Max Caulfield returns in Life is Strange: Double Exposure, an all-new supernatural murder mystery in the award winning Life is Strange series, by Deck Nine Games. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1874000 Joinus for the Life is Strange: Double Exposure Reveal Livestream right here, this Thursday, June 13th at 9am PDT / 12pm EDT / 5pm BST / 6pm CEST. See extended gameplay and learn more about Max's new adventure, with information from Hannah Telle (Max Caulfield) and the Game and Narrative Directors from Deck Nine Games.

Max Caulfield, photographer-in-residence at the prestigious Caledon University, discovers her closest new friend, Safi, dead in the snow. Murdered. To save her, Max tries to Rewind time a power shes not used in years instead Max opens the way to a parallel timeline where Safi is still alive, and still in danger! Max realizes the killer will soon strike again in both versions of reality. Only Max can Shift between the two parallel timelines to solve and prevent the same murder. [previewyoutube=TOYz4NCFIXg;full][/previewyoutube] LIFE IS STRANGE: DOUBLE EXPOSURE will be available in three editions; Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate. Players can pre-order the Ultimate Edition now to gain Advanced Access to Chapters 1 and 2 on October 15 2024, two weeks ahead of the release of the full game. Full details on each Edition can be found at http://lifeisstrange.com . Follow us on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/LifeIsStrange TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeisstrangegame Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LifeIsStrangeGame Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeisstrangegame Discord: http://discord.gg/lifeisstrange Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/officiallifeisstrange

Introducing two new Life is Strange releases for 2021 - Life is Strange: True Colors, the next major title in the #LifeisStrange series from Deck Nine Games, and the all-new Life is Strange Remastered Collection, containing the first Life is Strange game and Life is Strange: Before the Storm, featuring enhanced visuals and animations. [previewyoutube=b6CkzwVAr0M;full][/previewyoutube] Say goodbye to waiting for episodes Life is Strange: True Colors releases in full on September 10 2021. The Life is Strange Remastered Collection will be available as part of the Life is Strange: True Colors Ultimate Edition, or standalone later this year. Pre-Order Now: https://sqex.link/y6x [previewyoutube=o69FMYlJ_48;full][/previewyoutube]

Catch the World Premiere of the next #LifeisStrange game on March 18th 10AM PDT/5PM GMT at #SquareEnixPresents www.SEPRESENTS.com

Save 55% on the Complete Season of Life is Strange 2. Ends October 6th. If your epic journey with Sean and Daniel began with the FREE Episode 1, there's never been a better time to finish the road trip and change the lives of the Diaz Brothers forever! Pick up the Complete Season today, and you can delve deeper into the story in Episodes 2-5, as the boys flee towards their fathers hometown of Puerto Lobos, Mexico. From the snowy suburbs of Beaver Creek, Oregon, to the towering redwoods of an illegal plantation in California, down to the sun-blasted highways of Nevada and beyond, Sean and Daniels lives only get more complicated as their journey continues. Together, theyll make new friends, grow as people and as brothers, and try their best to stay one step ahead of the law. Through it all, youll help Sean guide Daniel towards the young man he will become. Still just a teenager himself, will your Sean enforce the rules, or let them slide? Explore his own freedom, or stick close to his little brother? And what about Daniels incredible supernatural power? As Daniel becomes more confident in his telekinetic abilities and ever more independent Seans guidance could be all that keeps the boys from disaster and devastation. Your choices will shape how this journey ends and change the lives of everybody you meet along the way! - Complete Season includes all 5 Episodes https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/16140/Life_is_Strange_2_Complete_Season/

Its a thrilling, BAFTA-award-winning adventure about responsibility, freedom, brotherhood and now you can download and play the first Episode of Life is Strange 2 free forever! When a tragic incident turns Sean and Daniels quiet suburban life upside down, the Diaz brothers find themselves on the road alone, scared, and pursued by the police. Just sixteen years old, Sean is thrust into the role of father figure. Struggling with his own feelings and fears, Sean must still try to teach Daniel right from wrong when the whole world is set against them. Is it okay to steal when youre hungry? Should you still play by the rules when the rest of the world ignores them? As Sean, your choices will shape Daniel into the man he will become so choose carefully! But Daniel is also hiding a dangerous secret a telekinetic power that allows him to move objects with his mind. How can you guide a boy who can flip a car with a thought? Over the course of roughly 3 hours of gameplay, Episode 1 takes the Diaz brothers from the safety of home and out into the wild, with the repercussions of a startling tragedy following them across the country. The choices you make in these opening hours will echo throughout the whole game. Leave the Seattle streets far behind, and delve deep into ancient woods. Explore. Find shelter, face hardship, steal moments of joy amid gorgeous scenery. Forge bonds of friendship and brotherhood that will last a lifetime and make enemies and mistakes that will haunt you forever. Exciting, moving, and unique, your decisions across the course of the game will build towards one of seven different endings, each with surprising consequences for Sean, Daniel, and all the characters youll meet along the way. It all starts here. This is the trip that defines Sean and Daniels relationship forever. Come join the conversation on our official social channels, and discuss all your choices with like-minded fans on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. You can also now join us on the official Discord channel! Download and keep EPISODE 1 now and well see you out on the road!

