Studio behind Life is Strange: Double Exposure hit with layoffs

The development studio behind Life is Strange: Double Exposure, Deck Nine Games, have announced another round of layoffs following the release of the game back in October, which failed to meet both fan and studio expectations.

Despite highly anticipated thanks to the return of the original protagonist, Max Caulfield, the game did not have as much impact as the original game. The reception was mixed with all sorts of player feelings, with many raising questions about the story elements and writing.

Two months after the release, the studio was hit with a second wave of layoffs in 2024 alone, and the announcement came through the official X (Twitter) account. In the post, Deck Nine Games wrote, “Today, we are sad to share the news that we must say goodbye to some of our talented team members.”

“This was an extremely difficult decision and reflects the challenging times many companies in our industry are currently facing. We are extremely grateful to every individual who has dedicated their hard work, passion and commitment to making transformative entertainment with us,” it further added, thanking the devs for their hard work.

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Gaming industry in turmoil?

The most recent workforce cut came after the company decided to part ways with 20% of its staff before the game was released. Not only Deck Nine Games, but almost the entire gaming industry is facing a similar situation, with several studios announcing various job cuts in the last few years.

According to estimates, 2024 alone has seen more than 14,600 cuts in both large corporations and indie studios. Most of these came from large studios like Xbox, Ubisoft, Firewalk Studios, Bungie, and more due to their sheer workforce size and some underwhelming video games released this year.

With Deck Nine Games' current situation, fans are worried if this will be the studio's end. However, an official statement regarding the studio's future actions has yet to be made.