Square Enix Requests Life is Strange Feedback Following Poor Sales

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

Square Enix is conducting a post-launch survey targeting Life is Strange fans after the latest installment, Life is Strange: Double Exposure, received a less-than-stellar response. The survey delves into key aspects of the game, even directly asking players about its perceived value. Feedback gathered will likely inform the direction of future Life is Strange titles.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure, released in October 2024, had high expectations, particularly given the return of fan-favorite protagonist Max Caulfield from the original 2015 game. Despite this, the game's reception was muted. Metacritic currently shows a 73 critic score and a 4.2 user score for the PS5 version, highlighting a disconnect between expectations and reality. Many critics cite significant narrative choices as contributing factors to this lukewarm reception.

The situation worsened with Deck Nine Studios, the developer, announcing 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, and technical performance. Crucially, it also asks players whether they felt the purchase was worthwhile and if their experience impacted their interest in future installments.

Analyzing the Fallout of Life is Strange: Double Exposure

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

The future of the Life is Strange franchise remains uncertain. While Double Exposure hinted at potential storylines for future games, Square Enix's community feedback will heavily influence the development of upcoming titles. The balance between fan service and creative vision will be a key consideration moving forward. Only time will reveal the extent to which player feedback shapes the next Life is Strange game.