Today, the LIFE IS STRANGE 2 demo gets even easier to play - and to share with your curious friends - thanks to the power of Polystream! If you're a PC player, you can now jump instantly into the demo from the official LIFE IS STRANGE website: http://lifeisstrange.com Start playing the game with just two clicks! To celebrate the release of the streaming demo, we're also offering Steam discounts of 75% off Episode 1, and 60% off the Complete Season, between 1-4 May. The epic journey of LIFE IS STRANGE 2 begins as Sean Diaz returns home from school. Sean has a party to plan for with his best friend Lyla, a younger brother, Daniel, to keep track of, and a father to help out in the car garage downstairs... but the next half an hour will see his quiet suburban life ripped apart and flipped upside-down. Dive into the demo to discover the shocking events of this BAFTA award-winning adventure for yourself... events that kick off an astounding, life-changing journey across America. To play the streaming demo, powered by Polystream, just visit http://lifeisstrange.com. The website automatically tests if your PC specs and broadband speed are high enough to give you a good experience: if you see the 'STREAM DEMO' button, you're ready to go! Just click the 'STREAM DEMO' button, open the bitesize Polystream widget, and you can be playing the streaming demo in seconds. Don't forget to Wishlist the game, or add it to your cart - after playing the demo, you'll be desperate to find out what happens next! The English language streaming demo is now available to stream in the following countries: USA, UK & Ireland, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and The Netherlands. For more information, including recommended PC and broadband specs, please visit the FAQ at https://lifeisstrange.square-enix-games.com/en-gb/polystream-faq

If you've been waiting for the perfect time to jump into LIFE IS STRANGE 2, then today is the day: Sean and Daniel's epic adventure is now available to trial for free! Forced to go on the run after a terrible accident, Sean must keep his brother safe as they head towards Mexico, and a shared dream of sanctuary. Daniel's newly-revealed telekinetic power makes their travels more complicated. Can Sean teach Daniel right from wrong when his brother is able to flip over a car with his mind? And in the 'forgotten places' of modern America, do the usual rules even apply? Daniel watches his older brother closely, and makes his own decisions based on what he learns... but all the difficult choices are yours to make. Just like Daniel, the demo will remember all of your choices, so when you purchase the full game, you can carry on playing from where you left off! The five stunning Episodes of this BAFTA award-nominated adventure take the Diaz brothers on an unforgettable, beautiful, troubling journey: from the suburbs of Seattle to the towering redwoods of California, and from the dustblown highways of Nevada... to their fate on the Mexican border. At every step along the way, the brothers will encounter soul-searing challenges and unexpected allies, witness things they never expected to see, and meet the people who will change their lives forever. Don't wait any longer to join them: play the FREE DEMO now!

The Japanese Language Pack for #LifeIsStrange2 will come out tomorrow at 3PM GMT/4PM CET/12AM JST! Watch the celebratory music video here:https://sqex.link/LiS2MusicVid

Play the complete season of Life is Strange 2 on macOS and Linux! The award-winning Life is Strange series continues today on macOS and Linux with a stunning, five-part story of wonder, danger, power, and brotherhood. On the run and sharing a terrible secret, brothers Sean and Daniel can rely only on each other in a world that has turned against them. With the police on their trail, they must keep moving onwards to Mexico. But the road is long and daunting, and relying on the kindness of strangers brings its own dangers... How far will you run?

We have just released a patch that addresses a number of issues. Overall improvement. Animating and lighting improvements. Polished audio mix. Fixed several bugs in all episodes.

