In a smart marketing move, developer Dontnod Entertainment and publisher Square Enix have announced that Life is Strange Episode 1: Chrysalis will be available for free indefinitely, on all platforms (including Xbox 360 and PS3) starting Thursday, July 21st.

In this quote by Dontnod chief executive, Oskar Guilbert, lies the secret:

“We’re really glad that Square Enix have decided to give the first episode away for free so more players can begin their journey and see why people have fallen in love with the game for themselves.” 

While it is great that they’re offering Episode 1 for free, it’s a bit of a trap – it’s hard to leave episodic games at Episode 1, so Square Enix is hoping players get hooked and buy the rest of the episodes.

Still, it’s a nice gesture and one that TellTale Games did with The Walking Dead for a while, too.