Following the underwhelming reception of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, Square Enix has initiated a comprehensive survey to understand the game's shortcomings. Released in October 2024, this latest installment in the beloved narrative-driven series continued the story of Max Caulfield, the protagonist from the original 2015 Life is Strange. Despite the return of a fan-favorite character, Life is Strange: Double Exposure received lukewarm reviews, with the PS5 version scoring a 73 from critics and a 4.2 from users on Metacritic. Many fans and critics pointed to the game's major story decisions as the primary reason for its disappointing performance.
The situation worsened when Deck Nine Studios, the developers behind Life is Strange: Double Exposure, announced layoffs in December 2024. In response, Square Enix has reached out to the Life is Strange community with a 15-minute questionnaire. This survey delves into various aspects of the game, including its narrative, gameplay mechanics, and technical performance. It also probes whether fans felt Life is Strange: Double Exposure was worth purchasing and if their experience has impacted their interest in future entries in the series.
Square Enix Wants to Know Why Life is Strange: Double Exposure Flopped
Square Enix had high hopes for Life is Strange: Double Exposure, and the feedback from this survey is crucial for pinpointing where the game fell short. In contrast, Deck Nine's previous title, Life is Strange: True Colors, was celebrated for its compelling storytelling and emotional depth, with protagonist Alex Chen resonating strongly with players. Unfortunately, the characters in Life is Strange: Double Exposure did not capture the same level of engagement.
Looking ahead, Life is Strange: Double Exposure did introduce plot points that could be explored in future games. However, the feedback Square Enix is collecting from the community could significantly shape the direction of upcoming Life is Strange titles. While there's an ongoing debate about the balance between fan service and creative integrity, it remains to be seen how much the next game will cater to player preferences. The insights gained from this survey could be pivotal in steering the series back to its former glory.
