Almost a decade after the first game came out, Max Caulfield is coming back to bring fans more mystery and time-bending powers with a sprinkle of dad jokes in Life is Strange: Double Exposure. The sequel is set years after the events in Arcadia Bay; Max is now a photography instructor at Caledon University, and has also lost her rewind powers for good. Life is Strange: Double Exposure will also introduce Max's new peers, including her close friend Safi.
Of course, it isn't a Life is Strange game without a suspenseful crime angle. In Double Exposure, Max discovers Safi dead in the snow, triggering her new Shift powers that let her travel to a different timeline where Safi is alive. Max now has to work to keep Safi alive in the new timeline, while also solving the mystery surrounding her murder in the other. Life is Strange: Double Exposure's plot has birthed a lot of wild fan theories about what's possibly going on with Max and Safi, and they might even contain some kernels of truth.
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Life is Strange: Double Exposure's Theories Add to the Mystery and Fun
A Surprising Possible Culprit Behind Safi's Murder
There are a number of potential suspects that could've killed Safi, like Moses and the detective, but some Life is Strange fans believe that Mark Jefferson might be the real killer. Jefferson was Max's photography teacher and the main antagonist in the first Life is Strange game, who was found to have kidnapped and murdered a number of girls in Arcadia Bay. In Double Exposure, Safi claims that she's in contact with a publisher, who fans think is Jefferson, because he's a photographer and novelist. They also spot an owl before Max finds Safi's dead body in the snow, which is believed to be Jefferson's spirit animal in the first game.
Jefferson's fate depends on the players' choice at the end of Life is Strange. In "Sacrifice Chloe," police arrest him, while in "Sacrifice Arcadia Bay," he's presumed to have died during the huge storm. Fans theorize that Jefferson either got out of jail or survived the storm, and is now going by a different identity to continue his crimes in the sequel.
- Sacrifice Chloe: Max goes back to the present, and witnesses Chloe getting shot in the restroom
- Sacrifice Arcadia Bay: Max saves Chloe and drives away, leaving Arcadia Bay to be destroyed by a devastating tornado
A Crossover Between Old and New Characters
Deck Nine has confirmed that Max's backstory in Double Exposure will depend on players' final decision in the first game, and that it will respect both Life is Strange endings in the sequel. Many fans believe that Max's Shift powers will allow her to visit timelines where Chloe or Arcadia Bay survived, so it's possible for old and new characters to meet. Since Chloe and Max's mom, Joyce, are mentioned in the sequel, it's quite possible that they'll show up at some point to interact with the new characters and even help investigate Safi's murder.
Life is Strange Characters Could Come Back From the Dead
Chloe isn't the only dead girl who might show up in Life is Strange: Double Exposure, because fans are speculating that Rachel Amber may be alive in the other timeline. Rachel is Chloe's missing friend and is one of Jefferson's victims, whose body is found buried in the junkyard.
In the sequel, fans believe that Rachel may be alive in the other timeline and that she's now known as Loretta Rice. The new character apparently looks like a matured version of Rachel, but some also think it might be a reach because they don't have the same voice actors.
- Rachel Amber: Voiced by Kylie Brown in Life is Strange: Before the Storm
- Loretta Rice: Voiced by Ashlynn Hideman in Life is Strange: Double Exposure
Safi's Killer Could Be Right in Front of Players' Eyes
Another interesting theory is that Safi's killer could be Max, but many also believe this to be impossible because of their friendship. Likewise, there's also speculation that Max may be framed for Safi's murder or that her peers may think that she's the killer. This could be an interesting story element, especially since Life is Strange: Double Exposure requires players to pay close attention to Max's choices in both timelines, because the confusion may affect her relationships. The stakes are also higher because Max can't rewind time to redo her decisions anymore.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 71 /100 Critics Rec: 54%
- Released
- October 29, 2024
- ESRB
- M For Mature: Mild Blood, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Deck Nine
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Franchise
- Life is Strange
WHERE TO PLAY
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 she’s 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.
With her new power to Shift between two timelines – can Max solve and prevent the same murder?
ORDINARY GIRL, EXTRAORDINARY POWER
Max is thrust into a thrilling supernatural murder mystery – more dangerous than ever before!
TRAVERSE TWO TIMELINES
Forge allies and pursue suspects across two versions of reality, shaping both timelines through unforgettable choices.
RACE AGAINST TIME
A relentless detective has Max in his sights, and Safi’s killer grows closer with every clue uncovered. Can Max survive long enough – to do the impossible?
DECIDE THE FATE OF CALEDON
Explore two versions of a vivid winter campus, each packed with clues, secrets, and tough decisions.
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
