Developer Quantic Dream has taken risks over the years, never releasing sequels to their games and always experimenting with new cinematic gameplay elements. With that in mind, Quantic Dream co-CEO Guillaume de Fondaumiere gave a keynote speech at Digital Dragons saying that experimental games can still be profitable, as evidenced by Heavy Rain.
“These projects have been and are profitable, to some extent,” said de Fondaumiere . “I’ll give you one example that I know about: Heavy Rain. Let’s say it’s $22 million to produce. With marketing it’s maybe $30 million. With distribution, $40 million. Sony earned $100 million with the game, so it’s very profitable. It’s the sort of margin that most publishers would strive for, for any game.”
“Heavy Rain was the ninth best selling game in the year it was released, so we made the top ten. It’s true of Journey, too,” he added. “I don’t know the details of the budget, but I know from speaking to members of Thatgamecompany that it was a profitable game for them and for Sony. We should stop thinking that innovation rhymes with unprofitable.”
