Do n’t Nod , well known for create the Life is Strange franchise , unfold a new studio in Montreal in 2020 . At that sentence , the studio had left the Life is Strange series behind , but it primed this Modern studio to produce a spiritual successor under the guidance of developers behind that strike serial , including Luc Luc Baghadoust and Michel Koch . The Game Awards 2023bore the fruits of this labor with the reveal ofLost Records : Bloom & Rage .
Lost Records : Bloom & Rageis a new narrative - concentre biz that follow the story of four little girl who reunify 27 years after a traumatic supernatural event . We do n’t know much else about it yet , but my conversation with three developer at Do n’t Nod Montreal painted a picture of how the studio apartment is preparing forLost Recordsto be a game that not only lives up to expectations as a Life is unusual successor , but puts and keep Do n’t Nod Montreal on the mapping .
Setting the record straight
“ We ’ve had this opportunity to produce this studio apartment on the cornerstone that we wanted , ” Baghadoust , the game ’s executive producer , tells Digital Trends . “ Now , for the first time , we can build a strategy regarding how we ’re pass to make this a studio devote to this franchise . We influence the style we work , the creative , the team , the production , the tools , the technical school ; everything is made toward this goal . It ’s the Lost Records franchise , but also the Do n’t Nod Montreal project . ”
While Do n’t Nod is not yet ready to share any military mission statement of sort for the entire franchise , Bloom & Rage’spremise harks back to the character - focused coming - of - historic period dramatic event that Do n’t Nod is known for , with creative director Koch telling us that the pandemic cease up influence the secret plan in that the idea of connectedness , or lack thereof , is a central report thatBloom & Ragetackles .
Its premise does share some similarities toYellowjackets , although Koch tell apart Digital Trends that Do n’t Nod ’s idea forBlood & Ragepredated that show ’s button ; it ’s likely that the same sources , such as Stephen King andTwin Peaks , exhort both . The most substantial influence looming overLost Recordsis Life is foreign , though . That ’s the enfranchisement that put the studio on the map , but it ’s also a property owned by Square Enix that Do n’t Nod did n’t have lineal control over .
As a result , Do n’t Nod moved off from that franchise followingLife is Strange 2,with Deck Nine developing2021 ’s life-time is Strange : True colour . Lost Recordscould potentially dish up as a Life is Strange replacement from the original originative squad , one that Do n’t Nod has complete ownership and control over . Koch seemed quite aroused about the estimation of make up not only a individual plot , but an integral franchise that wholly belongs to the creatives at Do n’t Nod Montreal .
“ We are working on this first secret plan as a accomplished entity , but we have in psyche the links and all we can unravel with further game , how we could have character hail back , and what could be the follow - ups for some characters in the future , ” Koch says . “ It ’s really liberate and nifty creatively to be able to work like that . Even if there was only one game , we still had the chance to think of how things can carry and lie with that if thing go properly , we will be able to do that and extend those games with other ideas , follow - ups , and side narrative that we have imagined . As a creator , you could not necessitate for something skilful than that . ”
Most story and gameplay contingent aboutBloom & Rageare still under wraps . However , the developers want to develop the narrative adventure gameplay experience with this novel entry . “ There are kernel base mechanics that are part of the game we make , and we ’ll still want to use on these game regarding geographic expedition , dialogues , pick , and consequences . But there ’s also way for foundation , ” Baghadoust says .
Koch append that Do n’t Nod referenced the enduringness and shortcoming of Life is Strange ’s gameplay as it createdLost Records . He praise the rewind mechanic inLife is Strangefor offering that agency and critiquedLife is Strange 2’sdistance from those mogul - found consequences , even though it was thematically appropriate . WithLost Records : Bloom & Rage , Do n’t Nod wants to lean into fall in players more agency .
“ Something that we ’re trying to push more is devote the feeling of more bureau to our players with our dialogue system . We make certain that you feel more affiliated with your character when you ’re talk rather than just look on an synergistic movie , ” he say . “ like a shot , we honour the interaction with the controller so you feel like you ’re act the game and not just playing a reference who then make the biz evolve . ”
While opening in the middle of the pandemic bring its own challenge , Do n’t Nod Montreal finally ensconce in as a remote - friendly studio solely focalize on makingLost Recordsthe best it could be . Frederique Fourny - Jennings , Don’t Nod Montrealmanaging conductor , who was also on the call , liken get a successful first biz as a studio to converting a endeavour in rugger , as it means they ’ll get to hold fast around and make more despite the economic hardship the biz industriousness is present .
“ One affair that ’s profoundly of import to me is courage , the courageousness to manage , the courage to make determination , the courage to stick to what we desire to do in a way that makes sense while working with all the other stakeholders , ” Fourny - Jennings tells Digital Trends . “ You have selling and game - dev and many other citizenry revolving around us whose mandate is for the task to be a vital success , a commercial-grade success . We have all this we ask to bring in together , but it ’s really the courageousness to keep the core of what we ’re trying to do , to keep these values that we ’re trying to bring in our game , in our studio . ”
Lost Records : Bloom & Ragelaunches for PC , PS5 , and Xbox Series X / S in late 2024 .
