Quantic Dream Reassures Fans After NetEase Upheaval

Following recent sudden change sparked by NetEase CEO William Ding’s decision to pull out of several investments across North America, Europe, and Japan, fans of Quantic Dream were understandably concerned about the studio’s future. Acquired for €100 million in February 2023, the renowned Paris-based developer now stands firm. In a detailed LinkedIn post, CEO and Head of Publishing Guillaume de Fondaumière reassured fans that Quantic Dream remains unaffected. He expressed sympathy for those impacted by recent NetEase layoffs and studio closures, stating,

"We were deeply saddened to learn about the recent layoffs and studio closures affecting some of the NetEase group’s divisions. Our thoughts are with everyone impacted, and we sincerely hope that they quickly find new opportunities."

He continued,

"David Cage and I would like to express our gratitude to the fans and friends who have reached out to us in recent days regarding QUANTIC DREAM. We want to reassure everyone that our studios in Paris and Montreal remain unaffected. We are continuing to develop our projects at full pace, with several open positions available in both locations."

You can read the full post here: Quantic Dream LinkedIn Post. For details on the open positions, visit: Open Positions.

De Fondaumière further emphasized that Quantic Dream’s strategy, established in 2019 when NetEase acquired a minority stake, remains intact. Over the past six years, NetEase has been a dedicated partner, providing both creative freedom and the financial resources necessary for growth. In 2022, the studio became a wholly owned subsidiary of NetEase, aligning their visions for the future. Highlighting the studio’s strong performance, de Fondaumière noted that 2024 marked the highest revenue in Quantic Dream’s history, driven by the success of its back catalogue titles—most notably, Detroit: Become Human, which reached 11 million units in global sales last year, a 2 million unit increase year-on-year.

While the details of upcoming projects remain largely under wraps, de Fondaumière’s mention of multiple projects is intriguing. Among the known titles is Star Wars: Eclipse, initially announced at The Game Awards 2021 and now targeting a 2026 launch, though further delays remain possible. This new project promises to retain Quantic Dream’s classic branching narrative while expanding gameplay with more action elements than seen in previous titles.

What do you think about Quantic Dream’s assurance amid the NetEase upheaval? Will the continued partnership pave the way for even more groundbreaking projects? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation!