Heavy Rain is scheduled for a February 23rd release date but one retailer is reportedly offering players an early chance to get their hands on the game - so long as those players eventually give it back.
Certain Blockbuster locations have begun to rent copies of Quantic Dreams’ upcoming mystery-thriller; though, reports make it clear that not all locations are participating and copies are not available for outright purchase.
The news puts other sellers in a unique position: early Blockbuster rentals could definitely jeopardize pre-orders for the title at video-game retailers - though Blockbuster has not outright broken the street date because they haven’t offered copies of Heavy Rain for purchase.
However, don’t assume that rational will keep larger video-game retailers from offering the game for purchase (at least to people with pre-orders). Why? When a big-box retailer such as Best Buy, GameStop, or Toys “R” Us break street date in response to an earlier break by a mom and pop store (or a rental franchise), they’re rarely responding to an actual threat to their current pre-orders; rather, they’re offering the game early because it’ll make their customers happy (and subsequently raise the chance of future pre-orders).
If you’re as excited for Heavy Rain as I am, it’s definitely worth giving your local Blockbuster a call, as well as keep your eye on Game Rant - we’ll be sure to keep you posted if Heavy Rain becomes available for early purchase.
Think Heavy Rain will hold off until the 23rd or will we get out hands on the title early?
Heavy Rain has a scheduled release date of February 23rd exclusively on PS3.
Source: Examiner
