Quantic Dream, the video game developer behind Detroit: Become Human, Heavy Rain, and Beyond: Two Souls, among other projects, has announced that, thanks to the success of Detroit: Become Human, the studio will be able to self-publish their own games. The announcement was made as part of a celebratory message from the studio’s CEO and co-CEO, marking the 23rd anniversary since its founding.
Quantic Dream Can Self-Publish Thanks to Detroit: Become Human
Quantic Dream was first founded in 1997 and the original founder, David Cage, remains its CEO, lead director, and lead writer. Heavy Rain, which launched back in 2010, was the first game to bring the French studio to global attention. Their next project, Beyond: Two Souls, never quite lived up to Heavy Rain. However, the studio’s latest game, Detroit: Become Human, has become its most successful release ever. Following its launch in 2018, with Sony Interactive Entertainment serving as publisher, Detroit: Become Human broke several sales records.
Quantic Dream has never made a sequel to one of their games. However, there has been speculation that their next upcoming project could be a follow-up to Detroit. That next game, whatever it may be, is currently in development. Cage and co-CEO Guillaume de Fondaumière didn’t have any specific details to share about that secret project on Quantic Dream’s 23rd anniversary. However, they did reveal some very interesting information about the studio’s future; “Thanks to Detroit: Become Human,” they write; “we’ve been able to realise the vision we held dear since the creation of Quantic Dream. And so, for the first time in 23 years of working with prestigious publishers, we are now in a position to self-publish.”
A shift to self-publishing is certainly not one without potential pitfalls. However, it does mean that the studio can be independent and pursue projects without needing the express approval of a separate publisher. Additionally, Cage and Fondaumière went on to suggest that Quantic Dream could also start to support other, smaller studios too; “It will also allow us to help other developers,” they explain; “by providing investment and development support, so that they can fully express their talents.”
For now, it remains to be seen what exactly this will mean for Quantic Dream and their upcoming projects. However, an announcement for their next game may well arrive sometime later this year. That is likely to be the first indication of what Quantic Dream’s vision for the future will look like.