Square Enix Seeks Player Input After Life is Strange Sales Disappoint

Square Enix Seeks Fan Input After Life is Strange: Double Exposure's Underwhelming Reception

Following the less-than-stellar reception of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, Square Enix has launched a comprehensive survey targeting fans of the franchise. The survey delves into key aspects of the game, even directly questioning players on its perceived value. The feedback gathered will likely play a significant role in shaping future installments in the Life is Strange series.

The game's disappointing commercial performance has prompted this in-depth analysis. Released in October 2024, Life is Strange: Double Exposure, a continuation of Max Caulfield's story from the 2015 original, failed to meet expectations. Met with lukewarm reviews (a 73 critic score and 4.2 user score on Metacritic for the PS5 version), the game's reception is largely attributed to controversial narrative choices.

Further compounding the issue, developer Deck Nine Studios announced layoffs in December 2024. In an effort to understand the game's shortcomings, Square Enix distributed a 15-minute questionnaire to Life is Strange fans. This survey probes various elements of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, including narrative, gameplay, technical performance, and ultimately, whether players felt the purchase was worthwhile and if their experience impacted their interest in future titles.

Analyzing the Fallout: Why Did Double Exposure Fall Short?

Square Enix clearly anticipated a more positive response to Double Exposure. The survey results are crucial for identifying the game's weaknesses. This contrasts sharply with the overwhelmingly positive reception of Deck Nine's previous work, Life is Strange: True Colors, lauded for its compelling narrative and emotional resonance. True Colors' protagonist, Alex Chen, also resonated more strongly with players than Double Exposure's characters.

While Life is Strange: Double Exposure hinted at potential storylines for future installments, the feedback gathered by Square Enix will significantly influence the direction of the series. The balance between fan service and creative vision will undoubtedly be a key consideration as the development team charts the course for the next Life is Strange game.