Square Enix Seeks Fan Input Following Life is Strange: Double Exposure's Underwhelming Reception
Square Enix is actively seeking feedback from Life is Strange fans following the less-than-stellar reception of the latest installment, Life is Strange: Double Exposure. A comprehensive survey, distributed via email, aims to pinpoint the game's shortcomings and inform the development of future titles in the series.
The survey delves into various aspects of the game, including narrative structure, gameplay mechanics, and technical performance. Crucially, it also directly asks players whether they felt the game was worth the purchase price and if their experience impacted their enthusiasm for future Life is Strange installments.
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, scoring a 73 on Metacritic (critic score) and a 4.2 (user score) on the PS5 platform. This lukewarm reception, attributed to significant story choices, unfortunately coincided with layoffs at developer Deck Nine Studios in December 2024.
Square Enix's proactive approach, evidenced by the 15-minute questionnaire, demonstrates a commitment to learning from the game's missteps. The publisher clearly anticipated a more positive response to Double Exposure, and the survey results will be instrumental in understanding where the game fell short. This contrasts with the positive critical and player reception of Deck Nine's previous title, Life is Strange: True Colors, which was lauded for its compelling narrative and emotionally resonant characters.
The future of the Life is Strange franchise remains uncertain. While Double Exposure hinted at potential storylines for future games, Square Enix's current data collection efforts will significantly influence the direction of future installments. The extent to which future games will incorporate fan feedback remains to be seen, presenting a compelling discussion about the balance between fan service and creative vision.