Go beyond Arcadia Bay with this thrilling all-new adventure from the Life is Strange universe! After a tragic incident, young brothers Sean and Daniel Diaz run away from home. Fearing the police, and dealing with Daniel's new telekinetic power, the boys head towards their fathers home in Mexico, and the hope of sanctuary. From Seattle, to Portland, to California, and Nevada... through gas stations, abandoned shacks, and forests... The road is long and filled with danger but also friendship, wonder, and opportunity. As Sean, your choices shape the fates of the Diaz brothers, and the lives of everyone they meet. Over the course of five stunning episodes, youll teach Daniel right from wrong, train him in the use of his incredible new powers, and shape him into the young man he will become. This is the trip that could bond Sean and Daniel forever or tear their brotherhood apart. Play the Complete Season now!

We are finally at the #JourneysEnd. In celebration of the full release of Life is Strange 2, we sat down with Co-creators and Directors Michel Koch and Raoul Barbet, Co-creator and Writer Jean-Luc Cano and Producer Luc Badhadoust, who shared the following messages for you, the players.
Co-creator and Director Raoul Barbet Thank you from Michel Koch and Raoul Barbet Co-creators and Directors When you start thinking about a new project, you never know where its going to take you. After the first Life is Strange, when the three of us (Michel Koch, Raoul Barbet, and Jean-Luc Cano) first met to write this new story and these new characters, we never imagined how much impact Sean and Daniel would have on us, and how many incredible moments we would share along the way. We have shared heartfelt moments in the process of creating the game, and in some poignant scenes within its episodes. We have also shared them with the community, and all the amazing people we have met and of course with the whole team, who have worked so passionately and so hard all these years. It has been a long and difficult production since we began with The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, and we are now proud to complete this journey together: both the team behind Life is Strange 2 and you, the players from all over the world. We all now find ourselves before this final choice in Episode 5, in the middle of the desert... We hope this story will speak to you, make you want to travel, and want to share it. Enjoy the game! Michel & Raoul
Co-creator and Director Michel Koch Thank you from Jean-Luc Cano Co-creator and Writer Here we are. The end of the road. When you go on a trip, you often think first about the destination, where you want to go. It's been four years our first-ever brainstorm on Life is Strange 2 was on December 1, 2015 since we started to walk the roads alongside Sean and Daniel. Four years during which we had a lot of good times, but also weathered a lot of storms. To question oneself, to propose new things, to explore new themes; all of this is not easy. But in our toughest moments, there's something we've always been able to count on: you. Your feedback, your messages, your encouragement your criticism, too they have carried us throughout this adventure. In joy and doubt, in victory and in our search for answers, we were never alone. On all these roads, you were with us. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Today, the journey is coming to an end. For us, as was the case for Max and Chloe, the story of Sean and Daniel is over, and we now have to let them go. It's up to them to fly on their own, to take their independence. It is therefore with great pride, but also a little sadness and nostalgia, that we wish good luck to our Wolf Brothers. Their story is told. They are yours now, they belong to you. Vaya con Dios, Wolf Brothers! The important thing is not the destination, but the journey... Jean-Luc
Co-creator and Writer Jean-Luc Cano Thank you from Luc Baghadoust Producer One could assume that we are used to releasing games and episodes: since January 30th 2015, we have released 5 Episodes of Life is Strange, The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, and 5 Episodes of Life is Strange 2. Each time, the team goes through periods of intense creativity that escalate to panic mode (as the days to release fly by). The excitement builds every day, until the moment the episode is finally out. Each time we release, we watch the streams, the reactions, read the comments, EVERYTHING This time its special. As Jean-Luc says, this is finally the end of the road. Just like Sean and Daniel on their journey, we have shared great moments and difficult times. We all held together in front of the elements, never slowed our momentum or our onward march, and met awesome people all along the road. This is the time for the Life is Strange team at DONTNOD to thank everyone that helped us create this project, the players that gave the chance to the game and supported us from the start, and the ones who will soon discover the wolf brothers story. We will never forget our journey, and we hope yours will be as memorable. We hope to see you soon.
Producer Luc Baghadoust On behalf of the whole Life is Strange team, thank you for playing Life is Strange 2.

One week until the #JourneysEnd. Watch the Complete Season Trailer by clicking the thumbnail above! #LifeisStrange2 Episode 5 is out on December 3rd on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC! Get #LifeisStrange2: https://BuyLiS2.com

You may have just played through one of the Episodes of LiS2 and found yourself a bit confused. Or maybe you are just intrigued to know a little bit more about the branching complexities that your choices have within the game! You can watch the full 'After You've Played' video by clicking on the thumbnail above!

