Detroit, Heavy Rain developer Quantic Dream loses employment court case
Against staff member who quit due to Photoshop montage scandal.
Controversial games studio Quantic Dream, developer of PlayStation exclusives Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human, has lost a court case against a former employee.
PlayStation Plus games for July announced
Absolver! Heavy Rain! More!
Sony's announced the PlayStation Plus titles for July.
From 3rd July, PlayStation 4-owning Plus subscribers can download Absolver, the RPG / fighting game hybrid Edwin recommended in our review: "A one-of-a-kind blend of blood-thumping martial arts, combo curation and grindy multiplayer set in a ravishing wasteland," he wrote.
Plus subs can also download Quantic Dream's Heavy Rain from 3rd July. We gave that one 9/10 in our review.
Quantic Dream: allegations of unhealthy studio culture are a "smear"
Says it has been subjected to "unfounded attacks".
Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human developer Quantic Dream has released a new statement in response to allegations which appeared in several French publications last month that spoke of an unhealthy studio culture.
Sega has announced that it will publish the first project from Interior Night, a new studio founded by ex-Quantic Dream lead designer, Caroline Marchal.
David Cage and Quantic Dream "shocked" by allegations of unhealthy studio culture
UPDATE: A correction, and QD issues a statement.
UPDATE 15TH JANUARY: This article previously translated a passage of a French report to say Guillaume de Fondaumière was accused of "pushing kisses" on staff at parties, but the translation is incorrect, as de Fondaumière himself later pointed out to me. After further consultation we have a more accurate translation. The accusation revolves around the common French greeting of air-kissing when two people meet. Guillaume de Fondaumière is accused of making more contact with his kisses than is considered appropriate.
Beyond: Two Souls gets new PlayStation 4 version next week
But you'll have to wait until March for Heavy Rain.
Beyond: Two Souls developer Quantic Dream has finally announced a release date for the game's new PlayStation 4 version - it's next week, on 26th November.
Beyond: Two Souls and Heavy Rain are heading to PS4
Quantic Dreams' narrative duo coming later this year.
Sony has finally confirmed that both Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls are coming to PlayStation 4, though it's still being miserly with the details. They're both confirmed for this year, and will be available individually digitally as well as a bundle that's both physical and digital, but there's little information beyond that.
David Cage: "Scared" Microsoft turned down Heavy Rain
Worried about potential child kidnap controversy.
Microsoft declined to publish Playstation 3-exclusive Heavy Rain after concerns about its child kidnapping storyline.
Plus: Does it display images as well?
Quantic Dream, the do-it-differently developer of adult thrillers Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls, is "very interested" in the new DualShock 4 PlayStation 4 controller.
Heavy Rain cost €16.7 million to make and made Sony "more than €100 million"
"Stop thinking that innovation rhymes with unprofitable."
Quantic Dream's Guillaume de Fondaumiere revealed to a Digital Dragons audience in Poland today that PlayStation 3 exclusive Heavy Rain cost just €16.7 million to make - even with all those emotional polygons stuffed in.
Pre-production on Beyond dev Quantic Dream's PS4 game began middle of 2012
Hasn't been decided whether Beyond will be ported to PS4.
Pre-production on Quantic Dream's mystery - but confirmed - PlayStation 4 game began in the middle of 2012.
David Cage: "I actually have probably my next three games in mind"
Please can one star Sylvester Stallone?
French emotion maker David Cage already has "probably my next three games in mind" even though he hasn't blooming finished Beyond: Two Souls yet.
Heavy Rain composer Normand Corbeil dies of cancer aged 56
He was scoring Beyond: Two Souls.
BAFTA award-winning composer Normand Corbeil, who scored Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls, has lost his battle with pancreatic cancer and died aged 56.
Heavy Rain, Beyond chief David Cage declares: "sequels kill creativity and innovation"
"Gamers invest money in publishers having no interest in innovation."
Sequels are bad according to David Cage, creator of Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls and other games that aren't sequels.
"Sequels kill creativity and innovation," he declared. "Many people want the same and if that's what you offer them, they will gladly buy it."
The outspoken Quantic Dream design chief told OPM that we're inundated with sequels because that's what we buy.
2K Games boss says photorealism aids diversity, Notch disagrees
Can games do nuanced emotion like Brokeback Mountain yet?
2K Games boss Christoph Hartmann has gone and said something controversial. He's declared that only when games approach photorealistic graphics will they be able to broaden their genre-horizon and properly do nuanced emotion like Brokeback Mountain - rather than the Mission Impossible experiences we get today.
