Heavy Rain: Microsoft knocked back Quantic Dream's bestseller over scandal worries

Microsoft has a chance to publish Heavy Rain, but knocked back the eventual PlayStation 3 exclusive over its kidnapping themes.

Quantic Dream boss David Cage revealed the news at a BAFTA lecture in London, as reported by Polygon.

Cage said Microsoft "really loved" Quantic Dream's previous release, Fahrenheit (Indigo Prophecy), but despite 'really wanting to do something' with the studio "got scared" by Heavy Rain's child kidnapping plot.

"They didn't want the scandal," he said, going on to say that the two companies wanted very different things from the project.

"Microsoft is a great company, I'm not complaining or criticizing," he added. "It was like, you know, we really can't work together."

Sony had no such qualms, accepting Cage's assurances that the themes would not be treated in a vulgar manner.

Heavy Rain is believed to have generated €100 million in profits for Sony, having cost about €16.7 million to make. Sony's probably pretty happy about that, although Quantic Dream has said it is unhappy about everything to do with the game and will do better next time. Gosh.

Quantic Dream is finishing off Beyond: Two Souls, another PS3 exclusive due in October, and working on a PS4 project. The much-praised studio has become a poster child for pushing consoles to their limits graphically, and both it and Sony seem comfortable continuing their exclusive arrangement.

Thanks, Gamespot.