Oxenfree II: Lost Signals is (finally) out this summer

oxenfree ii: the lost signals
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Oxenfree II: Lost Signals has a release date ā€“ itā€™s out on 12 July, developer Night School Studio has announced.


Paranormal adventure sequel Oxenfree II: Lost Signals is finally due out this summer, having previously been delayed from its original launch window of September 2022.

Announced during yesterdayā€™s Nintendo Indie World Showcase, Oxenfree II is now set for release on 12 July.

The original Oxenfree, released in 2016, was a 2D adventure that followed a group of youngsters as they encounter all kinds of supernatural mysteries on a foggy, picturesque island. But where the first title was a coming-of-age tale, Oxenfree II follows a new protagonist, Riley, and a new location ā€“ the small town of Camena.

Back when this website was still a magazine called Wireframe, we chatted to studio director Sean Krankel about the sequel, and he explained why it was important to come up with a new story rather than follow the first gameā€™s plot and characters.

ā€œIt was important that we didn’t just do a continuation of the last one,ā€ Krankel said in 2021. ā€œ[Doing a sequel with new characters] let us tell a brand new story with a lot of the same rule set from the first game, but without making it feel like we were making a Scooby-Doo adventure with a bunch of characters going and doing the same stuff again.ā€

Oxenfree II's characters are in their 30s, which will automatically give the tale a different vibe from the original cast of carefree teenagers, but thereā€™s still the same small town setting, the 2D perspective, and the same supernatural energy emanating through old radio sets.

ā€œRiley, not to spoil things, is going through a major life event,ā€ lead writer Adam Hines told us. ā€œShe’s really trying to make sense [of things], correcting past mistakes, and setting the groundwork for a more successful future for herself… Having that nostalgic air that Oxenfree had, but having them as adults in their mid-30s [with] some past behind them allows us to touch on way more adult themes and adult topics, and just have them be in a much more mature place than [before], which of course colours every conversation and every interaction that you have.ā€

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals is out on PC, PS4, PS5 and Switch on 12 July 2023.

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