Warren Spector: "David Cage is a genius"
"I'm in awe of the talent of the guy."
Warren Spector has hailed Heavy Rain maker David Cage as no less than "a genius".
Heavy Rain dev's next game is called Beyond - report
UPDATE: First screenshots leak, Ellen Page revealed as star.
UPDATE: The first screenshots from Beyond have been spilled online by AllGamesBeta and reveal Juno actress Ellen Page as one of the game's stars.
Quantic Dream's new game revealed at E3 - report
Press square to Kara?
Heavy Rain developer Quantic Dream will reveal its upcoming game at Sony's E3 press conference next Monday, according to a new report.
Sony: "our primary PSN audience is indeed more adult"
Journey maker Jenova Chen nods head vigorously.
Both Sony and Journey creator Jenova Chen believe, in a completely unbiased way of course, that PlayStation Network has more adult-minded users.
Quantic Dream's next project to be unveiled tonight
See Heavy Rain developer's tech demo on Eurogamer from 10.30pm GMT.
French developer Quantic Dream's latest project, a tech demo that shows the progression the studio has made since 2010's Heavy Rain as well as laying a foundation for its next game, is to be unveiled today - and you'll be able to see it first here on Eurogamer.
Heavy Rain completed by 74% of all users
But only a third kept every character alive.
Nearly three quarters of all those who logged into Heavy Rain finished the game, developer Quantic Dream has revealed via an IGN infographic.
Heavy Rain: Director's Cut announced
DLC, soundtrack and bonus content bundled in.
Heavy Rain: Director's Cut launches in the US for PlayStation 3 on 8th November, Sony has announced.
As well as the original game, the re-release includes the following extras, as listed on the PlayStation Blog:
Heavy Rain Chronicles: Episode 1 - The Taxidermist DLC
Cage decries conservative marketing
Fahrenheit name change "f***** stupid".
Video game marketers in the US are too conservative and often struggle to sell story-driven titles, according to Heavy Rain creator and Quantic Dream boss David Cage.
Used market cost Heavy Rain 1m sales
Dev lost "between €5 and €10 million".
Heavy Rain developer Quantic Dream believes it lost one million customers, and "between €5 and €10 million", to second-hand sales.
"I can take just one example of Heavy Rain," Quantic Dream co-founder Guillaume de Fondaumiere told GamesIndustry.biz. "We basically sold to date approximately two million units. We know from the Trophy system that probably more than three million people bought this game and played it.
"On my small level it's a million people playing my game without giving me one cent. And my calculation is, as Quantic Dream, I lost between €5 and €10 million worth of royalties because of second-hand gaming."
Toned down Heavy Rain for France only
"Extreme" violence now "realistic".
The toned down version of Heavy Rain spotted on pan-European ratings board PEGI is exclusive to France, Sony has told Eurogamer.
Quantic Dream's Infraworld trademarked
Evidence of David Cage's next mounts.
Heavy Rain studio Quantic Dream may be working on a game called Infraworld after all.
Is Fiv5 David Cage's next game?
Domain registrations set tongues wagging.
Quantic Dream's next game could be called Fiv5, domain registrations suggest.
David Cage: Game auteurs are vital
"No good stories are written by 50 people."
Video game auteurs who take sole responsibility for shaping all aspects of a title are vital to the continued growth of the industry, so says Heavy Rain creator David Cage.
Cage wants "to explore different directions".
Heavy Rain developer Quantic Dream is not interested in making a sequel to its multi-BAFTA winning PlayStation 3 crime saga, so says studio boss David Cage.
Speaking to Spong backstage at the BAFTA ceremony in London last night - where the game picked up gongs for technical innovation, story and music - Cage revealed that the developer's next game, while "still very dark", will explore new territory.
"We created the genre," he insisted, referring to Heavy Rain's brand of interactive storytelling. "We own the genre, and we want to show that Heavy Rain was not a coincidence or a lucky shot - that it was really something that makes sense and that we can build on.
Mass Effect 2 is AIAS game of the year
But game Oscars dominated by Red Dead.
Red Dead Redemption was the most prolific winner at this year's AIAS (Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences) Interactive Achievement Awards - gaming's equivalent of the Oscars.
BAFTA GAME Award shortlist revealed
Vote for your top title of 2010.
The 10-game shortlist for this year's public vote prize at the GAME British Academy Video Games Awards was announced this morning.
Heavy Rain film "fast-tracked"
Deadwood creator at the helm.
A film based on superb PlayStation 3 exclusive Heavy Rain is in the works.
Sony shows Heavy Rain off-cuts
Who else did Origami Killer murder?
