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 reception. The survey delves into key aspects of the game, even directly questioning players on its perceived value. Feedback gathered could significantly shape the direction of future Life is Strange titles.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure, released in October 2024, aimed to capitalize on the popularity of Max Caulfield, the beloved protagonist from the original 2015 game. Despite this, the game's launch was met with mixed reviews, currently holding a 73 critic score and a 4.2 user score on Metacritic. This lukewarm reception, largely attributed to significant narrative choices, has prompted Square Enix to investigate the game's shortcomings.

The situation worsened with Deck Nine Studios, the developer, announcing layoffs in December 2024. In an effort to learn from the experience, Square Enix distributed a 15-minute questionnaire to Life is Strange fans. The survey explores various facets of 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 installments.

Analyzing the Fallout of Life is Strange: Double Exposure's Underperformance

The survey's results are crucial for Square Enix to understand where Double Exposure fell short of expectations. 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 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 community feedback collected by Square Enix will likely play a significant role in shaping the narrative direction of upcoming titles. The balance between fan service and creative vision remains a key consideration, and the extent to which future games will incorporate player feedback remains to be seen.