The creators of Life is Strange 2 explain why they do not fear politics in games



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The creators of Life is strange are not afraid to touch on topics that are often taboo in games. While some developers have denied any political statement, the French studio Dontnod has put these issues at the forefront of his current project, Life is strange 2.

Life is strange 2 follows two brothers, Sean and Daniel, on the run after a tragic event. In addition to juggling grief and newly acquired responsibilities, the couple is also confronted with bigotry and its worst. In a recent interview with The edgeCo-creator and co-director Raoul Barbet and lead producer Luc Bagadhoust explained how their series went from teenager issues to a more politicized scene.

"It's very difficult now not to do something that is not political, I think," says Bagadhoust, whether you play games or tweets. "People who speak out are now more politicized than ever. It was very important and we have the responsibility to treat the topics very carefully. But the idea is to convey this message, not to be too judgmental, but not to hide the topics we want. "

With Max and Chloe, stars of the first Life is strangeDontnod wanted to address topics such as online harassment, depression and other issues that teens face. The continuation continues this trend. Sean and Daniel, two boys of Mexican descent, face issues related to family, immigration and race. Barbet says that despite his presence in the United States, many of his most serious themes are unfortunately universal. "It's a social issue in general," he says. "That's why I think it works with a lot of players. They can reflect on their own experience and their country or history. "

It was important for Dontnod to find organic ways to tell these stories, rather than launching them into a game just for the sake of it. Barbet points to the first game, when players face a suicidal friend. It is an example of a difficult subject that has naturally evolved over the course of history, instead of resembling a dramatic scene on which we have not thought. It is the sum of the player's actions leading up to that moment, and not a series of fast events or impulsive dialogue choices, that affect his progress. "We do not want to play a difficult subject," said Barbet. It's different from the film, he says, where viewers play a passive role. "You are responsible for what happened because you play."

Life is strange 2The third episode will be launched on May 9th. Although Dontnod has two more episodes to follow, developers say their main message is always to learn to take care of someone and to be a role model. Until then, they were pleasantly surprised by the kindness and enthusiasm of the players towards Daniel. In addition to the supernatural elements of the game, the core of Life is strangeBarbet, he explains, is always about exploring realistic topics in a relatable universe. "Talking about our society, current global problems, that sort of thing," he says. "I think games are really a great way to talk about all of this."

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