An early version of Heavy Rain added another murder victim to the Origami Killer's tally, a new behind-the-scenes clip has revealed.
Cliffy B: Heavy Rain perfect for girls
Sony missed a marketing trick.
Gears of War lynchpin Cliff Bleszinski believes Sony undersold Heavy Rain by not marketing the game directly to women.
David Cage: Horizon was a ruse
"It was definitely a wise decision."
The Horizon project David Cage told Eurogamer was not his next big project was designed from the start as a red herring.
Enslaved sampler there too.
The release of PlayStation Move this week means the PlayStation Store has been flooded with Move demos.
Heavy Rain Move Edition dated, priced
Demo confirmed.
The PlayStation Move-enabled version of thriller Heavy Rain will be released in the UK and Ireland on 8th October, Sony's confirmed via the European PlayStation Blog.
Cage: Heavy Rain did the business
Has passed worldwide sales of 1.5 million.
Quantic Dream's David Cage has insisted his critically acclaimed PS3-exclusive Heavy Rain has done the business despite neither he or Sony expecting it to.
Cage exploring "very different universes"
Quantic Dream "will not play it safe".
Quantic Dream's creative conductor David Cage has shared his desire to explore "very different universes" with his new game.
"The controller is just a means" - Cage
Move won't "solve" mainstream uptake.
Quantic Dream's emotional leader David Cage does not believe motion-sensing controllers are the key to unlocking mainstream acceptance of videogames.
Quantic Dream working on next-gen now
"I need the thrill of a new idea" - Cage
David Cage has told Eurogamer that Quantic Dream has begun work on the next generation of "technology".
Cage: Heavy Rain DLC will never be made
But is proud of Heavy Rain Move Edition.
Heavy rain creator David Cage has told Eurogamer that he doubts further downloadable content for superb PS3 exclusive Heavy Rain will ever be made.
Heavy Rain Chronicles DLC on hold
Quantic urged to get a Move on.
Work has been suspended on the Heavy Rain Chronicles downloadable add-ons.
Heavy Rain receiving Move controls
Emotion control, if you like.
Sony has said that Quantic Dream's highly acclaimed adventure game Heavy Rain has been reworked to use PlayStation Move controls.
Cage's next project called Horizon?
Sci-fi game about a couple, says report.
Heavy Rain creator David Cage's next project may be titled Horizon and focus on the a twentysomething couple in a science-fiction world.
Report: Heavy Rain movie rights sold
Former New Line bosses close to deal.
Deadline reports that Unique Features is the top bidder in an auction of the film rights for PS3 thriller Heavy Rain.
More than 1m copies of Heavy Rain sold
Cage reckons another 500k will be shifted.
Quantic Dreams boss David Cage says a million copies of Heavy Rain have already been shifted - and he reckons that figure will rise by half as much again before the year is out.
Cage takes a pop at Natal E3 demo
"I thought it was a little bit lying."
Heavy Rain creator David Cage has revealed he's skeptical about Project Natal, particularly with regard to last year's E3 demo of the new tech.
Heavy Rain will support PS Move
Does anyone know how to Madison?
Sony's revealed that Heavy Rain will work with PlayStation Move this autumn.
Cage has written his next game already
"Very different, very surprising."
Heavy Rain's writer-director David Cage has said he's already written the plot for his next game, and it's going to be "very different" from the dark thriller.
Heavy Rain's Taxidermist DLC dated
Here on April Fools' Day.
The first drop of Heavy Rain downloadable content, The Taxidermist, will be available to all PS3 owners on 1st April, and you'll need $4.99 to buy it.
Addresses "a range of minor issues".
Sony has a patch for Heavy Rain in the final stages of development, and reckons an update will be released "very soon".
That's what the developer wrote on the US PlayStation forum.
"As mentioned previously, this patch is not targeted purely at the issues reported in this thread but does address a range of minor issues which could be contributing factors. Given the small percentage of players affected by these issues and the difficulty that has been had in reproducing them here we're optimistic that this patch resolves your problems but cannot guarantee that this will be the case," wrote the senior community development manager at Sony.
Molyneux is big fan of Heavy Rain
Reckons it's "the future of videogames".
Never mind Fable III - Peter Molyneux thinks PS3 exclusive Heavy Rain is where it's at when it comes to next-gen entertainment.
Heavy Rain "fuels a lot of hope"
Quantic Dream chuffed with response.
Quantic Dream co-founder Guillaume de Foundaumiere believes that Heavy Rain's success proves "there is space for innovation".
