Developer Quantic Dreams has been a billboard studio for the PlayStation platform since the release of Heavy Rain back in 2010 for the PlayStation 3, but since the developer’s partial acquisition from Chinese-based NetEase, the team has shown its interest to working on projects for other platforms. Most recently with the studio’s latest line of titles being provided through the Epic Games Store, the studio is looking to eventually become it’s own publisher at some point down the line.
According to an interview with Dualshockers, Quantic Dream Founder David Cage explains that the purchase made by NetEase became a major turn of events for the team. Thinking ahead of where this acquisition will bring Quantic Dream in the coming future, the idea stirred Cage to look at the variety of players on different players which ultimately stemmed to conteplating in becoming a “boutique publisher” at a later time.
In discussion of the concept of cutting ties with Sony interactive Entertainment, Cage discloses that the idea first came to him about two years prior to the release of Detroit: Become Human.
“Around two years before the release of Detroit, after having worked exclusively with PlayStation for 12 years, we thought it was the right time for us to put our money where our mouth is.,” Cage tells the gaming outlet. “We also felt that the landscape would change in the coming years, with the emergence of new platforms, 5G and Cloud Play.”
Digging deeper into the possibility of Quantic Dream becoming a independent publisher, Cage then detailed to have a firm understading of how developers works and felt to bring more creativity to reality if given the opportunity. “[I] felt there was room for a new publisher that would have an ‘ethical’ approach, offering fair deals and not taking ownership of IP.” Though Cage does wish on the developer potentially turning into a publisher in the future, he did share that among the other companies he spoke with, NetEase was the one he felt held “some very interesting strategic synergies between our companies.”
In regards to how Sony Interactive Entertainment responded to three of its published titles being ported outside of its platform to PC, Cage reassures that there is no type of discord between the two companies. “We always had a great relationship with Sony PlayStation. They have always been very supportive of my work and we have always been very loyal to them in return. So we had a very open talk about all this, and they allowed us to release our catalog of titles on PC.”
The future ahead for Qauntic Dream is surely one to keep an eye out for when the developer is ready to share what it has planned next for the coming lineup of next generation hardware. In similarity to breaking ties with Sony, Suppermassive Games now under Bandai Namco already has its first title Man of Medan prepped for its official release later this month.
What is your opinion on Quantic Dream becoming a publisher in the coming years?
Source: Dualshockers