Rise Of The Tomb Raider Revealed As Xbox Exclusive
Rise Of The Tomb Raider Revealed As Xbox Exclusive
Microsoft delivered a powerful punch to Sony in the latest scrap between the console giants. Following relentless media reports that Sony and the PlayStation 4 was massively outselling the Xbox One, Microsoft took to the stage at its Gamescom briefing earlier today to announce that Rise Of The Tomb Raider, the sequel to the 2013 reboot Tomb Raider will be launching exclusively on Xbox platforms during the holiday 2015 period.
Exclusivity remains one of the key battles between the platform holders, with Sony having previously has the exclusive Destiny Alpha (you can see some new and exclusive Destiny Beta Gameplay here at PopGeeks shortly) and Beta content and the Battlefield Hardline Beta. Microsoft needed to show its strength at Gamescom and has secured the exclusive rights to a colossal AAA title in Rise Of The Tomb Raider.
Rise Of The Tomb Raider was initially announced during the Microsoft E3 press conference, although no further details were given. Tomb Raider is a huge franchise with a large following of hardcore fans; having the next title and sequel to the critically acclaimed 2013 reboot exclusive to the Xbox platform is a major coup.
Developer Crystal Dynamics has issued a statement since the announcement addressing the issue, specifically with regards to exclusivity;
Dear Tomb Raider Community,
As you may have seen, we’ve just announced that Rise of the Tomb Raider, coming Holiday 2015, is exclusively on Xbox. We consider all of you to be the lifeblood of Tomb Raider and the work we do at Crystal. I’d like to give you some insight into this decision, and why we feel this is the very best thing for the Tomb Raider sequel we’re creating at the studio.
Tomb Raider in 2013 was a success due in large part to your continued support. Our goal has always been to deliver something truly special with Rise of the Tomb Raider. Today’s announcement with Microsoft is one step to help us put Tomb Raider on top of action adventure gaming. Our friends at Microsoft have always seen huge potential in Tomb Raider and have believed in our vision since our first unveil with them on their stage at E3 2011. We know they will get behind this game more than any support we have had from them in the past – we believe this will be a step to really forging the Tomb Raider brand as one of the biggest in gaming, with the help, belief and backing of a major partner like Microsoft.
This doesn’t mean that we’re walking away from our fans who only play on PlayStation or on PC. Those are great systems, with great partners, and amazing communities. We have Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris coming to those platforms this December, and Tomb Raider: The Definitive Edition is available on PS4.
We know that there are probably many more questions and concerns. Please do send them to us, and we’ll answer to the best of our ability. Meanwhile we’re going all out to try and make something truly special – the most ambitious Tomb Raider game ever built.
Thanks,
Darrell Gallagher
Crystal Dynamics Head of Studios
We didn’t get to see any new footage, or receive any new game information for the title, although it’s not entirely inconceivable that Microsoft will play further on their exclusivity agreement by sharing further details this week, as Gamescom continues.
A quick look on Twitter will show a huge backlash from angry PlayStation fans, although Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics will probably bring Rise Of The Tomb Raider to PC and PS4 in the future, with the exclusivity being a time related deal.
Let us know what you think on the forums. Are you an extremely happy Xbox fan, or a bitterly disappointed PlayStation fan right now?