Square Enix aids anti-bullying charity with Life Is Strange-themed effort

Life Is Strange publisher Square Enix launched an anti-bullying charity campaign themed around the episodic adventure game this week, promising to donate an unspecified amount to PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center every time someone takes part in the event.

While it's not uncommon for large companies to make a show of drumming up money and support for noble causes, this instance is especially notable because it shows Square Enix is continuing to back Dontnod's efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of bullying.

The French studio went so far as to include a message at the end of Life Is Strange episodes encouraging players who felt affected by the game -- which prominently features young people wrestling with social issues like bullying, harassment and suicidal behavior -- to visit a special page on the game's website dedicated to sharing crisis hotline information for countries around the world.

Square Enix also streamed a live playthrough of the game for charity in November as part of the annual Extra Life event, which calls on people around the world to raise money for children's hospitals while livestreaming themselves playing games.