At its core, Life is Strange 2 is a road trip game. Sean and Daniels journey from their home in Seattle takes them all across the western states of America: from the snow-covered gardens of wintery Beaver Creek, to the drifter camp under the giant redwoods in California, to the arid Nevada desert. Each environment adds something to the story and they are carefully crafted to feel unique but real: places you could almost go and visit in real life. But locations only come to life when you put people in them. The biggest part of world building isnt just where does this prop go, but asking yourself: why is it there? Who are the people that live there and what effect do they have on the environment, and the environment on them? Creating a world that feels lived in and is a place that makes sense narratively requires both careful environmental and character design. To explore the creation of the memorable locations of LiS2, and the diverse cast of characters who live in them, weve sat downwith Square Enix Art Director Rachele Doimo to discuss how the incredible art teams we work with at studios like DONTNOD bring everything to life Lets start with Environments first. And remember, as with our previous blogs: beware spoilers! Can you tell us what research went into some of the environments covered in Life is Strange 2? Everything started with a trip that the game directors did a few years ago across the USA. It was a journey through a continent that made quite a mark in their life and work. All the memorable places they visited and people they met have contributed to their vision of Life is Strange 2. What were some technical challenges for the larger scope of Life is Strange 2? Performance had to be monitored constantly from asset creation to final lighting pass on each shot. A high number of lights can significantly slow down performance, but at the same time, they can make a huge difference in the quality of each single shot so all assets in a scene, from character models, to props, to lights, to total number of polygons, have to be managed in order not to reduce the framerate.
Given the changing environments in each Episode of the game, were there any environmental assets you were able to re-use, or was it a case of starting with a fresh palette of trees, rocks, and ground textures every time? Each location had to be bespoke. Only a small amount of props could be reused, which also impacted development time. Generic grass, for example, is used in multiple locations, but trees and specific flora needed to be consistent with the part of the country that each episode is set. Every asset and material contributes and builds towards the unique, captivating look of an environment in Life is Strange. Into the woods in Episode 1 is the biggest environment to date. Do we see something similar in Ep4? At the beginning of Episode 4, when Sean is heading to Heaven Point, the Nevada desert area is probably the largest location in the game, in terms of visible distance. Although not the highest in asset density, it hopefully successfully creates a sense of loneliness and highlights Seans separation from his brother: walking on a vast unknown road through an unfriendly territory.
With Life is Strange 1 we had a broad cast of characters but one that remained in a single location: Arcadia Bay. The town had a set number of inhabitants and wasnt changing in the same way the environments do in LiS2. Though new characters were intermittently introduced, the cast broadly focused on a specific set of people. In Life is Strange 2, the boys are on the road, passing through all manner of towns and communities on their journey south, which, out of necessity, required a much larger supporting cast from the handful of major characters Sean and Daniel each Episode, to the innumerable secondary and background characters needed to populate each stop on their journey. More characters were designed during the Episode 1 and 2 concept art stage than were designed for the whole of LiS 1. Rachele, with that in mind, wed like to talk about how the art team develops characters that fascinate us, whether they feature in an episode, a scene, or are just seen in the background. Whats the process of designing a cast of memorable secondary and tertiary characters? The art process starts when an approved character biography is provided by the design team. This is the foundation of what the character should actually look like, the details of which all have to speak about who this person is and what they went through in life before the player encounters them. Facial features and body shape are extremely important, but clothes and accessories play a crucial role too. Even small details like a pin on a jacket can add a lot to the characters visual story. Designing a character is a rather long process that goes through many concepts and revisions, from the mood board stage to digital sketches, to the very detailed in-game model, which can itself be revised multiple times but it is extremely fun and rewarding when you see them being brought to life in the game.
The design process for Cassidy's tattoos went through a lot of development to make sure they represented her personality and character. No detail is too small! Some characters obviously get more attention in the narrative of Life is Strange 2 than others. Do lesser-seen characters get the same special treatment in art and design as more primary characters? What does this process look like? The main cast obviously is where the art team has spent most of their time, especially at the beginning of the project, but secondary and tertiary characters are no less detailed or less looked after. Main characters, in this case Sean and Daniel, are designed and created at the beginning and then serve as a benchmark for the rest. What is built during this process sets the style for the entire cast, the level of detail, the level of definition in the textures and the overall rendering style. In Life is Strange 2 there was a major need for extras and minor NPCs in every episode. While those didnt need the same uniqueness as the leads, they certainly still had to be consistent to the narrative, place and role in the story.
Similar to the intricacies of her tattoos, Cassidy's overall appearance went through many iterations to get her style just right. Who is your favourite character featured in Episode 3? Very tricky question I like all the drifters, of course! They are fun to play and watch. I have a particular soft spot for Cassidy she is visually very interesting, without being conventionally dressed or styled, it really allows her personality to shine through. Her punk-inspired style, with worn-out clothes and purple hair, makes her a very iconic and memorable character. She is both contemporary and unconventional, both with her style and her charismatic personality. Many thanks to Rachele for walking us through these elements of environment and character design. What were your favorite locations and characters on the journey so far do you have a soft spot for a background character? Join in the conversation, and stay with us all the way to #JourneysEnd!

