Square Enix Wonders Why Life is Strange: Double Exposure Didn't Work Out

The reviews turned me away. Which is a shame because I loved Before The Storm.

I'm more excited to see what DONTNOD do with their upcoming game

Heard the launch was a mess and that it’s just soooo much more linear when compared to true colors 👀

This would so incredibly funny if people's jobs weren't impacted.
The issue with the games has been told to them clear and loud since the first pre-review and leaks came out. It's not difficult to see where everything went wrong. But instead they always called any criticism as homo/transphobic and doubled down. Go figure.

I started it after buying it at launch but paused it. I will get back to it soon. The game had likeable characters, was fine technically, but my main gripe was seeing Max starting to put her life back together only to have it torn apart again. She's one of my favorite characters, and to see her go through so much sadness AGAIN was just a little much. I'll finish it at some point, but with a lot going on in my own life when things bring you down you need things to uplift you, not to wallow is misery and self despair. I bought a lot of the games on the PS sale in December so I've been swapping those around. It's sad to see the game fail, because a lot of love did go into it, but it's just not what I need right now.

I think maybe they should have gone with a new character. Or maybe they should have hired dontnod for it, since they did the original.

I really hated that they put everything on the disc and left one episode out. These games should come out digital and release a complete edition in the end.

I would say its as simple as not having Don't Nod making the game. Their team seem to be able to add some special touch to the story telling and add emotion and feeling into their games. As a LiS fan I'm more looking forward to Don't Nod's 'Lost Records: Bloom & Rage' than I was for Double Exposure.

I´ll buy and play it at some point, probably pretty soon, as Im a fan of LiS and Max but I dont have high expectations. Should have been Dont Nod that developed the game sincve its another Max story but yeah...

I didn’t bother because I really disliked True Colors. I just thought it was going to be more of the same and I didn’t like that same. It’s a shame because I really enjoyed LIS 1 and Before the Storm

The Life is Strange games have always had terrible dialogue and Double Exposure doubles down on that.

I think it got a bit unfairly battered by reviews, and it’s hard to take a beloved character and fill the game with other new characters. I haven’t finished it, maybe it tapers off, but I loved what I played so far - they captured Max’s personality well, and her dealing with grief.

I think the only real criticism I have is the limited environments, which lacked the charm of other games’ locations. A generic university with a generic LGBTQ+ bar. Some larger locations with more to explore, or more characters to get to know may have given it a bit more life.

@ATaco it's always the exact same comment copy pasted everywhere without a smigeon of interesting thought put into it.

Like this is a comment designed to be put on a new IP that flopped. And you've gone and added it to a franchise that has sold 20 million copies.

"Those people don't play games" the person says about a game series that has outsold even things like Space Marine.

Your meant to think about the situation and come up with a take that fits it. You can't just ctrl+c what your saw a thousand other people say before and expect it to make sense.

The one and only reason for me is because they had the gall to charge £74.99 for the complete version and the disc had day one DLC that was £15 that wasn't included. It was an immediate no from me. Waiting for a heavy sale if at all. And I'm someone who has purchased all the LiS games day one.

I really liked True Colours, it's probably my favourite of the franchise and I was happy to pay the extra at the time for the version with the Wavelengths episode. I still haven't played DE though; early access shenanigans, price increases and locking content behind the more expensive versions killed any enthusiasm I had for getting it at launch. It'll be one I pick up in a sale now.

@ThomasHL
Ok, I'll go a bit more in depth. THIS game was made for an audience that doesn't play games. The original life is strange was amazing, heck I played it too...but as time went on the games became even more and more preachy, to the point that we got what we got this time...and guess what? It didn't sell.

@ATaco that is a much more interesting comment. But I mean Life is Strange one was super progressive. I can't really agree that the series has pushed much harder in that direction (because there wasn't much space left to go).

Out of interest, which games in the series did you drop off at? I can't say I felt a change in the politics, but I do think the writing and magic hasn't been the same since Before the Storm

The issue was making a sequel to a game with wildly different endings, making it impossible to accommodate both endings in an effective way. Word of mouth among lesbians basically killed sales after the first wave of players.

@ThomasHL
I actually only played through the first one and have seen bits and pieces of subsequent releases through other's playthroughs. I really enjoyed that first one...up until the ending, which felt like the devs were forcing me to pick one "correct" path and made me feel absolutely rotten for picking another. The thing with the first one was that, even if the political messaging was there, it wasn't at the forefront. You were more interested in the characters themselves and not whether they identified a certain way or whatever else.

I'm not against "the message" itself. I will play games that feature such things...but when you can tell right from the trailers that the game is trying to market itself a certain way, it just doesn't sit right with me.

