Life is Strange: Double Exposure Developer Announces Layoffs

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Key Takeaways

  • Deck Nine Games announces second round of layoffs in 2024 due to industry challenges.
  • Life is Strange: Double Exposure faced criticism for narrative choices and lukewarm reception.
  • A challenging period in the games industry continues with ongoing high-profile layoffs.

As a long-time fan of Life is Strange, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions upon hearing about Deck Nine Games’ second round of layoffs this year. The release of Life is Strange: Double Exposure was a highly anticipated event for me and many other fans, but it seems that the game didn’t quite live up to our expectations.

Deck Nine Games, creators of the latest release “Life is Strange: Double Exposure,” has announced another round of layoffs in 2024, making it their second this year. Like several other game developers, they’ve had to make tough decisions due to the challenging economic climate within the gaming industry.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure, the latest installment in the series, came out in October. This continuation revolves around Max Caulfield, the main character from the original game. Fans of the franchise have eagerly awaited her return, but things didn’t quite go as expected for developers Deck Nine Games. Upon release, Life is Strange: Double Exposure received a mixed response from critics, with many expressing dissatisfaction over certain narrative decisions made in the game. This was a common sentiment shared by both critics and long-time fans.

A tweet from Mark Lyons, CEO of Deck Nine Games, disclosed that their studio working on ‘Life is Strange: Double Exposure’ had to let go of some team members due to the tough circumstances many game companies are dealing with currently. The company expressed their intention to assist the developers in this transition period as much as possible. However, Deck Nine Games did not specify the exact number of employees impacted by these layoffs or how it might influence future ‘Life is Strange’ productions.

Deck Nine Games Announces Second Round of Layoffs in 2024

Regrettably, Deck Nine Games has had to undergo another round of layoffs in 2024, making this their second such instance this year. Earlier in the year, they let go of 20% of their workforce, blaming the unfavorable market conditions within the game industry at that time. The release of their flagship title appears to have done little to alleviate their situation. They had already laid off 30 employees back in May 2023. This trend of layoffs is reflective of the broader gaming industry, which has been experiencing high-profile job cuts almost every day. The difficult times within the game industry persist.

It’s yet to be determined what the studio has planned for the upcoming chapters of the Life is Strange series. The unexpected reveal of Life is Strange: Double Exposure was a delight, but left us pondering about its sudden appearance. Players familiar with the latest installment in the series may have noticed some clues regarding future events, but it’s uncertain how recent staff changes might influence these hinted plans moving forward.

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2024-12-07 16:53