of the story.”

The impact of the ending in Life is Strange: Double Exposure on the overall narrative isn’t yet clear, but it does reaffirm that player decisions in Life is Strange have significant consequences, regardless of their age. Deck Nine is ensuring that Max’s tale progresses while honoring its past, and writer Aysha Farrah acknowledges that altering one ending to be more conclusive than the other might upset fans. Players will have the option to select which ending Max experienced in her journal and other interactions throughout the new storyline.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure Uses Lessons Learned Over The Past 10 Years

Life is Strange: Double Exposure Devs Talk Honoring First Game While Moving the Franchise Forward

Over the past decade, I’ve seen a lot of great games come and go, but none have quite touched me like Life is Strange. From the original release to the sequels – Life is Strange 2 and Life is Strange: True Colors – this franchise has consistently pushed boundaries in storytelling and character development.

“In True Colors, Deck Nine made a significant advancement for the series by focusing on performance acting. This was the franchise’s first performance capture installment, and with Double Exposure, we took this further. Our characters now display more lifelike reactions and appearances compared to True Colors, which was already impressive, enabling us to tell our story even more effectively as our characters can accurately mirror the performances of our actors.”

As a passionate gamer, I can’t help but acknowledge the outstanding work done by the animators behind the upcoming game, “Life is Strange: Double Exposure”. These creative minds have undeniably played a crucial role in sculpting the game, just as Stauder and Farrah mentioned they meticulously crafted the continuation to honor the original endings of “Life is Strange”. With October’s release drawing near, I, along with countless fellow fans, old and new, eagerly anticipate diving back into the captivating world of “Life is Strange” once more.

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2024-08-29 21:54