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 survey to gather feedback from fans of the series. The survey aims to pinpoint the game's shortcomings and inform the development of future Life is Strange titles.
The October 2024 release of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, featuring the return of popular protagonist Max Caulfield, had high expectations. However, the game received mixed reviews, scoring a 73 on Metacritic (critic score) and a 4.2 (user score) for its PS5 version. This lukewarm reception, attributed to significant story choices, impacted the game's commercial performance. Further compounding the issue, developer Deck Nine Studios announced layoffs in December 2024.
In an effort to understand the game's missteps, Square Enix distributed a 15-minute questionnaire to Life is Strange fans. The survey delves into various aspects of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, including narrative, gameplay, technical performance, and overall value. Crucially, it also assesses whether the experience influenced players' interest in future installments.
Analyzing the Fallout: Why Double Exposure Underperformed
Square Enix clearly anticipated a more positive response to Life is Strange: Double Exposure. The survey results will be instrumental in determining where the game fell short. This contrasts sharply with the positive reception of Deck Nine's previous title, Life is Strange: True Colors, which was lauded for its compelling narrative and emotional depth. The protagonist of True Colors, Alex Chen, also resonated more strongly with players than the characters in Double Exposure.
While Life is Strange: Double Exposure introduced potential plot threads for future games, the feedback Square Enix is collecting will significantly shape the direction of the series. The balance between incorporating fan preferences and maintaining creative integrity remains a key consideration for the future of Life is Strange.