Hollywood director praises Heavy Rain
LaBute wants "sophistication" to continue.
Hollywood film director Neil LaBute has sung Heavy Rain's praises, and said he hopes other games will continue down this more "sophisticated" path.
Years-old copyright doc surfaces.
Internet sleuth Superannuation has tuned up a United States Copyright Office filing which appears to suggest that PS3 interactive drama Heavy Rain has been optioned for a film adaptation.
Heavy Rain glitch strips Madison
Video shows naked heroine.
One Heavy Rain glitch uncovered during the last few days apparently leaves character Madison Page with no clothes on.
UK charts: Heavy Rain is number one
PS3 exclusive wins heart of nation.
Sony and Quantic Dream's ambitious PS3 exclusive Heavy Rain has topped the UK All-Formats chart in its first week on sale.
Heavy Rain makes a splash in Japan
Resi 5: Gold Edition top of the pile.
Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition - the re-release with added DLC - has shambled to the top of the Japanese software chart this week.
PS3 owners reporting Heavy Rain issues
Plus: SCEE apologies for SE code problem.
Update: Sony Europe has told Eurogamer: "We are aware of the reported issue and are investigating the situation." More when we hear more.
Cage: no more thrillers from me
Multiplayer drama is "the next challenge".
Speaking to Eurogamer, David Cage has said that Heavy Rain will be his last work in "the thriller genre".
Cage hints at motion control reveal
Heavy Rain creator has plans for Arc?
Heavy Rain's creator David Cage has said that he may have an announcement to make about the PS3's motion controller soon.
Heavy Rain demo on PSN Store today
Plus: Flower price pressed right down.
A demo for Heavy Rain is the biggest attraction on the PlayStation Store today. Sony's huge PS3 exclusive was reviewed earlier and now awaits only its launch on 26th February. But can it do the numbers?
European Heavy Rain demo dated
Out a couple of weeks before the game.
PlayStation 3 owners will be able to download a demo of Quantic Dream's Heavy Rain on 11th February.
Be Origami Killer in Heavy Rain DLC
Cage lets it out of the cage. Selecta.
David Cage has revealed that one episode of Heavy Rain's Chronicles DLC puts you in the body of the Origami Killer himself.
Sony dates Heavy Rain for Europe
End of Feb for PS3 exclusive.
Heavy Rain will be released in Europe on 26th February.
HMV: Heavy Rain date is unconfirmed
Data required for retailer to take orders.
Retailer HMV has clarified to Eurogamer that Heavy Rain's release date - listed on HMV.com as 26th February - is actually still unconfirmed.
This ties in with Sony's silence on the matter earlier in the day.
"The release date is still TBC as we understand it," an HMV spokesperson told us, "but in order to list items on [our website] and to make them available for pre-order - or to enable customers to register their interest so we can keep them updated - we have to put a release date on the system.
Sony declines to confirm Heavy Rain date
Are retailers lying about late February?
Sony's told Eurogamer that a release date for Heavy Rain remains unconfirmed, despite numerous retailers - including those with Special Edition deals - backing 26th February as the PS3 game's UK arrival.
HMV started the ball rolling, listing a Limited Edition that comes complete with fancy slipcase and vouchers to download a Heavy Rain PS3 Theme and Heavy Rain sountrack - "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head"?
ShopTo, Amazon and Play all also back the 26th February date which, under two months away, now seems undeniable.
Heavy Rain gets 15 certificate from BBFC
"These are obviously not real people."
The BBFC has passed Heavy Rain for sale in the UK, deeming the mature PS3 exclusive suitable for 15 year-olds.
Heavy Rain to receive Chronicles DLC
First episode due with Collector's Edition.
Sony has announced a European special edition of Heavy Rain and has also said it plans to release downloadable episodes following the game's release.
Heavy Rain to delay Trophy alerts
Acquired awards shown during breaks.
Quantic Dream co-boss Guillaume de Fondaumiere has revealed a small but interesting Heavy Rain feature that delays Trophy alerts until there are appropriate breaks in gameplay in which to display them.
Cage will "definitely" explore PS3 wand
Plus: QD confirms Heavy Rain demo.
Quantic Dream founder David Cage has told Eurogamer he will "definitely" explore using the PS3 wand for "mature" experiences once Heavy Rain is released early next year.
David Cage at Eurogamer Expo 2009
Video of the game and the Q&A.
We were very proud and honoured last week to welcome Quantic Dream's David Cage to the Eurogamer Expo, where, in addition to a playable showfloor demo laid on by publisher Sony Computer Entertainment, he walked attendees through Heavy Rain and took part in an open question-and-answer session.
