A Way Out, a prison break game that has just been released for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, will only require one copy for players who want to play with each other online.
Electronic Arts turned heads when it announced A Way Out at E3 2017, with clashing opinions on whether or not it is a genius concept or a risky move. The positive review of the game and the need for only one copy for two players to enjoy this co-op title are now silencing early critics that thought A Way Out will be a mess.
Only One Copy Needed For 'A Way Out'
In A Way Out, players will control two characters who will have to work together to accomplish various missions, including escaping prison. The catch is that the game is designed to only be played in split-screen co-op by two players, whether with each other in real life or connected online.
While playing side-by-side makes the co-op experience feel more real, sometimes, playing with a friend online is the more convenient choice. For friends who prefer this option, the game developer revealed that only one copy of A Way Out is needed.
According to Hazelight, the studio behind A Way Out and another two-character game Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, only one of two friends will need to purchase a copy of the game if they want to play online.
To activate the feature, the player who purchased A Way Out will have to select the Play Online mode, which will send an invitation to the other player. The second player will receive the invite with a link to a demo download.
The free trial for A Way Out is a pretty hefty 6GB download. Once completed, launching it will reveal no option to play locally or online. The second player only has the option of joining online sessions, which they can do for a lobby that the first player will create.
Mixed Reviews For 'A Way Out'
A Way Out has received mixed reviews. Several issues pointed out by Oscar Dayus of GameSpot include overlapping audio from the split screens, tonal shifts, and gimmicky scenes.
Polygon's Colin Campbell described the game as "both really good, and maddeningly humdrum," while PlayStation Lifestyle's Tyler Treese tags it as "a true achievement in game design."
It also helps that the price of A Way Out is only $29.99, which is much lower than most AAA titles. If two friends will split the cost, it comes down to just $15 each.
The only thing missing now is cross-platform play between the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. However, it is another subject altogether.
