Square Enix Requests Life is Strange Feedback Following Poor Sales

Life is Strange: Double Exposure's Underwhelming Reception Prompts Square Enix Survey

Following the less-than-stellar reception of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, Square Enix has launched a fan survey to understand the game's shortcomings. The survey aims to gather crucial feedback that could shape the future direction of the Life is Strange franchise.

The October 2024 release of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, featuring the return of fan-favorite Max Caulfield, had high expectations. Despite this, the game received mixed reviews, currently holding a 73 critic score and a 4.2 user score on Metacritic. This lukewarm response, attributed to significant story choices, has prompted further investigation.

The situation worsened with Deck Nine Studios, the developer, announcing layoffs in December 2024. In response, Square Enix distributed a 15-minute questionnaire to Life is Strange fans. This survey delves into various aspects of Double Exposure, including narrative, gameplay, technical performance, and even whether fans felt the game was worth the purchase price and if their experience impacts their interest in future installments.

Square Enix Seeks Answers to Double Exposure's Underperformance

The survey's results are critical for Square Enix to pinpoint the game's weaknesses. 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 resonance. Alex Chen, the protagonist of True Colors, also resonated more strongly with players than Double Exposure's characters.

While Double Exposure hinted at potential storylines for future games, the feedback gathered by Square Enix will likely heavily influence the development of upcoming entries. The balance between incorporating fan feedback and maintaining creative vision will be a key challenge for the franchise moving forward. Only time will tell how this feedback shapes the next Life is Strange game.