Square Enix Requests Life is Strange Feedback Following Poor Sales

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

Following the less-than-stellar reception of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, Square Enix has launched a survey to gather feedback from fans of the series. The survey aims to understand key aspects of the game's performance and inform the development of future Life is Strange titles.

The October 2024 release of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, featuring the return of popular protagonist Max Caulfield, had high expectations. However, the game received mixed reviews, scoring a 73 on Metacritic (critic score) and a 4.2 (user score) on the PS5 version. This lukewarm reception, attributed to significant story choices, led to disappointing sales. Further compounding the issue, developer Deck Nine Studios announced layoffs in December 2024.

In an effort to learn from these setbacks, Square Enix distributed a 15-minute questionnaire to Life is Strange fans. The survey probes various elements of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, including narrative, gameplay, technical performance, and ultimately, whether fans felt the game was worth the purchase price and if their experience impacted their interest in future installments.

Analyzing the Fallout: Why Double Exposure Underperformed

The survey's results are crucial for Square Enix to pinpoint the game's shortcomings. The publisher likely anticipated a much more positive response, especially considering the critical acclaim received by Deck Nine's previous title, Life is Strange: True Colors, which was lauded for its compelling narrative and emotional resonance. True Colors' protagonist, Alex Chen, also resonated strongly with players, a contrast to the reception of Double Exposure's characters.

While Life is Strange: Double Exposure hinted at potential storylines for future games, the feedback collected by Square Enix will significantly shape the direction of the series. The extent to which future games will incorporate fan suggestions remains to be seen, presenting a balance between fan service and creative vision. Only time will reveal how this feedback influences the next chapter in the Life is Strange saga.