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 titles in the Life is Strange franchise.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure, released in October 2024, featured the return of the beloved protagonist Max Caulfield 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 reception, 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.

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 game was worth the purchase price and if their experience impacted their interest in future installments.

Analyzing the Reasons Behind Life is Strange: Double Exposure's Underperformance

The survey's results are critical for Square Enix to pinpoint the game's weaknesses. This contrasts sharply with the overwhelmingly positive response to 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 the characters in Double Exposure.

While Life is Strange: Double Exposure hinted at potential storylines for future games, the community feedback collected by Square Enix will significantly influence the development of upcoming 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 how much the next Life is Strange game will adapt to player preferences.