The latest Life is Strange game, Double Exposure, was announced during the Xbox Games Showcase recently, and there is an important thing to know for people who want to play it as soon as possible.
The game’s most expensive edition, the Ultimate Edition ($80 USD), lets people play the first two chapters a full two weeks before officially launches on October 29. It’s not uncommon for more expensive editions of a game to unlock a few days early, or in the case of Call of Duty in recent years, a full week for the campaign. But Double Exposure offering up two-week early access is something new and unusual for a non-free-to-play game.
For a story-heavy series like Life is Strange, where twists and turns in the narrative are expected, it might be extra challenging for fans to have their experience remain unspoiled if they don’t want to pay extra. If there is a silver lining, it’s that only Chapters 1 and 2 are accessible early–Chapters 3 and beyond do not unlock until the full launch launches on October 29. (For what it’s worth, we don’t know exactly how many chapters Double Exposure has in total).
Beyond the two-week early access, Double Exposure’s Ultimate edition comes with five additional outfit packs and a pre-order bonus. Double Exposure’s standard edition is priced at $50, with its Deluxe edition going for $60. As mentioned, these versions unlock on October 29. For more on the various editions of Double Exposure, check out GameSpot’s Life is Strange: Double Exposure preorder guide.
Double Exposure picks up Max Caulfield’s story as she discovers her new friend, Safi, has been murdered and is lying dead in the snow. Max wants to save her, so she tries to go back in time, but she instead opens a new parallel timeline where Safi is still alive and fighting for her life.
“Max realizes the killer will soon strike again–in both versions of reality. With her new power to Shift between two timelines–can Max solve and prevent the same murder?” reads a line from the game’s description.
Double Exposure is developed by German game developer Deck Nine, which made headlines earlier this year for its reported toxic work environment and Nazi imagery reportedly appearing in its databases. Deck Nine took over development on the Life is Strange series from series creator Don’t Nod.
