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, failed to meet expectations. The survey delves into key aspects of the game, even directly questioning players on its perceived value. The feedback gathered will likely shape the direction of future Life is Strange titles.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure, released in October 2024, featured the return of fan-favorite protagonist Max Caulfield from the original 2015 game. Despite this, the game received a mixed reception, scoring a 73 on Metacritic (critic score) and a 4.2 (user score) on its PS5 version. This lukewarm response is largely attributed to significant narrative choices within the game.
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, and also asks about purchase satisfaction and its impact on interest in future installments.
Analyzing the Reasons Behind Life is Strange: Double Exposure's Underperformance
Square Enix clearly anticipated a more positive response to Life is Strange: Double Exposure, making the survey results crucial for identifying the game's weaknesses. This contrasts sharply with the 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 the characters in Double Exposure.
While Life is Strange: Double Exposure hinted at potential plotlines for future games, the community feedback gathered by Square Enix will significantly influence the development of subsequent entries. The extent to which future games will incorporate fan feedback remains to be seen, raising questions about the balance between fan service and creative vision. Only time will reveal how much the next Life is Strange game will reflect player preferences.
