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, following the less-than-stellar reception of the latest installment, Life is Strange: Double Exposure. The survey delves into key aspects of the game, even directly asking players about its perceived value. The feedback gathered will likely shape the direction of future Life is Strange titles.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure, released in October 2024, featured the return of Max Caulfield, a beloved protagonist from the original 2015 game. 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 narrative choices, has prompted Square Enix's investigation. The situation worsened with Deck Nine Studios, the developer, announcing layoffs in December 2024.

To understand the game's shortcomings, Square Enix recently distributed a 15-minute questionnaire to Life is Strange fans. This survey covers various elements of Double Exposure, including narrative, gameplay, and technical performance. Crucially, it asks players whether they felt the game was worth the purchase price 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 Double Exposure. The survey results are therefore critical 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, which was lauded for its compelling narrative and emotional depth. True Colors' protagonist, Alex Chen, also resonated more strongly with players than Double Exposure's characters.

While Double Exposure hinted at potential storylines for future games, the community feedback collected by Square Enix will significantly influence the development of subsequent titles. The extent to which future games will incorporate fan feedback remains to be seen, presenting a balance between fan service and creative vision. Only time will reveal the impact of this survey on the future of the Life is Strange franchise.