Quantic Dream’s David Cage has confirmed that the Detroit: Become Human release date is targeting a 2018 window, putting to bed rumors the upcoming PlayStation 4 title could ship this year.
Speaking with GameSpot at E3 2017 last week, Cage succinctly said "it’s going to be next year” in regards to the game’s launch window. Previously, the developer had remained quiet on Detroit’s planned release plans, although it now appears the game will be joining Sony’s impressive first-party lineup for 2018.
Detroit was rumored to ship in 2017 after Sony listed the game for a 2017 launch in a promo video earlier this year. However, Shuhei Yoshida, Sony’s head of Worldwide Studios, quickly confirmed that the listing was made in error. New footage of the upcoming narrative-based adventure game was showcased at E3 2017 last week.
Originally announced during Paris Games Week two years ago, Detroit: Become Human is based off the Kara tech demo from 2012, and adheres to the same core design philosophies as Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls. Players will take control of a number of characters throughout the game, with choices having a direct knock-on effect on the narrative, which continues even if someone vital to the plot is killed off.
According to Cage, Detroit will last around 8-10 hours in length, although the nature of the branching narrative means you’ll be able to experience multiple playthroughs. At the centre of the story is an android known as Kara, who attempts to find her place in a society where humans are employing her kind as servants.
Cage’s script for the game is around 2,000 pages long, and took more than two years to cobble together:
“I’ve just finished the script for Detroit. It took me more than two years, and that’s working around six days a week. It’s probably 20 times more complex than anything we’ve ever done. It’s a lot for one brain to handle,” Cage said earlier this year.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Detroit release date as we get them.