Life is Strange: Double Exposure was announced at the Xbox Games Showcase during Summer Games Fest, and it features the return of the original protagonist, Max Caulfield, in an intense murder mystery.
One of the biggest surprises of the 2024 Xbox Showcase was undoubtedly the reveal of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, the next installment in the beloved adventure series. Since 2015, the games have garnered a dedicated fanbase thanks to their compelling narratives and emphasis on player choice.
Double Exposure will put fans back in the shoes of Max Caulfield as she attempts to prevent her friend’s murder across two separate timelines.
Release date & platforms
Life is Strange: Double Exposure will be released on October 29, 2024.
The game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
Trailers
The first trailer for Double Exposure was released on June 9, 2024.
It sets up the core premise of the story when Max finds her friend Safi’s body in the woods and embarks on a journey between two timelines to prevent her death.
Following on from the reveal trailer, an extended gameplay showcase was shared on YouTube on June 13, 2024.
Another trailer was shared on August 22, 2024, that highlighted Max’s powers and how players will need to use them to solve Safi’s murder.
You can check it out below:
Editions
There are four versions of the game available to pre-order. You can find a full breakdown of each edition and what it includes below:
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Standard edition – $49.99 / £49.99
- Base game
Deluxe edition – $59.99 / £59.99
- Base game
- Spooky Outfit Pack
- Decades Outfit Pack
Ultimate Edition – $79.99 / £79.99
- Final Fantasy VII Outfit Pack
- Fan Favorite Outfit Pack
- Paw Prints Cat Outfit Pack
- Exclusive Cat Content
- Early release – chapters 1 & 2 will unlock 2 weeks ahead of the full game’s release.
Collector’s edition – $59.99 / £54.99
The Collector’s Edition is exclusively available to pre-order from the Square Enix store and features a handful of physical goodies, though it’s important to note that it does not include a copy of the game itself.
- 12” Vinyl Soundtrack – available here and nowhere else! Featuring 13 amazing songs from the game, on a two-color 12” vinyl.
- 32pp Mini Hardcover Artbook – with exclusive concept art.
- 4x Double-Sided 12” Artcards – for eight members of the Caledon cast.
- Max’s Owl Pin Replica – as worn by Max in-game.
Story & Gameplay
The story of Life is Strange: Double Exposure follows Max Caulfield (protagonist of the original Life is Strange) now studying at the prestigious Caledon University. When Max discovers her friend Safi dead in the snow, she embarks on a journey across two parallel timelines – one where Safi is alive, and one where she’s not – to solve the mystery and prevent her murder.
Throughout the game, players will have to investigate both timelines and piece together the events of the crime to keep Safi safe.
Max’s powers have changed since the first game, she now possesses a Pulse ability that allows her to peer into another timeline. This means she can clearly see the difference between timelines, and avoid anyone noticing her as she investigates.
Shift points will also appear thanks to the help of Pulse and Max can take advantage of these to push through to the opposite timeline. Players can also toggle UI settings that will confirm the timeline you’re in whenever you shift to save confusion.
One of the biggest concerns the fan base has is how Double Exposure will address the ending of the original Life is Strange game, particularly in regards to the fate of Chloe Price and Arcadia Bay.
In a recent live stream, game director Jonathan Stauder confirmed that the follow-up will “respect” both endings of the original game.
“There’s no canon ending in our book to the first game. Double Exposure will respect both endings in Max’s thoughts, her journal, her SMS, her interactions with other characters – what she opts to reveal about her past to her new friends is all reflective of that final choice.”
For more on upcoming games, check out our hubs for Gears of War E-Day, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, Silent Hill 2, and Kingdom Come Deliverance 2.
