Life Is Strange: Double Exposure | |
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Developer(s) | Deck Nine |
Publisher(s) | Square Enix |
Director(s) | Jon Stauder |
Series | Life Is Strange |
Platform(s) | |
Release | October 29, 2024 |
Genre(s) | Adventure |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Life Is Strange: Double Exposure is an upcoming episodic adventure game developed by Deck Nine and published by Square Enix. The fourth main installment of the Life Is Strange series, it is a direct sequel to Life Is Strange. The plot focuses on an older Max Caulfield discovering she has the ability to experience two parallel timelines at once.
Double Exposure will be released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on October 29, 2024.
Premise
[edit]After her friend Safi was murdered, Max Caulfield tries to use her rewind powers, which she had sworn to never use again, to save her, but discovers that she has gained the ability to travel to another timeline where Safi is still alive. She is determined to prevent Safi's murder a second time and find out who the killer is, but a persistent detective won't make her investigation easy.
Development
[edit]In June 2024, during the Xbox Games Showcase, Deck Nine revealed their latest installment in the Life Is Strange series, which serves as a direct sequel to Life Is Strange.[1] The game avoids making one of the two endings from the first game canon by allowing players to choose an ending organically in Double Exposure.[2] Narrative director Felice Kuan added "We knew we had to respect the two unforgettable endings to the first chapter of Max's story, while also crafting something new, something fresh that echoed Max's past challenges even while it moved Max's personal story forward". Game director Jon Stauder said that the studio does not consider either ending canon, which allows players to decide their ending through "Max's thoughts, her journal, her SMS, her interactions with other characters, what she opts to reveal about her past to her new friends, it's all reflective of that final choice".[3] The game features a new ability for Max, moving away from her rewind powers in the first game. Instead, she will have a new shift power, allowing her to jump between parallel timelines. Stauder said "the new power gives us kind of an on ramp to not a new Max, but Max gets to have a different outlook and perspective on things via the new power".[4]
Release
[edit]Double Exposure will be released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on October 29, 2024.[5] Players who pre-order the Ultimate Edition of the game get access to the first two episodes on October 15. This decision caused some backlash, mostly relating to players worried about spoilers.[6][7] Don't Nod, the studio behind the first two games in the Life Is Strange franchise, delayed their new game, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage into 2025 to avoid going up against Double Exposure.[8][9]
References
[edit]- ^ Valentine, Rebekah (9 June 2024). "Life Is Strange: Double Exposure Revealed, Features Return of Max Caulfield". IGN. Archived from the original on 9 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ Shepard, Kenneth (13 June 2024). "Life Is Strange: Double Exposure Gameplay Reveal Confirms It Will Respect Both The First Game's Endings". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ Phillips, Tom (13 June 2024). "Life is Strange: Double Exposure developers finally weigh in on which original ending was canon: neither". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ Wald, Heather; Lewis, Catherine (20 August 2024). "Life is Strange Double Exposure devs on bringing back Max: "everybody now has the Max in their heads that we have to compete with"". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on 21 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ Romano, Sal (9 June 2024). "Life is Strange: Double Exposure announced for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 9 June 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ Phillips, Tom (10 June 2024). "Life is Strange fans criticise $30 upgrade to play new game's early chapters two weeks early". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ Randall, Harvey (11 June 2024). "FOMO is alive and well—Life is Strange: Double Exposure has a 2-week early access period if you cough up some dough for its Ultimate Edition". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ Batchelor, James (28 June 2024). "Don't Nod delays new IP Lost Records to avoid clash with next Life Is Strange". Gameindustry.biz. Archived from the original on 28 June 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ Smith, Rebecca (28 June 2024). "Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Release Date Delayed to Avoid Life Is Strange". PlayStation Lifestyle. Archived from the original on 28 June 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.