PS Plus Extra Game Faces Audience Challenges

Overview

Lost Records: Bloom and Rage struggles to gain traction despite being free for PS Plus Extra subscribers.
The narrative revolves around four high school friends, intertwining two key timelines influenced by player choices.
Development studio Don’t Nod Montreal has postponed the release of Tape 2 to April 15, paying homage to the ’90s in its storytelling.

Lost Records: Bloom and Rage was introduced by Don’t Nod in February 2025, immediately becoming available to PlayStation Plus Extra members. As a spiritual successor to the highly regarded Life is Strange series, the game had high expectations from both critics and players. However, recent analytics reveal that it is facing challenges in attracting players, even among those who received it for free through their subscription.

Developed by Don’t Nod Montreal, the narrative unfolds across two significant timelines: the summer of 1995 and a reunion in 2022, 27 years later. Echoing the narrative style of the Life is Strange series, Lost Records: Bloom and Rage allows players to delve into the events that shaped the lives of four friends in their youth and how these moments resonate in their adult lives. The game is structured in two parts, with Tape 1 releasing on February 18, while players eagerly await the conclusion in Tape 2, which was initially scheduled for March but has now been pushed to April 15, 2025.

Challenges in Player Engagement for Lost Records: Bloom and Rage

Despite its lineage, Lost Records: Bloom and Rage has reportedly attracted 43.2% fewer players compared to others launching within the same period, notably Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, as highlighted in data from TrueTrophies tracking over 3.4 million active PSN accounts. Even titles like Animal Well, Tchia, and Teardown had a better reception upon their release on PS Plus Extra.

In a recent discussion with Game Rant, the development team provided insights into their creative process. Creative director Michel Koch, alongside executive producer Luc Baghadoust and producer Cathy Vincelli, shared how their upbringing in the ’90s served as a fundamental inspiration for the game’s setting. They illustrated how the beloved Life is Strange series has shaped their narrative design and gameplay approach.

While Tape 1 allows fans a glimpse into this evocative narrative, the anticipation surrounding Tape 2‘s delayed release adds another layer of suspense. Players will have to wait until April 15, 2025, to experience the conclusion of this story, as announced by Don’t Nod Montreal.

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