Cage defends Heavy Rain's mature content
"You won't be shocked for life by nipples."
Quantic Dream's David Cage has spoken up for his right to use sex in his games, pointing out that, "When you are 18... You won't be shocked for the rest of your life because you saw nipples."
Cage defends Madison striptease scene
"I do whatever it takes to tell my story."
Quantic Dream's David Cage has defended the scene in Heavy Rain in which player-character Madison Paige strips for a nightclub owner, arguing that during its E3 showing it succeeded in its goal of making the player "uncomfortable".
David Cage rants about quick-time events
Heavy Rain man: "This is not Dragon's Lair - do you think I'm crazy?"
Quantic Dream's David Cage pleaded with journalists earlier today to help him shake off the stigma of quick-time events and get the message across that Heavy Rain is properly interactive.
Cage talks Trophies in Heavy Rain
"We found a solution."
David Cage has made his peace with Sony's Trophy system for PlayStation 3, despite past concerns that it was at odds with the creative goals of his ambitious adventure game Heavy Rain.
Heavy Rain confirmed for 2010 release
Will be "on time, on budget," says QD.
Quantic Dream exec Guillaume de Fondaumiere has confirmed Heavy Rain won't be released until 2010.
"Most publishers today realise that it's not ideal to release a new IP or a new genre just before Christmas. It's a very crowded place to be, and certain games need more space to live their life," he told GamesIndustry.biz. "Everybody at working on the project, both at Quantic and Sony, believe this is the right time."
"We've always known that we had a window to release the game, and it's important for us to finish it the right way. We've got some margin either way, to some degree, but again I think there's a responsibility, and we don't want to deceive - so it's important for the game to be polished up until the last minute."
Heavy Rain delayed until 2010?
Sony says it hasn't confirmed a date.
An exclusive video preview of Sony and Quantic Dream's interactive drama Heavy Rain on the Gametrailers TV show suggests that the game won't be out until next year.
Heavy Rain exclusive - 4pm today
Brand new pictures and words.
Just a quick heads-up - Eurogamer will be bringing you a brand new Heavy Rain preview, along with a whole set of new screenshots, at 4pm today.
Heavy Rain, of course, is a PS3 exclusive from Quantic Dreams, the same people who made Fahrenheit. It's caused quite a stir so far - visit the gamepage to catch up on our all coverage so far and find out why.
Eurogamer will be the only UK site to feature the new stuff, so check back at 4pm if you want to see it.
Heavy Rain is "interactive drama" - Sony
Played more with heads than pads.
Sony Worldwide Studios bigwig Michael Denny has described Heavy Rain as an "interactive drama" that will be played in people's heads more than it is on control pads.
Cage pays tribute to ICO developer
"He has a real sense of poetry."
Heavy Rain developer David Cage has described ICO and Shadow of the Colossus director Fumito Ueda as one of "very, very few artists" working in videogames.
Quantic Dreams outlines plans.
Quantic Dream has confirmed to Eurogamer plans for a pre-release demo of PS3 exclusive-of-the-moment Heavy Rain, while hinting at the potential for downloadable content in the convention-smashing adventure.
Sony unveils Quantic's Heavy Rain
A "dark thriller", due next year.
At its press conference at the Leipzig Games Convention, Sony lifted the lid on Heavy Rain, a "dark thriller" for PS3 due in 2009.
The game appears to be an extremely cinematic adventure with horror overtones, and a mature, emotionally involving story exploring adult themes not seen in videogames before is promsied.
Live gameplay footage was shown, but aside from very quick button-prompt flashes on-screen, it was virtually indistinguishable from a cut-scene, with fast cutting between static cameras.
David Cage clarifies Uncharted comments
We wrote a naughty headline. We're sorry.
Quantic Dream's David Cage has asked that we clarify his comments on Uncharted: Drake's Fortune after we published a story on Friday under the headline "Uncharted is like a porn film - Quantic Dream".
David Cage on Heavy Rain storytelling
How it differs to Uncharted, which he admires.
Quantic Dream founder David Cage reckons that Heavy Rain's storytelling makes Uncharted: Drake's Fortune look like a porn movie.
More Heavy Rain details emerge
PS3-exclusive from Fahrenheit dev.
Quantic Dream has opened up about its PS3 exclusive Heavy Rain.
According to a piece in Dutch magazine Chief (translated by Kotaku), the game will focus around four characters who have landed in extraordinary situations.
The main theme will be about a father's love for his son, which ties in with the "much more personal" approach studio boss David Cage is after.
