Heavy Rain sales to top 1.5 million, says Cage

Quantic Dream head tells German site Play3.de that his studio's PS3-exclusive psychological thriller has already gone platinum--and he thinks it should sell 500,000 more copies by year's end.

It's official: Heavy Rain is a hit. The critically acclaimed game got off to a solid start in February, selling more than 200,000 copies in just four days in the US. Now, the head of the developer of the PlayStation 3-exclusive psychological thriller is crowing about its worldwide success--and how much he expects it to sell by year's end.

Heavy Rain's visuals may be shadowy, but its future is bright.

"We have sold more than 1 million copies of Heavy Rain worldwide," Quantic Dream cofounder and co-CEO David Cage told German site Play3.de. "That was a surprise to many, since estimated sales were between 200,000 to 300,000 units. We estimate that by the end of the year, we will have sold 1.5 million copies and are very pleased with the reception."

Cage was especially pleased with the sales, given that Heavy Rain didn't conform to normal game genres. "Our game isn't an action game, it's not a role-playing game, [and] it's not an adventure. It isn't in any one genre. When you create a new, convention-busting game to the market, it's always a risk, both for the developer and the publisher."

Heavy Rain was developed by Quantic Dream, the Paris-based shop behind 2005's Indigo Prophecy (aka Fahrenheit) for the PC, PlayStation 2, and Xbox. Like that critically acclaimed title, Heavy Rain eschews normal game genres for a more cinematic approach, focusing on complex storytelling and emotion via realistic graphics. Heavy Rain follows the pursuit of a mysterious serial murderer, with players controlling several characters who must collect clues in a film-noir-style setting to crack the case.

The first expansion for Heavy Rain, The Taxidermist, was released last week on the PlayStation Network. More Heavy Rain Chronicles episodes are planned throughout the course of the year, and the game will support the PlayStation Move motion-control system when it is released this holiday season.

166 Comments

  • JimmyJimJim

    Posted Apr 14, 2010 10:15 am PT

    @jochirin Well I'm happy you can,cause sadly I can't get over the fact that every level I'm put in is basically a box and I wander around to click up or down on the stick. It makes for me anyways really hard to get myself to even play the game let alone finish it. I like a lot of the game, the overall feel which again reminds me so much of shenmue which was a classic, I just wish they would of eventually put you in more open ended environments where everything isn't so linear and boxed in. oh well thx for atleast answering my question.

  • Jochirin

    Posted Apr 14, 2010 9:23 am PT

    @JimmyJimJim it is the same all the way throug. althoug that does not make a diferance on how enjoyable the game is in my opinion

  • robertwarnes91

    Posted Apr 14, 2010 8:19 am PT

    Shocked! I remember first reading about this game many years ago. The advance emotional narrative and the fact if a character dies there is no game over sold me instantly to buy this game on the release date. I instantly made a prediction of low sales of this game because of its simple game play, but I was wrong. They deserve success for the well-crafted game they have made and its my game of the year. Shame many will miss out on it, but it was announced back in 2006, so plenty of time was given to save up for a PS3.

  • KaizerJinn

    Posted Apr 12, 2010 10:34 pm PT

    they deserve success for such a great game. =D

  • JimmyJimJim

    Posted Apr 12, 2010 6:10 pm PT

    @edinsaw Well I have though, It's basically Shenmue from dreamcast, Heavy Rain is nothing new and certainly not revolutionary from what i'm seeing.... so far heavy rain seems more linear other then the story changing depending upon what you do. I liked shenmues open ended feel... and you didn't even answer my question .

  • spiderman120988

    Posted Apr 12, 2010 4:22 pm PT

    I'm glad I'm one of those 1.5 million that brought this excellent game! I hope Quantic Dream continues to make games that tell deep, personal stories like Heavy Rain.

  • edinsaw

    Posted Apr 12, 2010 4:01 pm PT

    @JimmyJimJim
    This is just a different, unique and revolutionary game, do you know what does that means?
    You should be proud of people trying different thinks and different concept games, than just copy AAA games. The game industry needs both of them.

    I know what you mean with games that you have a lot of freedom and not linear, but as I say before, At least you havent seen something like Heavy Rain before and according with reviews a lot of people are happy with the game and a lot of people says that is serious candidate for game of the year.

    Nice one, Heavy rain creators !!!

  • JimmyJimJim

    Posted Apr 12, 2010 2:29 pm PT

    SO a serious question, I have heavy rain and everything seems rather linear, Do you ever get to the point where you're put in big open enviroments where you're free to roam around and do a bunch of different stuff? similar to how shenmue was, Cause this game reminds me a ton of shenmue and i really loved the freedom that game gave you.

