Following the less-than-stellar reception of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, Square Enix is actively seeking fan feedback to understand the game's shortcomings. A recent 15-minute survey aims to gauge player opinions on various aspects of the game, including narrative, gameplay, technical performance, and overall value. The results will likely shape the direction of future Life is Strange titles.
The October 2024 release of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, a continuation of Max Caulfield's story, initially held promise. However, the game received mixed reviews, scoring a 73 on Metacritic (critic score) and a 4.2 (user score) for its PS5 version. This underwhelming performance, attributed to key story choices, was further complicated by Deck Nine Studios' December 2024 layoffs.
Square Enix's survey directly addresses these issues. It probes players on their perceptions of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, asking crucial questions about purchase satisfaction and its impact on their enthusiasm for future installments. The publisher clearly anticipated a more positive response and is using this data to pinpoint the game's weaknesses.
The contrast between Life is Strange: Double Exposure and its predecessor, the critically acclaimed Life is Strange: True Colors, is stark. True Colors' compelling narrative and protagonist, Alex Chen, resonated deeply with players, a connection Double Exposure's characters failed to achieve.
While Life is Strange: Double Exposure hinted at potential storylines for future games, the impact of Square Enix's community feedback remains to be seen. The balance between fan service and creative vision will undoubtedly influence the development of the next Life is Strange game. The extent to which player input will be incorporated is yet to be determined.
