'Beyond: Two Souls' Director's Cut Coming to PS4 with Deleted Scenes?

The jump to a new console generation is always fraught with similar issues - limited availability, high price points, minimal system features, and a lack of first party exclusive titles, among others. For that reason, once an early adopter manages to secure a next-gen device, it's extremely important that console sellers have lined up a robust list of game experiences for buyers to enjoy. Nothing is worse than purchasing an expensive piece of hardware, only to sit on the sideline waiting for new games to play. The PS4 and Xbox One launch was no different - as gamers quickly burned through launch titles and, since, have waited for further must-play first party games.

Both systems have enjoyed a steady stream of indie titles, along with a few well-received console exclusives (inFamous: Second Son and Titanfall, respectively) but with so many true next generation titles aiming for release in 2015 (or even 2016), both publishers have been attempting to cash in by updating older games for the PS4 and Xbox One. Sony has already seen solid sales for The Last of Us Remastered, which featured upgraded visuals and complimentary DLC, and Microsoft is hard at work finishing Halo: The Master Chief Collection for a holiday 2014 release. Now, we're hearing further details on a possible re-release of Quantic Dream's Beyond: Two Souls - previously a PS3 exclusive.

This isn't the first time that we've heard rumors of Beyond: Two Souls coming to the PS4; however, the latest report adds some intriguing pieces of information. According to a post on the french gaming site Gameblog, Quantic Dream is preparing Beyond: Two Souls for a next-generation release - in the form of a "Director's Cut" that will feature improved visuals as well as deleted scenes. The posting does not go into too much detail but asserts that the previously included "Advanced Experiments" DLC would be in the package along with a new story chapter that takes place when Jodie is a baby.

Sony and Quantic Dream have yet to confirm that Beyond: Two Souls will be made available on the PS4 - much less confirmed that the release will be a Director's Cut with deleted scenes. Still, producing a next-gen remaster of Beyond: Two Souls makes a lot of sense - given that many PS4 owners did not own a PS3. Re-releasing the title on Sony's new hardware is a win-win for the studio and publisher - since a Beyond: Two Souls Director's Cut would milk further sales out of the existing game, albeit after investing in PS4 development, as well as add another award-winning title to the PS4's library. Not to mention, improved visuals and a new "baby stage" might be enough reason for existing fans to give the title another go - especially since the Beyond: Two Souls narrative encourages multiple playthroughs (with a number of different choices to be made throughout).

Beyond Two Souls Same Thing Twice David Cage

When The Last of Us Remastered released, several retailers ran promotions encouraging established PS3 owners to trade in their Last of Us disc for the PS4 version. As a result, Sony moved more copies of Remastered, existing Last of Us owners were provided with an affordable way to upgrade, and retailers received a nominal fee as well as a pre-owned PS3 copy to sell later. There's no reason to think that every party involved wouldn't be interested in a similar double-dip with Beyond: Two Souls.

That said, despite solid sales Beyond: Two Souls moved only a fraction of The Last of Us' overall numbers - meaning that while a Director's Cut of the Quantic Dream title could be a smart move for Sony, it's not a full-on guarantee either. As indicated, Sony and Quantic Dream would need to invest money and development resources in upgrading the game and completing any deleted scenes - time and money that could be used to work on an entirely new game. For that reason, gamers shouldn't count these reports as fact until official info surfaces. Video game development is all about opportunity cost and, even though many gamers would be excited to see Beyond: Two Souls on the PS4, Sony would have to be confident that the effort would pay off in the long run.