  • MrBubblezz

    Posted Apr 12, 2010 1:43 pm PT

    Heavy Rain was one of my favorite games ever!! I am very pleased that they have this many sales! Keep it up Quantic Dream! You guys deserve it!

    And BTW does anyone know if their making dlc for Ethan Mars.. cause he is probably my favorite character in the game

  • aGiantSquirrel

    Posted Apr 12, 2010 1:02 pm PT

    Keep it coming Quantum Dreams. You make it, Ill buy it!!!!

  • LosDaddie

    Posted Apr 12, 2010 10:23 am PT

    good news. the game was a great rental

  • lobert124

    Posted Apr 12, 2010 9:28 am PT

    I really liked this game and I am really happy that it is this successful.

  • calm_syrface

    Posted Apr 12, 2010 6:01 am PT

    This is a potential game of the year candidate for sure.

  • serbumax85

    Posted Apr 11, 2010 11:13 pm PT

    Just finished the second playtrough and have to say this is an excelent game but i think everybody knows this allready.
    Glad to see that there are a lot of genuine gamers out there that look for a real challenge when playing games and not the simple/common games out there.
    Have to say that this is one of the games that didn't show the final outcome 5 min in the game.

  • inaka_rob

    Posted Apr 11, 2010 7:37 pm PT

    I just sold my copy. I loved it. I saw no reason to play through it twice though. I know there are many different endings, but it wouldn't bring the same feeling and excitement I had the first time. The only reason to play twice was to get a few more trophies. I would rather get a new (longer) game. FFXIII is in the mail, and cost me about 10 bucks after I sold hard rain. @supersonikk: you should buy short games you know arn't going to take you 100 hours, sell it then buy the 100 hour game.

  • supersonikk

    Posted Apr 11, 2010 11:51 am PT

    I got FFXIII over this. Big mistake...?

  • harrysboy

    Posted Apr 11, 2010 10:05 am PT

    So glad this game is a success, hopefully more good games like this will be made now and we don't have to wait every 4 years for them to come along, i mean how many modern warfare clones do we need to play??

  • Kan0nF0dder

    Posted Apr 11, 2010 7:28 am PT

    Heavy Rain truly offeres a unique gameplay experience, anyone who feels games are all kinda the same these days needs to try it.

  • benleslie5

    Posted Apr 11, 2010 4:50 am PT

    I knew that Heavy Rain would be huge on sales. Looking foward tomore Heavy Rain Chronicle episodes soon.

  • Foxhound_spy

    Posted Apr 11, 2010 2:56 am PT

    Good for you Cage, Bring more game like HR to PS3 will ya. Shooter games this gen bored me to death ...........

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Apr 10, 2010 9:10 pm PT

    Great news. Always good to see a new IP (especially one that isn't another damn shooter) sale well.

  • LK9988

    Posted Apr 10, 2010 3:59 pm PT

    Great sales for a new IP. Glad for both the developers and producers of this unique game. Good to see it's selling well.

  • Princess_Rectum

    Posted Apr 10, 2010 1:16 pm PT

    Didn't care much for Heavy Rain, but kudos to them for taking something unconventional and turning it into a success. Hopefully this success will in turn cause other studios will start to use their thinking caps soon, so we won't have to sift through seas of FPSs and God of War ripoffs anymore.

  • chikahiro94

    Posted Apr 10, 2010 12:33 pm PT

    Excellent! New IP with good sales in a non-traditional genre? Couldn't ask for more. Hopefully this will inspire more companies to try stuff like this (360 owner but game lover in general)... I think there are more than a few companies who want to try more but given the high costs of making games are afraid of the risks. Of course, I'm wondering how many copies of HR need to be sold for it to be profitable for Quantic...

  • joeisnub

    Posted Apr 10, 2010 12:28 pm PT

    Hats off to the sales numbers, especially since its an I.P.(for the most part)

  • shentonio

    Posted Apr 10, 2010 12:22 pm PT

    Heavy Rain is a first rate experience, even after you've finished it. Still playing it to get all of the endings I haven't seen yet, and to cllect those final few trophies along the way : 0 )

  • Pete5506

    Posted Apr 10, 2010 8:22 am PT

    I loved the game, Im glad that its selling well

  • thingta42

    Posted Apr 10, 2010 7:48 am PT

    Yes, I thought in todays market of first person shooters, that this game would never reach that number. But damn it proved me wrong. This is great news, it means there still a market for games that arn't just your standard shooter or action game.

    Hope one day some company brings back some old school RPG's or somthing like a New Slayers Game or somthing, i think the last Slayers game was on Dreamcast.