As we move past Episode 1 on the road to #JourneysEnd, we approach a first for the Life is Strange franchise. With The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, there was an opportunity to create an experience not only additive to Life is Strange 2 (and more specifically Episode 2), but to expand the universe by focusing on one side character in-depth transforming a secondary character into the hero of their very own game. Whilst a rich and touching experience in its own right, Chris appears in Life is Strange 2 Episode 2 to Sean and Daniel for the first time, but as a fully-fledged character to the player. We spoke to Co-Creative Director Raoul Barbet and Square Enix Senior Game Designer Alejandro Gallardo about Captain Spirit, its connection to Episode 2, and what the experience meant to them. What excited you about getting the opportunity to deepen a connection to a side character by giving them their own chapter? Raoul: We had been wanting to create a smaller project which would allow us to further develop a character since the very beginning. We chose Chris because his story made for an interesting mirror to that of Sean and Daniel. Chris is roughly Daniels age, so we also talk about education and family through his relationship with his father. Of course, it was a first introduction of these themes before diving into them in LiS2 with Sean and Daniel. It made for an interesting parallel and it also allowed us to develop themes we had been wanting to expand upon for a long time, namely childhood, loneliness and the imaginary worlds we create as children. Was it always the plan to use Captain Spirit for a standalone slice of story or were other characters considered? Alejandro: When we started talking about the standalone, there were other characters that we thought it would have been cool to explore, like the drifters. But the one that resonated the most with everyone was Chriss story.
Chris doesnt have a power, but his wild imagination allows for many more abstract and imaginary scenes than were used to seeing in Life is Strange games. Can you tell us about your favourite manifestation? Raoul: Indeed, there isnt really a power per se in Captain Spirit, but we see Chriss imagination as a power of sorts. If memory serves, the first manifestation I wanted to see was the one in the long dark corridor Chris must walk through to turn on the water heater. The idea was to make this corridor longer because it embodies a childhood fear, and in our imagination, the corridor appears longer than it really is because were scared. It turned into the evil water heater that you need to turn back on, which became a scene in itself, and the basis from which we created all the other imaginary scenes. I would say the water heater is my favourite because I love the monster we created, and because its what started everything else. My second favourite is the planet, as I think its amazing visually and it adds a very cool element of science-fiction. Alejandro: My favourite manifestation was the Water Eater monster, because it reminded me of my childhood. Kid me and my brother always had a room in the house that was dark and we always imagined monsters living in there, so the fact that Chris needs his alter ego to go in there to beat the monster was very relatable. How do you think the players time with Chris in Captain Spirit enhances their view of the character in Life is Strange 2 Episode 2? Alejandro: By experiencing the world through Chriss eyes, it allows everyone to connect with his story as soon as you see him in Episode 2, making the decisions from Seans perspective even more difficult, because you care from Chris and you want the best for him. Hopefully you care even more about the bond that Daniel creates with Chris, because for the first time you have seen Daniel happy with a friend and you know that both kids need each other.
Life is Strange is known for tackling difficult realities of life, and in this chapter we were exposed to a young boy living in a home struggling with loss. Whilst Chris takes solace in his imagination, his father suffers from alcoholism. Why is it important for games to explore these elements of life? Raoul: We try to talk about the realities of our society, and we wanted to tackle these themes communication issues between father and son, loss, grief, and first and foremost, how children often find an escape from grown-up issues through their imagination. We think video games are an ideal medium to tackle these issues because they involve the player, and by playing Chris, we get back into the spirit of being a kid, home alone. As were playing a game, it creates a particularly interesting parallel, its quite meta: were playing a game in which Chris is trying to play to stave off boredom and maybe also to take his mind off of his issues with his father and the loss of his mother. Talking about all this was very important to us. After getting to know Captain Spirit in his Awesome Adventures, and in Episode 2, we move onto Episode 3 in our road to the #JourneysEnd. Be sure to keep up to date with all of the Life is Strange 2 fun, including giveaways, streams and more, by following us on our social channels. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LifeIsStrangeGame Twitter: https://twitter.com/LifeIsStrange Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeisstrangegame Tumblr: http://lifeisstrange-blog.tumblr.com VK: https://vk.com/lifeisstrange Discord: http://discord.gg/lifeisstrange Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/officiallifeisstrange Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/people/156942661@N04/