That being said, since you didn't immediately attack me for my comment I'll concede that my original comment was more filled with personal bias about how I feel about the more recent entries and more than likely not the reason this particular game failed to sell.

Looking at general consensus, it seems to be more likely that fans simply didn't want this particular story to be told, didn't like the direction they took fan favorite characters...along with rather scummy business practices by the publisher.

Any sequel that completely throws away something that fans have wondered about and made theories about for years is gonna sink, it's as simple as that. Just look at Dragon Age, and I actually enjoyed the new game. I still think it's far below what we should have got.

No love went into episode 5!

Everything else leading up to it was brilliant. It's wrapped up in mystery, we finally get to interact with someone else with powers AND AS MAX!

The beginning of episode 5 we pick up with Max and Safi jumping into the eye of the storm which is where you went wrong in my opinion.
Doing so negates any threat the storm has had in the previous games and opened up a wide array of hard to answer questions.
My opinion the storm should be a side effect of time travel and not dimension shifting and there should of been another reason why Max or "Max" shot safi.
Other than that I thought the game was brilliant, a real on the edge of your seat nail biter with the heartfelt touch we love about the LIS series.

lets face it change is now in in 2025...

As a long-time fan of the Life is Strange series, I went into Double Exposure hoping to find the same level of emotional depth, relatable characters, and compelling narratives that the franchise is known for. Unfortunately, the game left me disappointed, and I wanted to share why.

The biggest issue for me was how much of the plot felt recycled. The premise is yet another story about a protagonist with time-manipulation powers trying to unravel a personal tragedy. While that idea worked well in the original Life is Strange, here it feels formulaic and uninspired. Instead of introducing fresh storylines or taking the series in a new direction, the game relies on predictable twists and themes we’ve already seen. Compared to Before the Storm, which provided meaningful character backstories, or True Colors, which added a unique empathy mechanic, Double Exposure feels like it’s treading old ground without offering anything new.

The characters didn’t help, either. One of the series’ strongest aspects has always been its vibrant and relatable cast, but the characters here felt flat and uninteresting. The protagonist lacked the charm of Max Caulfield or Alex Chen, and the supporting characters were either stereotypes or poorly fleshed out. It was hard to feel emotionally invested in any of them, which is a stark contrast to how much I cared about Chloe, Rachel, and even Steph in the earlier games.

On top of that, the gameplay didn’t add much to the experience. The new mechanic involving “layering” memories had potential but felt clunky and underdeveloped. It didn’t integrate into the story as naturally as the powers in previous games. For a series that’s known for its creativity and emotional storytelling, this felt like a missed opportunity to do something innovative.

The writing also felt like a noticeable step down. Dialogue, which has always been a major strength of the Life is Strange games, came across as forced and unnatural this time. The emotional beats didn’t hit as hard because the writing lacked the authenticity and subtlety that made the earlier entries so impactful.

Looking back, each previous game brought something unique to the table. The original Life is Strange had its groundbreaking story and mechanics, Before the Storm added depth to beloved characters, and True Colors gave us a fresh mechanic with a tightly written narrative. In contrast, Double Exposure feels like a shadow of its predecessors, relying too heavily on old ideas without bringing anything new to the series.

There are a few moments where the game shines, but they’re fleeting and only serve to remind me of what this series is capable of at its best. For a franchise that has always pushed boundaries, this entry feels like it’s stuck in the past. As much as I wanted to love Double Exposure, it just didn’t live up to the standards set by the earlier games.

This is just my opinion.

I actually liked True Colours better than LiS2, was nice having a single town again that could grow over time.

But the price is just too high for this kind of game. Especially all the different versions with the day one DLC. Bit too exploitive for my taste. I'll still give it a go one day if the price drops enough.

I personally enjoyed the game. I liked the campus setting. It is true that the game had some technical issues.

I don’t think people realize how much a fan base can ruin things. I enjoyed all the LiS games and I’ll be playing this, but I won’t be going in with high expectations due to reviews.

Because it's a Life Is Strange game next 😅

I loved the first LiS. But didn't play this sequel because I don't think LiS needed a sequel. It was a perfect one-shot game.
On top of that Don't Nod weren't involved and I've generally moved on from these interactive movie type games.

I despised Before the Storm so much that it turned me off of ever wanting to play a Life is Strange game made by Deck Nine again. This also lacked two elements that made the first game tick for me: the relationship between Max and Chloe and the cozy, melancholic fall atmosphere.

I bought the original in the sale would probably do the same for this

@Smash41 yeah that's the reason I haven't bought it yet. It is absolutely redonkulously expensive. It's a ludicrous price for a game like this. No wonder nobody bought it. Square Enix are really a bunch of greedy clowns. If they reduced the price by half they'd suddenly get millions more sales of the game. But they'd rather keep the price too high.

