Life is Strange: True Colors is not being developed by DONTNOD, but will instead be made by Deck Nine, a Colorado-based studio made in part by former DONTNOD employees. While it may be under a different name, fans of the series can likely expect to see many traits that DONTNOD has proven to exhibit successfully not just in the Life is Strange series, but in Tell Me Why as well.
Tell Me Why is a strange project from the studio, looking and feeling exactly like another Life is Strange game but is officially not considered to be part of the franchise. Still, it showcases multiple things that Life is Strange is known for, namely accurate representation in the LGBTQIA+ community and mental health. Fans will be expecting to see these traits when Life is Strange: True Colors releases in September.
Tell Me Why's LGBTQIA+ Representation
Trans representation in fictional media is always tricky business, likely spurring both positive and negative reactions. While some are happy to see trans people represented at all, there's always the concern of whether it's been done accurately or not, especially because the LGBTQIA+ community is so prone to tropes.
One prominent trope that has existed even in the Life is Strange series, despite its positive representation of the queer community, is the stereotype that queer people's stories never end happily. However, Tell Me Why changed the trend from Chloe and Max's tale in the first Life is Strange installment with its trans protagonist Tyler. The twin meets Michael in the small Alaskan town, and the chemistry between them is clear. For players who aren't feeling it, they can reject Michael and become good friends, and he'll still be supportive of Tyler and his struggles. But the romance is nothing short of cute and wholesome if players see it through, leading to a happy ending.
Much like the first two installments in the Life is Strange main series, Alex Chen will have two romantic options available to her: Ryan and Steph. Steph has caught the eye of veteran players as she appeared in the prequel game Life is Strange: Before the Storm, and the game could draw a connection between the two universes. It's unclear if either is considered canon, but the hope is that Alex and Steph's romance is treated with the same positive representation as Michael and Tyler from Tell Me Why.
Tell Me Why's Mental Health Representation
It's often overshadowed by Tyler's representation of transgender young adults, but Tell Me Why also accurately depicts depression and anxiety through Tyler's twin Alyson. It becomes more apparent as the game progresses, but if players receive the bad ending, they'll see Alyson close in on herself, shutting her twin out without any stereotypical, sad scenes. Mental health is bound to crop up in Life is Strange: True Color's depiction of emotions, but how it will take shape is the question.
Deck Nine released footage of an early moment in Alex's story, showcasing her struggles with other people. It hasn't been defined officially, but it's possible that Alex deals with a form of social anxiety or agoraphobia, or perhaps she simply keeps a distance due to her powers. On the other hand, Alex will embody the emotions of others in an interesting take on telepathy, and these sensations can often become overwhelming for the Asian-American protagonist, resulting in hallucinations. It's easy to imagine how peeking into the mind of someone struggling with their mental health could make its way into Life is Strange: True Colors' story, but it needs to be done tastefully and accurately.
Life is Strange: True Colors releases for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on September 10, 2021.