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Square Enix Seeks Fan Input After Life is Strange: Double Exposure's Underwhelming Reception
Following the less-than-stellar reception of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, Square Enix has launched a survey to gather feedback from its dedicated fanbase. The survey aims to understand key aspects contributing to the game's performance and inform the direction of future installments in the popular series.
The October 2024 release of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, featuring the return of beloved protagonist Max Caulfield, had high expectations. However, the game received mixed reviews, scoring a 73 on Metacritic (critic score) and a 4.2 (user score) for its PS5 version. This lukewarm reception, attributed to significant narrative choices, has prompted Square Enix to take action.
Further complicating matters, developer Deck Nine Studios announced layoffs in December 2024. In an effort to learn from the game's shortcomings, Square Enix distributed a 15-minute questionnaire to Life is Strange fans. This survey delves into various elements of Double Exposure, including narrative, gameplay, technical performance, and ultimately, whether fans felt the game was worth the purchase price and if their experience impacted their interest in future titles.
Analyzing the Fallout: Why Did Double Exposure Fall Short?
The lukewarm reception to Life is Strange: Double Exposure clearly fell short of Square Enix's expectations. The survey results are crucial for the company to pinpoint 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. The protagonist of True Colors, Alex Chen, also resonated more strongly with players than Double Exposure's characters.
While Double Exposure hinted at potential storylines for future entries, the feedback gathered by Square Enix will likely heavily influence the direction of the Life is Strange franchise moving forward. The balance between fan service and creative vision remains a key consideration, and the extent to which future games will incorporate player feedback remains to be seen.