I didn't play this game but I heard the story of this new game is really bad and fans of its previous games is mad about it.

I'm a fan of the series, but I've never bought any of the games at launch or for full price.

I'll admit, I think I was overly harsh on Double Exposure from announcement trailers. I thought returning to Max was motivated primarily by trying to make the franchise popular again and $$$. It just seemed a bit cynical to return to Max when the series has predominantly been an anthology series, which I think is one of its strengths.

I haven't finished LiS2 despite thinking it was pretty good and never even started True Colors. My problem, personally, is I really have to be craving that type of game and I just haven't been wanting that type of adventure game.

I dont really know much about this game, I enjoyed LiS but feel things have moved on since then.
But I dont get why the default is:
*Create fanbase
*Do things with the property the fans dont like or want
*Call them toxic if they dont buy it anyway?

@Olmaz
Exactly. None of these companies are interested in what gamers have to say pre or post-launch and anything negative just labeled as people being some sort of istaphobe. There's no point in surveys because suggestions are never taken seriously and, to be fair, I think there's a lot of gamers who are no longer concerned with giving real constructive answers. Dev teams just need to figure stuff out on their own.

If the locations had been as diverse as the characters and their gender identities, it might have been better. On the other hand, the story turned into quite a mess. I think by the end, even the writers didn’t know which way they were facing. Many of the dialogues were cringe-fests, and I didn’t feel like my decisions had any real weight. It’s sad because the first game, along with Before the Storm, is one of my favorites.

I played LiS2 and then True Colours and enjoyed both, but the price and the fact I had no attachment to Max meant I just haven't picked this one up yet. I might get it on a deeper sale (under £25).

I think many of us fell in love with the duo "Max AND Chloe". We even had the blessing of "Before the Storm", where we grew even closer to Chloe. So many of us were hoping for a direct sequel to their story, rather than seeing a brand new one without her, years ahead of LiS. I own all the LiS games, but never seemed to be able to connect with the other main characters, the way I did the first 2 games. LiS, to me, is Max and Chloe.

I don't understand either. I'm in chapter 3 at this point of writing and I like it. No real complaints so far.

Really unlikeable new cast, far too many plot beats that amounted to nothing, really bad ending that draws from X-Men of all things and just not that compelling like the first game was.

I love Max Caulfield but even she can't save a cast this poor imo.

I did have a fun enough time with it but I think they should've come out and make the new game a sequel to one of the endings because the way they did the game hasn't resonated with fans.

I tried one that was a ps plus game years ago because someone said it was good, was like watching paint dry very boring and don't see how these can be called games or who they'd appeal to.

@Nintendo4Sonic wait for episode 5 you will change your mind.

@EDNoresult I heard about that, I'll see. But I also heard complaints about other things, which didn't bother me so far.
The story plot is good so far and the characters have gotten interesting. I also like shifting through both dimensions and there's some stuff to find. I wouldn't say so far that it's the best entry, but I like it.

@JustinTimberlake it's definitely not an action game. These games create their own atmosphere and get very hookimg with the time. But it's something, you have to have an open mind for.

@Nintendo4Sonic have to agree with your description but as you say you definitely need an 'open' mind which it turns out I don't have and couldn't make it through the first hour of the first game 😀

@Deljo that's OK, I also don't like everything.

There's too many versions and names is why. If you're not a fan from the start it gets very confusing. Also the games aren't iconic so if they have been around this long and didn't become mainstream then they have to accept the niche title.

I have so many issues with this game. Firstly: Breaking up Max and Chloe, while realistic, completely ignored Dontnod's wishes and intent. There is so much proof Michel Koch wanted Max and Chloe to stay together and to erase all that just feels disrespectful to D9's predecessors. Secondly, I personally believe this game feels soulless and corporate, and lacks the LIS charm. I don't know how to explain it, but something was missing in this game (besides Chloe).

Any constructive criticism was deemed as toxic and go figure attacking your potential customer base doesn't end well.

It really isn't complicated as to why it bombed and had nothing to do with the price.

I truly think it's just the toxic fandom that believe the only way to return Max was with Chloe. I personally thought the new game was excellent and really a step up on all fronts from prior games. What is ironic to me is that if the fandom is this toxic over not making it about Chloe, I truly believe they would've nitpicked apart any game actually including her anyway. If you're okay with an original story about Max, then please do go for this game and form your own opinion. Btw, the next game with Max could still revisit the relationship, and there will at some point be another game with Max.