The Life is Strange series has always been synonymous with amazing music. While known for picking standout tracks from lesser-known artists and introducing them to players through memorable scenes, the series has also been gifted with nuanced, emotive scores. For Life is Strange and Life is Strange 2, Co-Creative Director and Music Supervisor Raoul Barbet worked closely with musician Jonathan Morali, known best for his work with indie rock and folk band Syd Matters. With Life is Strange 2, their now-seven-year collaborative relationship allowed them to develop a richer and more varied score, made possible because of the trust and familiarity created between composer and director. Moralis new score goes on a musical journey with Sean and Daniel, evolving alongside the story and the characters to which it introduces you. Today we wanted to share with you some insights into the score, and how it came to be, by sitting down with Raoul Beware of spoilers ahead! What emotions did you want to evoke when briefing Jonathan Morali? Raoul Barbet: When I got in touch with him to ask him to work on the first Life is Strange score, I had already been a fan of his and Syd Matters work for a long time. Having chosen a few tracks he had composed, I wanted him to retain a similar style, to do something Syd Matters. Life is Strange 2, we wanted to do something quite different. The idea was to have a rather stress-free intro that evoked the first Life is Strange, with a lot of acoustic guitar and this cocoon-like quality we knew from the first game - that tone runs through the whole Seattle section. As soon as the boys started hitting the road, we wanted to change the tone of the score, so we asked him to go with something a little different, with more electronic sounds. Colder, darker things, depending on the scenes, as we knew the brothers were going to face a number of difficulties on the road. We talked about wanting to convey a general feeling for each scene. The themes we asked him to compose were either linked to a given scene and setting, or to a specific character. Its all about that characters past, the feeling we want to evoke upon meeting them, and what story we can tell through the instruments, melody, and music for each character and each setting. [previewyoutube=xeTiS9qe2Bc;full][/previewyoutube] In the video above, feel how the scene is elevated when the score is added. It sets a severe, sobering tone as the boys lives are changed forever. You had the full shape of the season mapped out before work began on the score, so were there any moments or characters you were especially looking forward to hearing with Jonathans music? We had quite a lot of reference material for Jonathan to listen to when we started working on the game, in terms of mood and different musical styles. In Life is Strange 2, I wanted the combination of electronic music with other instruments. We began researching what it would mean to have the brothers on the road. We knew the theme that we called Into the woods corresponded to specific moments of their journey. We started working on this very early on, especially for Episode 1. We have specific themes for important characters after that. The drifters, for instance, in the camp in Episode 3 , have a score that is tailored to their community, with certain musical layers specific to each character. In Episode 2, we have a dedicated, warmer theme for the grandparents. We tried to create a sort of family feel, to mirror what we experience with them in Episode 2. These are themes specifically linked to scenes or characters. We discussed this a lot for each episode and we tried to establish what important themes we needed for specific characters or scenes - Jonathan and I exchanged a lot of references and ideas for each character. Im also thinking of Karen, who has a very strong personality, and whose themes played for the first time when we see her in Episode 4, and which you will hear again in Episode 5. Its a theme tailored to her, and there are a number of layers of the composition that play dynamically, depending on how well we know her and what we choose to do and talk about with her. For instance, as we start talking with her at the motel, well add layers to the track giving depth to the theme. How has your relationship evolved with Jonathan Morali since you worked with him on the first Life is Strange? Our relationship has evolved a lot, since weve been working together for seven years or so. Weve become more efficient, as we now know each other better. Life is Strange 2 has been a huge challenge because we tried to make its score a lot richer than that of the first game, and it has some rather complicated themes. Being a road trip, there are many different tracks to compose but I would say that our relationship has grown easier because there is more trust between the audio team, Jonathan and myself. We let him suggest more ideas than before. We did that all along, but now that we trust each other more, we let him suggest things earlier on. We also have technical and melodic needs, too, and sometimes things are missing, so we try to discuss everything as much as possible to speed up the process. For example, if we describe a theme linked to a setting or character, he will create an initial version and then come back to us maybe once or twice but thats it. Its a rather fast process and were very happy with the results and I think Jonathan also feels more at ease when composing and making unique suggestions.
Its notable that, as LiS2 goes along, theres an increasing reliance on the score to soundtrack the key emotional moments, rather than licensed tracks. Was this a deliberate decision- and was it a conscious choice that thematically replicates the boys leaving behind all theyve known? Thats a really good question. Yes, thats it exactly. We wanted... Or rather, I wanted Life is Strange 2 to have a richer score than the first game because we love what Jonathan does. I think hes an amazing composer, but we also knew we wanted licensed tracks for certain scenes. I really enjoyed picking the tracks, working them into the visuals, building on moments of the first game. We also wanted to continue in that vein because we knew the community enjoyed it and it spoke to our story. There are many licensed tracks to evoke the atmosphere in Seattle, showing us Seans taste, what hes listening to. They also allow us to talk about the characters he meets through the music they listen to. It gives us a quick point of entry to each character. For example, the intro to Sean and Lyla on the bus in Episode 1, set to Phoenixs Lisztomania, or the scene with the drifters in Episode 3, with Justices D.A.N.C.E.. The fact that theyre existing tracks gives us a strong mood and adds impact to the scene. We wanted to continue that way, but we also wanted the score to tell a story, to tell something about the brothers journey, so we have made the brothers themes evolve throughout the episodes with new tracks in each one. It was important to us that the score as a whole should evolve from something rather folky in Seattle, something that evoked the first Life is Strange, and continue developing until the end. As youll hear, Episode 5 has a very different score. So that was the fundamental idea, and were really happy with how it turned out. There are fewer licensed tracks but there are still quite a few of them, and were thrilled with the artists weve been able to feature. The idea was to re-balance or at any rate, to have Jonathan create an amazing, evolving score. Many thanks to Raoul for taking the time to unveil some secrets of the soundtrack well be back next week with another deep-dive blog interview into Episode 2! Stay with us all the way to the #JourneysEnd!

