Life is Strange: Double Exposure reportedly labelled a “large loss” for Square Enix

Life is Strange: Double Exposure, the recently-released latest entry in the Life is Strange narrative adventure game series, has reportedly undersold Square Enix’s expectations. While exact sales figures are unknown, the game has apparently represented a “large loss” for the Japanese publisher, which was offset by other successful RPG releases last year.

According to Japanese analyst Hideki Yasuda writing for Kabutan (translated by Google Translate), “although Square Enix’s “Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake” was a huge hit, selling over 2 million copies, this was offset by the large losses of “Life is Strange: Double Exposure,” and the third quarter of the fiscal year ending March 2025 ended with a decrease in operating profit compared to the same period last year.” The report also confirms that Final Fantasy XVI has “already sold over 3.5 million copies“. This confirmation comes after Square Enix’s president Takashi Kiryu advised in a financial results briefing last year reported on by Bloomberg that the game’s profits “unfortunately did not meet our expectations.”

News of the underperformance of Life is Strange: Double Exposure may not be surprising to many fans. Despite featuring the return of fan favourite protagonist Max Caufield from the original Life is Strange, the game was divisively received due to its handling of the previous game’s events, lacklustre mystery elements and significant number of technical issues. Without a new protagonist to act as a potential jumping-on point for new players, such as was the case with 2021’s Life is Strange: True Colors, a direct sequel to the 2015 original was likely destined to have a more niche appeal, regardless of its reception. Double Exposure’s end credits promise future adventures featuring Max. Unfortunately for Life is Strange fans, these financial results may put expectations of a direct sequel on ice for the time being.

Fortunately for Square Enix, at least, the impressive sales figures of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake in particular appear to have covered the financial losses resulting from Life is Strange: Double Exposure’s lack of sales. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake has subsequently been announced to release later this year.