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

Following the less-than-stellar reception of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, publisher Square Enix has launched a survey to gauge fan opinion and understand the game's shortcomings. The feedback gathered could significantly shape the direction of future installments in the Life is Strange franchise.

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 underwhelming performance, coupled with layoffs at developer Deck Nine Studios in December 2024, has prompted Square Enix to take action.

A 15-minute questionnaire, distributed via email, seeks feedback on various aspects of Double Exposure, including narrative, gameplay, and technical performance. Crucially, it also asks players whether they felt the game was worth the purchase price and if their experience impacted their interest in future entries.

Analyzing the Fallout

The survey highlights Square Enix's desire to understand why Double Exposure fell short of expectations, particularly considering the positive reception of its predecessor, Life is Strange: True Colors. True Colors was lauded for its compelling narrative and emotionally resonant characters, a contrast to the criticism leveled at Double Exposure's cast.

While Double Exposure hinted at potential storylines for future games, the community feedback now being collected will likely play a crucial role in shaping those narratives. The extent to which future games will incorporate fan feedback remains to be seen, however, the impact of this survey on the franchise's future is undeniable.