Today is our last day playing Episode 1: Roads! We have a special stream at 1PM PST/9PM GMT hosted by Dayeanne Hutton and special guest Mei Pak (Lyla!) on our YouTube channel. Join the conversation! Were giving away a LiS2 Collectors Edition: http://sqex.link/ep1chat

To kick off the road to the #JourneysEnd, we wanted to give you your first sneak peek at Episode 5. Click the thumbnail above to watch!

As we approach the #JourneysEnd, we wanted to take some time to deep dive on one of Life is Strange 2s most important, but also most misinterpreted systems. We hope that this added insight will help guide you in your decision making as you start Life is Strange 2 either for the first time or on a repeat playthrough.
As you may know, choices and their consequences in Life is Strange 2 are centered around your brother: Daniel. What we purposefully havent outlined properly to date is the depth of this system or how it actually functions as we believe a Life is Strange is best experienced purely rather than trying to game the system underlying it. Quite often we will see players deconstruct the outcome of a Life is Strange 2 episode using the choice and consequence system of previous games: If you choose these specific three or four options you should get outcome X. Today we wanted to take some time to explain that interpreting Life is Strange 2 solely through that kind of system can only lead to confusion. Before we get into the new system underlying Life is Strange 2 though, know that each entry in the season does have episode-specific consequence systems that conform to the more traditional choice and consequence approach. Your relationships with secondary characters, for example, are often based on the branching that youve come to expect from a Life is Strange game. If you work hard to build a specific relationship, that characters attitude towards you may change significantly which in turn will open or close off options that determine the fate of these characters. With respect to Daniel however, the system has added layers of complexity. From what weve seen so far, Daniels education is believed to rely on a one-track model similar to the one described above. That is to say that you can, for example, only teach Daniel to either be Good or Bad and that only certain key decisions will affect his education by nudging him towards becoming either a good or an evil person. The truth, however, is that Daniel grows and learns from your example based on two separate values: Morality and Brotherhood. Daniels Morality state determines how he acts in any given situation. Does he act in a kind and considerate way, or is he entirely selfish, without regard for other peoples feelings or safety? Daniels Brotherhood state determines how he responds to what you, as Sean, teach and ask of him. Does he trust you to make the right choice for the two of you, or will he disregard what you say because youve been unable to win his trust?
Heres the thing: the choices you must make in Life is Strange 2 are, like in other Life is Strange games and life in general, imperfect options. There is no true right or wrong decision, and all of them are laced with their own pros and cons that could contain a sting in the tail. While some decisions may improve Daniels Morality, those same choices can have a negative impact on his trust in you, and vice versa. There are some choices that may add to both Morality and Brotherhood, just like there are others that may reduce them both, or only impact one while leaving the other unaffected. You will have to weigh up each option for yourself and decide which outcome will be better for your personal Diaz brothers. Its also key to note that opposing choices arent just mirrors of one another. That is to say, choosing option A, which may award an increase in Morality, doesnt mean that option B will reduce Morality by the same amount. Each choice is weighted individually and entirely on its context. Choosing the opposite of a choice that would have affected Daniels Brotherhood and trust may not impact his Brotherhood either negatively or positively. In the diagram below weve outlined a small number of hypothetical examples of how this concept functions please note that the diagram and the choice examples are purely for illustrative purposes and are not present in Life is Strange 2. The diagram is also greatly simplified as it has been trimmed down to just 5 examples rather than the multitude of choices that play into determining the consequences you will experience.
