Square Enix Seeks Input on 'Life is Strange' Performance

Following the less-than-stellar reception of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, Square Enix is actively seeking player feedback through a comprehensive survey. This initiative aims to understand the game's shortcomings and inform the development of future titles in the series.

The survey delves into various aspects of Double Exposure, including narrative, gameplay, technical performance, and even whether players felt the game was worth the purchase price. The results will be crucial in shaping the direction of future Life is Strange installments.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure, released in October 2024, marked the return of fan-favorite Max Caulfield. Despite this, the game received mixed reviews, scoring a 73 on Metacritic (critic score) and a 4.2 (user score) on the PS5 version. This underwhelming performance, coupled with layoffs at developer Deck Nine Studios in December 2024, prompted Square Enix's survey initiative.

The 15-minute questionnaire seeks to pinpoint the game's weaknesses. Life is Strange: True Colors, Deck Nine's previous entry, was lauded for its compelling narrative and emotional depth, a contrast to the reception of Double Exposure. The survey directly asks players about their experience and whether it impacted their interest in future Life is Strange games.

Square Enix's goal is clear: to learn from Double Exposure's missteps. While Double Exposure hinted at future plotlines, the community feedback gathered will significantly influence the development of subsequent games. The balance between fan service and creative vision remains a key consideration for the franchise's future.