Square Enix Seeks Community Input on 'Life is Strange' Future

Life is Strange: Double Exposure's Underwhelming Reception Prompts Square Enix Feedback Survey

Following the less-than-stellar reception of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, publisher Square Enix has launched a survey to understand fan opinions and improve future installments in the series. The survey aims to gather crucial data on various aspects of the game, potentially shaping the direction of future Life is Strange titles.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure, released in October 2024, marked the return of fan-favorite protagonist Max Caulfield. Despite this, the game received mixed reviews, currently holding a 73 critic score and a 4.2 user score on Metacritic. 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 response, Square Enix distributed a 15-minute questionnaire to Life is Strange fans, seeking feedback on key elements such as narrative, gameplay, technical performance, and overall value. The survey also probes players' interest in future installments.

Square Enix Seeks Answers to Double Exposure's Underperformance

Square Enix clearly anticipated a more positive reception for Double Exposure, making the survey results highly significant in identifying the game's shortcomings. This contrasts sharply with the positive critical acclaim received by Deck Nine's previous title, Life is Strange: True Colors, praised for its compelling narrative and emotionally resonant characters.

While Double Exposure hinted at potential plot threads for future games, the community feedback gathered by Square Enix will heavily influence the development of upcoming installments. The extent to which future games will incorporate fan feedback remains to be seen, highlighting the ongoing discussion regarding the balance between fan service and creative vision.