Platforms: Xbox One & PC (Windows Store & Steam) [Included with Gamepass]
Players: 1
File Size: 9GB
Language: English VA Only at Launch (Due to COVID) [Subtitles still available]
Release Dates: Episode 1 (August 27th) Episode 2 (September 3rd) Episode 3 (September 10th)
Story:
Tell Me Why is the latest narrative adventure game from DONTNOD Entertainment, the studio behind the beloved franchise, Life is Strange. In this intimate mystery, twins Tyler and Alyson Ronan use their supernatural bond to unravel the mysteries of their loving but troubled childhood in beautiful small-town Alaska.
FAQ:
Q: Is Tyler's birth name, or deadname, used anywhere in the game?
A: No, Tyler's birth name does not appear anywhere in Tell Me Why. In flashback scenes, players will hear young Tyler referred to as "Ollie." "Ollie" was the first name Tyler chose for himself: he liked that it sounded similar to Alyson's nickname, "Aly."
Q: Did Tyler transition as a result of his childhood trauma?
A: No. As players explore the Ronan twins' childhood home, they will discover memories and sentimental objects which depict the ways Tyler expressed himself as a boy even before his mother's death. The idea that being transgender is caused by trauma is a stereotype that has no basis in fact, and it plays no role in Tyler's story.
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Q: Tell Me Why is set in rural Alaska, a region of the world that's home to many indigenous communities. What steps did DONTNOD Entertainment and Xbox take to ensure that its representation of Alaska Native culture is respectful?
A: Tlingit culture is a key part of Tell Me Why's story and scenery. Our partners at Huna Heritage Foundation have been integral in our goal to portray these elements respectfully and responsibly. They also informed many other aspects of the game, including atmospheric sounds, Tlingit-language pronunciation and spelling verification, and information on customs such as funerary rites. We also commissioned Huna Tlingit artisans to create the many Tlingit objects, murals and designs that appear in the game. For more info on their work, read our blog post.
In trailers and screenshots, we have revealed two Tlingit characters who appear in Tell Me Why. One is Michael Abila, Alyson's coworker and best friend; another is Eddy Brown, the police chief of Delos Crossing. We look forward to players learning more about these characters when they play the game.
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Q: Was Tyler's mother transphobic? (SPOILERS)
A:
No. Tyler's mother, Mary-Ann Ronan, was not transphobic. In Chapter 1, Tyler and Alyson discover that their mother had been taking steps to learn how to support her transgender child.
Q: Does Tell Me Why depict any transphobia against Tyler? (SPOILERS)
A:
In Chapter 1, Tyler will face some ignorant comments and microaggressions from a few people in Delos Crossing: family friends who knew and cared about Tyler ten years ago but who have not seen him since his transition. By Chapter 2, all characters in Tell Me Why interact respectfully with Tyler, and without microaggressions. Tyler is never called by his birth name.
Q: Does Tell Me Why depict homophobia against Michael, a queer Tlingit man? (SPOILERS)
A:
No, Tell Me Why does not depict homophobia against Michael. In one optional sequence in Chapter 2, Michael briefly describes in his own words some of the homophobia he has experienced while living in Delos Crossing and how he took steps to surround himself with people who accepted him, but these events do not take place during the game.
Screenshots:
Development Partners
