Summary

• Square Enix is conducting a survey among Life is Strange fans following the underwhelming reception of Life is Strange: Double Exposure.
• The survey delves into key elements of the game, including whether fans felt it was worth purchasing.
• The feedback collected could shape the direction of future Life is Strange games.

The disappointing commercial performance of Life Is Strange: Double Exposure has led Square Enix to launch a survey to understand the game's shortcomings. By gathering fan feedback, Square Enix aims to steer future Life is Strange games away from the pitfalls encountered with Double Exposure.

Released in October 2024, Life is Strange: Double Exposure continued the story of Max Caulfield, the beloved protagonist from the original 2015 Life is Strange. Despite the return of a fan-favorite character, the game received lukewarm reviews upon its launch. On Metacritic, the PS5 version of Life is Strange: Double Exposure holds a critic score of 73 and a user score of 4.2. Many fans and critics pointed to significant story decisions as the reason for the game's underwhelming reception.

The situation worsened when Deck Nine Studios, the developers of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, announced layoffs in December 2024. In response, Square Enix sent out a 15-minute questionnaire to Life is Strange fans to gather detailed feedback. The survey covers crucial aspects such as the game's narrative, gameplay mechanics, and technical performance. It also asks participants if they believed Life is Strange: Double Exposure was worth purchasing and whether their experience has impacted their interest in future installments.

Square Enix Wants to Know Why Life is Strange: Double Exposure Flopped

Square Enix had high hopes for Life is Strange: Double Exposure, making the survey's results crucial for understanding where the game fell short. In contrast, Deck Nine's previous game, Life Is Strange: True Colors, received widespread acclaim for its storytelling and emotional depth. The protagonist, Alex Chen, resonated with players in a way that the characters in Double Exposure did not.

Looking ahead, Life is Strange: Double Exposure hinted at potential plot points for future games. However, the feedback Square Enix is collecting could significantly influence the narrative direction of upcoming Life is Strange titles. While there's a debate about the extent to which games should cater to fan service, the impact of this feedback on the next Life is Strange game remains to be seen.