Choice 1: Sean reminds Daniel that stealing is wrong, in every situation, and refuses to take money from an unattended wallet. Choice 2: Sean borrows a can of cola from a store, to quench Daniels thirst, and promises hell send the store a couple of dollars in the mail when they get some money. Choice 3: Sean stays up late entertaining Daniel with bedtime stories, with wholesome morals, staving off his nightmares and helping him sleep through the night. Choice 4: Sean shoots a potential kidnapper in the arm with the mans own gun, in order to save Daniel. Choice 5: An angry Sean blames Daniel for having to shoot the man. While major choices will have a greater impact on Daniels education overall, the lessons they teach him can still be outweighed by the many smaller choices you may make throughout your journey and the example you set. You cant choose to only be righteous when it counts, if thats what matters to you. You have to be an example to Daniel in everything you do and say. This is also why certain playthroughs result in different outcomes, even though players may have made the same major choices as their friends and other players. These outcomes are likely down to choosing differently in a series of smaller choices.
To date, Life is Strange 2 has featured over 50 individual choices that have pushed Daniel towards becoming moral/amoral and/or trusting/not trusting of Sean. This is what we mean when we say, everything you do will have an impact on Daniel. You have so far had 50 opportunities to mold Daniel into the kind of person you want him to become - 16 of those already appearing during Episode 1. Each opportunity and decision will have stacked on top of the others, to cumulatively determine which outcome you see at the end of each episode, and which endings (thats right, we heard you!) will be available to you at the end of the game. This additive system means that a single save file will not be able to see every single outcome of Life is Strange 2 as you will not be able to simply reload and re-pick one or two choices in order to see all other endings. You will also notice that Daniels moment-to-moment behavior throughout the season also subtly changes depending your choices. Some of those subtleties will be evident in his general behavior, interactions with Sean and other characters as well as the words he uses. Others become apparent through the look at cues you can investigate that relate to Daniel and what Sean thinks of him. As Daniel becomes the person you are teaching him to be, his learned state of mind will also open up or close off some bigger and smaller decision options that you are given. There are cases throughout the episodes where you may try to interact with Daniel in a particular way, but he refuses to listen or accept your advice or help. That refusal may mean that what youre trying to teach him may not have the same impact as if he had accepted it. This is because your previous choices have reinforced and compounded themselves as you proceeded through the story of Life is Strange 2. This is particularly visible if you have a sudden change of heart or feel strongly about a certain decision that may not align with what youve taught him so far.
Each time the little wolf icon is highlighted, your decision will have had an impact on Daniel Daniels Morality and Brotherhood values arent just on a 0-100 scale either. It is entirely possible for Daniels values to dip into negative numbers, which is when players will truly start to see Daniels dark side. There is absolutely some truth to the idea that if you end up with a Daniel who is entirely misbehaved, never listens and doesnt trust Sean then thats a direct result of you choosing to raise Daniel in that way. The ultimate outcome of the Life is Strange 2 story reflects the accumulation of all your previous choices with regards to Daniel. His actions and demeanour are determined by what you taught him throughout the season, in interactions big and small. This will be important, particularly when he reaches a point where he may well assert his independence and start making big decisions of his own.
We have purposefully not gone into exact details about which choices impact Daniels education, or to what extent, as we want you to experience Life is Strange 2 using your own personal feelings about right and wrong as a guide, rather than trying to build a specifically good or evil and obedient or rebellious Daniel. Choices, just like in real life, can be messy and are rarely clear-cut. You will often need to make peace with what you feel is best for the Diaz brothers as they journey towards Puerto Lobos. Weve outlined a few examples to explain the system a little bit more on our official Youtube Channel (you can also watch it below), though this video will include spoilers. Weve structured the video in a chronological manner so that you can view it up until the spoiler warnings for an episode you havent yet played to avoid getting spoiled. If anything at all about what we covered in this blog was confusing, this video will be sure to help! https://youtu.be/KSi-DBlycwE Were now just under a month away from the full release of Life is Strange 2 and are looking forward to hearing whether knowing more about how Daniel is taught changes how you approach the game in the weeks of the #JourneysEnd that lie ahead.