SCE localisation liaison Yeonkyung Kim revealed at this year’s GDC that the company made a huge mistake passing up on publishing Demon’s Souls.
Japanese and Asian releases of the game were handled by Sony, but US localized publishing was handed off to Atlus. No European release has been spoken of by either firm.
“That was a mistake,” he said. “It should have come out as a first-party title.”
Kim admitted that it would be something of a “niche title,” which is why it wasn’t originally picked up. Expected sales of Demon’s Souls were in the area of 15,000, but the game has sold almost a quarter of a million copies.
Hopefully, there’s a sequel to this awesome game on the way, but if you haven’t managed to play it (and have access to it), go get it!
I can see where they were coming from. Just looking at what the game is, it doesn’t seem like a title that would do as well as it has.
@Herman S. Lilleng,
That always happens with amazing games.
Like Okami.
@Kyle Gaddo, Yeah, it’s a shame, I wish publishers would take more risks. Then again, Okami DIDN’T sell well, so I guess in a way they would be right not to take that risk?
Hopefully the advent of digital distribution will open up to more risk-taking in the industry, with publishers being able to just put out a small- to medium budget title straight through available channels, without having to go full retail. Kinda like what Paranormal Activity has done for the small-budget movie.
@Herman S. Lilleng,
Also, people probably bought it not knowing what it was because it wasn’t “generic shooter #35736″ for new generation system.
@Kyle Gaddo, “Also, people probably bought it not knowing what it was…”
…and they will never end up finishing it because… this is the game you never win, yes you just die and die again, people probably bought it not knowing what it was, and they will never end up finishing it because…
*sings*
At least they’re admitting it. I’m still hoping for an European release sometime in the future.
@blazelion, I wouldn’t hold my breath. Just import it.