@Stino69 what, because it isn't about Chloe?

@ParboldCoder I have such a different experience. The game did add something new, which I'll word as vaguely as I can here to avoid spoiling , it presented you with a dilemma akin to one faced in lis1, and had your protagonist (who thought all they were capable of doing was making things worse) face up to it and decide if they're able to face up to it differently, this time around.

@Nintendo4Sonic ignore it and form your own conclusion. I loved the game, in it's entirety, and thought episode 5 did a good job of bringing everything toward a point of closure while leaving enough room for a sequel, which I hope we still get in spite of the sales.

I bought it. I haven’t gotten around playing it yet but every time I look at the box art I think it’s a totally new character and not Max. I would say that probably didn’t help but after scrolling through some comments, it seems life is strange has a miserable fan base so probably that more so.

@AnthonyTV I don't need to elaborate!

I'm going with "series is massively overrated to begin with others have cottoned on to that".

@Stino69 ah, the old "commenting with a vague criticism on a public forum and then refusing to explain as though everyone should already share your opinion" approach

Honestly, it’s been so long since I completed the other games, I barely remember anything that happened. I feel like I’d want to replay them all again before starting this new one and I just can’t be bothered. I might pick it up when it’s in a sale

@AnthonyTV I think you're intelligent enough to know I'm referring to. What I will say is that if developers continue to make games like LIS (yes I have played it) then they continue to lose maney. It's not rocket science!!

I played the original and Before the Storm for the first time over Christmas and liked the characters, writing and music but left it there. I did get a hint of that crazy when I went looking for the music on Youtube and then saw the comments section, there's nothing really pulling me towards the rest of the series. I might try True Colours at some point, the ones I mentioned packed enough of a gut punch to make me want to play something else. Not because they were bad, just highly emotionally charged.

I dont know if people are upset over which ending was considered cannon but for me the choice was clear. I couldnt get rid of the whiny little B fast enough. And saving the good people of Arcadia Bay was the cherry on top.

@AnthonyTV thank you for that

The game play loop is not very good.. also the game is less cinematic and felt smaller then the game that came out 10 years ago.. i think a lot of things were sacrifice to have a experience that can be used on the Nintendo switch

people wanted the romance from the first game to carry over ... i think it was unrealistic but some version of Chloe should been a small part of this game.. even if they just video chat and Max talks about her current situation.

@JustinTimberlake thank you sir

As a Life is Strange fan, I’m ashamed to say I haven’t bought it yet or supported it because it’s priced a little high, imo. I’m willing and able to drop $50 on a 12 hour game, but with a bursting backlog I am prone to wait for a sale on this game. The prior entries have also always dropped onto PS+ eventually, so this is a case where unfortunately the services probably cannibalize some of the sales. I bought LiS2 and LiS:TC and then the games dropped onto PS+ Extra before I had time to get around to playing them. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me, fool me three times and I need to have my credit card taken away. 😜

Of course if the game would have released to glowing reviews, then the FOMO could have pushed me to buy, but when the reviews and impressions came out middling, I decided to wait.

Also, the episodic release situation when part of the game is released (at least for the preorder people) and then the rest comes out later is an awful tactic, imo. Unless the opening hours are absolute gold, I think that strategy can only hurt you.

Honestly it makes since the game didn't do so great, there's only so much you can even do with a franchise like this and bringing back characters from the first one after 2 games without them wasn't it. I have the other 3 games (although I wouldn't have gotten Bts if it wasn't forced with true colors) and while I enjoyed the ones I played, there's nothing that makes me want to jump into double exposure until it's drowning in a discount.

I liked the game

I was hugely disappointed by Double Exposure, after enjoying all the previous LIS games. LIS2 was by far my favorite, but True Colors was also very good. Double Exposure never resolved into a coherent narrative, and I have no idea what message I'm supposed to take home from it. It felt like a jumble of ideas that I vaguely went along with, rather than a character driven story I wanted to follow.

People here suggesting "go woke go broke" was the issue in a life is strange game. You really must be some kind of magical stupid. Truly.

@breakneck How dare fans not like a meh video game!!! So toxic!!! 🙄

I was following this game very closely. They were laying off people when the game still had a couple of years left to go (for example, the lead writer was laid off in May 2023, and that writer was someone who had worked on True Colors). My guess is they ran out of money much earlier than we realize. They probably had to change their original plans/story for the game (e.g. make it shorter) to get it out the door with a much smaller team (they probably only had the cinematics and animation people left at the end). It would also explain why they seemed to have mechanics for Entangle but we only saw it used twice (you don't spend time developing mechanics for something to only be used a couple times). My bet is there was a more complete and satisfying story that we never got to experience.