  • steelmouth

    Posted Apr 10, 2010 5:04 am PT

    impressive

    goes to show that a flash of genius and fresh idea does work, there are just way too many shooters/action games out there

  • gamer082009

    Posted Apr 10, 2010 4:30 am PT

    Truly was a brilliant game and deserves all the praise it gets. At least we can expect more from the series.as opposed to Indigo Prophecy that just went away with no sequel.

  • Timbydude

    Posted Apr 10, 2010 1:31 am PT

    It deserves it. It was a pretty awesome game.

  • rkopczak

    Posted Apr 10, 2010 12:53 am PT

    It's not a game, it's experience. I loved that.

  • anthonycg

    Posted Apr 10, 2010 12:42 am PT

    It was a nice ride.

  • Gammet25

    Posted Apr 9, 2010 9:53 pm PT

    Thats very good, i welcome fresh new ideas of games like this. I still haven't played it though T_T

  • cornerback3

    Posted Apr 9, 2010 7:18 pm PT

    Unlike other games that sold even better (cough...mw2), this one is full of creativity and personality.

  • Dudeman315

    Posted Apr 9, 2010 4:37 pm PT

    This would be the only exclusive I feel like I'm missing on the the 360. I still refuse to give Sony a single peso after the root kit incident but this might convince some less stick-to-your-guns people to buy a PS3. Kudos to Quantic Dream for producing an amazing product, and if it's released to PC or 360 I will pick it up, otherwise best wishes.

  • steve-2009

    Posted Apr 9, 2010 4:30 pm PT

    When I first saw it, I throught it was a Third Person Shooter action game.

  • Nightrain50

    Posted Apr 9, 2010 3:07 pm PT

    Good now lower the price so I can get it too.

  • TheArcade

    Posted Apr 9, 2010 2:56 pm PT

    I actually want to get a PS3 for this and Wipeout HD.

  • Cillerboy

    Posted Apr 9, 2010 2:41 pm PT

    nice to hear heavy rain doing well it deifnetly deserves it with such creativity and effort put into it, maybe the gaming industry isnt doomed after all

  • jonluke93

    Posted Apr 9, 2010 2:12 pm PT

    I honestly did not expect this game to be successfull congratz Quantic Dream I want more games like Heavy Rain

  • Ehggsz

    Posted Apr 9, 2010 2:10 pm PT

    I look forward to seeing more games like this. And I wouldn't mind seeing some DLC explaining a plot hole or two from the game.

  • FallenAngel

    Posted Apr 9, 2010 1:54 pm PT

    @x-2tha-z
    No way man...take a risk on original concepts when you can just fall back on the same tired old sequels and spin-offs? Sacrilege!
    ...or so the fat cats at the likes of Activision, EA and (to a lesser extent) Ubisoft would say to you

  • N0tYrBeezin

    Posted Apr 9, 2010 1:51 pm PT

    This game deserves it.

  • x-2tha-z

    Posted Apr 9, 2010 1:35 pm PT

    This is great news. Hopefully, publishers will look at HR's sales and be willing to take more risks on original concepts in the near future.

    I really enjoyed HR. It's a great game that deserves all its success.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Apr 9, 2010 1:13 pm PT

    it was fun to play, though hard to play again and again since the mystery is kinda over once you beat it

  • lindseyiluvyou

    Posted Apr 9, 2010 12:23 pm PT

    Did I call it or what? See how many 360 fanboys and trolls are on this story? Ha surprise surprise.

  • FallenAngel

    Posted Apr 9, 2010 12:10 pm PT

    Congrats David Cage and Quantic Dreams! I've followed you guys through Omikron and Fahrenheit (Indigo Prophecy in US) and have always been struck by the scope and ambition of your projects. The former two were great rides, if albeit flawed in small ways, but you finally hit it out of the park with Heavy Rain...and I'm glad you're finally getting the recognition you guys always deserved. Kudos...and keep up the good work...I'm sure you have more amazing and twisted stories to tell, Mr. Cage

  • solidstein

    Posted Apr 9, 2010 12:06 pm PT

    @crzy1

    i agree with you tremndously i have loved all 3 games and i truly believe with new technology this genre gets better and better everytime and with L.A Noires facial technology coming out it will make a quantic dream game look so amazingly realistic and so much more immersive. i really hope the release a new game in 2012

  • OJdaLIONKing

    Posted Apr 9, 2010 12:03 pm PT

    I'm glad to hear a new, innovative IP like this is doing so well. Hopefully this will encourage the industry to experiment more--there may be some missteps, but evolution is the nature of the industry.

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