Who owns Life Is Strange? Square Enix owns the Life Is Strange franchise. DON’T NOD developed the original game in 2015 and Life Is Strange 2, but Square Enix published them and retained the intellectual property. The developer’s financial troubles in October 2026 don’t change that.
DON’T NOD made Max Caulfield’s original adventure. Deck Nine developed Before the Storm and later titles, including 2026’s Reunion. Those are development credits, not a change of franchise ownership.
Who owns Life Is Strange in 2026?
Square Enix lists Life Is Strange among its corporate intellectual properties. Its copyright notice names Square Enix Ltd as rights holder and DONTNOD Entertainment as developer of the 2015 game.
So when asking Who owns Life Is Strange?, the relevant distinction is between owner, publisher and developer. DON’T NOD created the original story under a publishing agreement, but Square Enix controls the ongoing franchise.
Who made the original Life Is Strange?
DON’T NOD, then called DONTNOD Entertainment, developed the first game in Paris. Its five episodes launched between January and October 2015, published by Square Enix.
It introduced Max Caulfield, her time-rewind power and her relationship with Chloe Price. Those characters came from DON’T NOD’s work, but Who owns Life Is Strange? is a separate question from which studio originally created them.
Did DON’T NOD make Life Is Strange 2?
Yes. The studio also developed The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, released in June 2018, and Life Is Strange 2, which ran over five episodes between September 2018 and December 2019.
Life Is Strange 2 follows brothers Sean and Daniel Diaz; Captain Spirit tells a connected story. Square Enix published both games.
Who owns Life Is Strange after Deck Nine took over?
Square Enix still owns the franchise. Deck Nine made Before the Storm, True Colors, Double Exposure and Reunion. Developing these games did not give Deck Nine the IP rights.
Reunion released on March 26, 2026 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Square Enix published it. Anyone asking Who owns Life Is Strange? because Deck Nine made Reunion can use the same answer: Square Enix.
Why did DON’T NOD stop making Life Is Strange?
In an April 2026 interview, original creative director Michel Koch said DON’T NOD needed a publisher and Square Enix backed its pitch. The publisher obtained the IP under that agreement.
After completing Life Is Strange 2, Koch said the team wanted to pursue other ideas, while Square Enix continued the series with another studio. That history explains Who owns Life Is Strange? without suggesting there was an announced transfer of the rights.
What happened to the original Life Is Strange team?
DON’T NOD went on to make Tell Me Why, Jusant and Lost Records: Bloom & Rage. The Montréal studio includes members of the original Life Is Strange team, but Lost Records is a separate franchise.
DON’T NOD has also developed Vampyr and Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden. Those later games do not change its credit for the original Life Is Strange.
Does DON’T NOD’s financial crisis change Life Is Strange ownership?
No. DON’T NOD entered French safeguard proceedings on October 19, 2026, but Square Enix’s Life Is Strange rights are separate from that process. The French court decision does not automatically cancel Deck Nine games or transfer the franchise.
The answer to Who owns Life Is Strange? should not depend on DON’T NOD’s staffing plans or whether its own development pipeline changes. Square Enix remains the owner.
Could DON’T NOD get the Life Is Strange rights back?
Neither company has announced a rights buyback, transfer or new DON’T NOD-developed entry. Square Enix remains the owner.
As of October 29, Who owns Life Is Strange? has a straightforward answer: Square Enix owns the series. DON’T NOD created the original and Life Is Strange 2; Deck Nine made the newer titles. Our DON’T NOD games list covers the original studio’s other releases.
Related Guides
Official source: Square Enix’s official Life Is Strange intellectual-property listing.
