Quantic Dream Believes Used Game Sales Are One Of The Biggest Problems The Industry Currently Faces.

But the executive didn't blame the consumer, more the recent recession which he believes has lessened spending in the video game sector:

“I would say that the impact that the recession had, especially on AAA games on console, was the rise of second hand gaming. And I think this is one of the number one problems right now in the industry.

“I can take just one example of Heavy Rain – we basically sold to date approximately two million units, we know from the trophy system that probably more than three million people bought this game and played it.

“On my small level it’s a million people playing my game without giving me one cent. And my calculation is, as Quantic Dream, I lost between €5 and €10 million worth of royalties because of second hand gaming.”

Of course, an argument maintains as to whether those additional million players would have touched Heavy Rain if they couldn't purchase the game at a bargain-bin 'used' price, but we obviously understand Fondaumiere's point.

Many publishers — including Sony — have adopted a new online pass system to try to recoup some finances from the sales of used games. We're not quite sure how that would work in a single-player heavy experience like Heavy Rain though.