Double exposure developer announces layoffs

Deck Nine Games, the developer behind the recent title Life is Strange: Double Exposureannounced its second round of layoffs in 2024. The Life is Strange: Double Exposure studio is one of many developers to make tough cuts in a challenging year for the games industry.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure was released in October, continuing the story of the original game's protagonist, Max Caulfield. The character's return was highly anticipated by longtime fans of the franchise, though it didn't go as planned for Deck Nine Games. Life is Strange: Double Exposure released to a lukewarm critical reception, with many criticisms aimed at some of the narrative choices made for the game. On this issue, critics and many fans were largely aligned.

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A statement shared on Deck Nine Games' Twitter account by CEO Mark Lyons confirmed that Life is Strange: Double Exposure the studio had made the decision to lay off staff. According to the statement, this “difficult decision … reflects the difficult times many companies in our industry are currently facing.” In a message to the developers themselves, the studio says it's “committed to supporting you in this transition in any way we can.” Deck Nine Games did not share an exact figure for the number of staff affected by the layoffs or how it will affect the future Life is strange games.

Deck Nine Games announces second round of layoffs in 2024

Unfortunately, this marks Deck Nine Games' second round of layoffs in 2024. Earlier in the year, Deck Nine Games laid off 20% of its staff, again citing the “deteriorating market conditions of the gaming industry” at the time. It seems that despite the release of its flagship title, this situation has hardly improved for the developer. Before that, it also laid off 30 employees in May 2023. It's representative of the industry at large, which continues to experience major layoffs on what seems like a daily basis. This difficult period for the gaming industry remains ongoing.

It remains to be seen what the studio has in store for the future Life is strange the franchise. The announcement of Life is Strange: Double Exposure it was a pleasant surprise, but it came a bit out of the blue. Those who played the latest game in the series know that there are hints towards the future, but it's unclear how or if these layoffs will affect those plans going forward.

Max Caulfield, photographer-in-residence at the prestigious Caledon University, discovers his new best friend, Safi, dead in the snow.

Killed.

To save her, Max tries to turn back time – a power he hasn't used in years… instead, Max opens the way to a parallel timeline where Safi is still alive and still in danger!

Max realizes that the killer will strike again soon – in both versions of reality.

With her new power to switch between two timelines – can Max solve and prevent the same crime?

ORDINARY GIRL, EXTRAORDINARY POWER
Max is thrust into a thrilling supernatural crime mystery – more dangerous than ever!

CROSS TIMELINE TWO
Make allies and pursue suspects in two versions of reality, shaping both timelines through unforgettable choices.

RACE AGAINST TIME
A relentless detective has Max in his sights, and Safi's killer gets closer with every clue uncovered. Can Max survive long enough to do the impossible?

DECIDE THE FATE OF CALEDON
Explore two versions of a wintery campus, each full of clues, secrets and difficult decisions.

Franchise

Life is strange

ISSUED

October 29, 2024

Motor

Unreal Engine 3

ESRB

t

OpenCritic rating

Correct

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