Square Enix Requests Life is Strange Feedback Following Poor Sales

Summary

• Following the less-than-stellar reception of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, Square Enix is conducting a survey to gather feedback from fans.
• The survey delves into key aspects of Double Exposure, even asking players if they felt the game was worth the purchase price.
• Community feedback gathered by Square Enix will likely influence the direction of future Life is Strange games.

The underwhelming commercial performance of Life is Strange: Double Exposure has prompted publisher Square Enix to launch a survey, seeking to understand the game's shortcomings. This valuable fan feedback aims to prevent similar issues in future Life is Strange installments.

Released in October 2024, Life is Strange: Double Exposure had significant potential as a continuation of Max Caulfield's story, a beloved protagonist from the original 2015 Life is Strange. However, Max's return didn't translate into success for this latest episodic narrative adventure. Life is Strange: Double Exposure received mixed reviews upon release, currently holding a 73 critic score and a 4.2 user score on Metacritic for its PS5 version. This lukewarm reception is largely attributed to controversial story choices within the game.

The situation worsened with Deck Nine Studios, the game's developer, announcing layoffs in December 2024. In an effort to learn from Double Exposure's missteps, Square Enix recently distributed a 15-minute questionnaire via email, seeking feedback from Life is Strange fans. The survey covers crucial aspects of Double Exposure, including its narrative, gameplay mechanics, and technical performance. It also directly asks players whether they believed the game was worth buying and if their experience impacted their interest in future entries.

Square Enix Seeks Answers to Life is Strange: Double Exposure's Underperformance

Square Enix clearly anticipated a more positive response to Life is Strange: Double Exposure, making the survey's results critical in identifying the game's weaknesses. Deck Nine's previous title, Life is Strange: True Colors, received widespread praise for its compelling storytelling and emotional depth. Its protagonist, Alex Chen, resonated with players in a way that Double Exposure's characters failed to achieve.

Regarding the future of the Life is Strange series, Double Exposure did introduce plot points with potential for future exploration. However, the community feedback gathered by Square Enix will likely significantly influence the direction of future storylines. The extent to which future games will incorporate fan feedback remains to be seen, presenting an interesting discussion about the balance between fan service and creative vision.