"Included with every new purchase of the standard or limited collector's editions of 'Alan Wake,' fans will score a token code card to download the title's first Game Add-on at no cost only on Xbox LIVE when it becomes available later this year," says Microsoft.

Presumably, that add-on represents the first of the game's downloadable episodes.

Both Microsoft and fellow publisher Electronic Arts have been including such one-time use codes with select games for years, with the practice meant to help drive cut down on used sales, fight piracy and make gamers more aware of downloadable content.

Entirely exclusive to Xbox 360--the once-promised PC version may follow later, if at all--Alan Wake is now due May 14, 2010 in Europe and May 18 in North America.