A couple of weeks back, a rumor regarding the next installment of DONTNOD's iconic series, Life is Strange 3, surfaced online. Many gamers have been attracted to and commended the Life is Strange series for its positive representation in marginalized groups such as the Mexican-American and LGBTQIA+ communities. And after DONTNOD largely expanded its studio last year, it's only inevitable that fans are easily excited by rumors of what's to come.
But while it originally seemed that the Life is Strange 3 rumor had come from out of the blue, it actually came just a couple of weeks ahead of Square Enix's reveal announcement. This could mean what ResetEra user and presumed industry insider Navtra outlined in their leak is likely accurate, but there are still some claims made by the leaker that have yet to be confirmed. But taking the close timeline between the two leaks into consideration, it's probable that they coincide with one another.
The Life is Strange 3 Rumors
Previously, Navtra, who has accurately predicted past information about other Square Enix titles such as the Spider-Man DLC of Marvel's Avengers, claimed that Life is Strange 3 wouldn't be a numbered title and would release sometime in 2021. But another rumor that surfaced around the same time supported this theory, stating that Life is Strange 3 would be subtitled True Colors.
More interestingly, this same rumor that was anonymously posted to ResetEra outlined the premise of the upcoming Life is Strange installment: it would feature an Asian-American woman named Alex who has mind-reading powers as the protagonist. While this rumor could have been brushed off without anything to back it up, mods have confirmed that the user privately messaged them with proof to support their claims. However, it's likely that some of the more specific claims they made won't end up being accurate, such as not being set in the Pacific Northwest like the rest of the Life is Strange titles and even DONTNOD's Tell Me Why. Regardless, it seems unlikely to be a coincidence that these rumors appeared just before a proper reveal.
Life is Strange 3's Superpowers
But looking at Life is Strange's pattern of powers, it's quite possible that the rumor on ResetEra is accurate. DONTNOD implements the most classic, mind-related superpowers but in modern settings. It all started with a form of time travel, followed by telekinesis. If considering Tell Me Why, telepathy made its way into the DONTNOD formula as well. Mind-reading is a probable next step alongside other superpowers like invisibility and teleportation.
And the representation of colors as emotions is unique, but wouldn't be out of the blue for DONTNOD. During Tell Me Why, the twins were able to view each other's memories, which helped them solve the big mystery. It's an unconventional yet creative way to implement twin telepathy, and it could be the same for True Colors. Perhaps Life is Strange 3 is going a less traditional route with how minds can be read, if the rumor is true.
DONTNOD's Representation
DONTNOD tackled Life is Strange 2, a story about two Mexican-American brothers facing racism in America, just as the real America was dealing with the subjects like building a wall on the Central American border. The wall itself even appears in the game, meaning that Life is Strange 2 wasn't shy to such a heated subject.
But one specific, recent event has resulted in racism against Asians and Asian Americans: the COVID-19 pandemic. Again, DONTNOD isn't cautious about creating premises based on real-world issues, and Life is Strange 2's story hit home with a lot of BIPOC players. Giving credence to that ResetEra rumor, it's quite possible DONTNOD could be planning to address racism against the Asian American community, whether or not it discusses the ongoing pandemic. And it's easy to imagine how racism could blend with mind-reading powers. For now, fans have to wait and see, but it's easy to be excited about another Life is Strange title.
Life is Strange 3 is rumored to be in development.