Rise of the Tomb Raider is, for an extended period, exclusive to Microsoft’s Xbox platforms. It’s coming months later to PC, and will eventually be released on PlayStation 4. This sort of thing, naturally, has gotten right up people’s noses, angering many Lara fans to the point where they’ll threaten boycott and then buy the game anyway. Square has explained why they chose the timed-exclusive route, and how difficult a decision that was to make.
Speaking to Examiner, Square Enix’s Western Boss Phil Rogers said it wasn’t an easy decision to make. Until Microsoft handed them a suitcase full of cash, presumably.
“I hope fans know that it wasn’t an easy decision. I think any sort of partnership at this level is a decision that took a long time for us to get to. The decision at a studio level, we took very, very seriously. We knew it would, in the short-term, disappoint fans,” Rogers said.
But why Microsoft? Other than that aforementioned money-laden suitcase, obviously.
“What we saw in Microsoft, which is probably not as well known, is that Microsoft’s passion for Tomb Raider is amazing.”
“Having been working with us on previous games in a lesser sense, they’ve been supportive. [However], for Rise of the Tomb Raider, they’ve just brought this passion and belief that has really enabled us to blow people away. People should feel that about Microsoft. Their commitment to Tomb Raider is just amazing for us,” Rogers said.
“To see Tomb Raider showcased with Halo, Forza and Gears and see Tomb Raider there, it’s amazing for us.”
According to Rogers, Microsoft is essentially treating it as a first party exclusive.
“If you don’t know, Phil [Spencer] visits Crystal [Dynamics] every time he’s in the Bay Area. Phil is the most welcomed guest, he’ll come talk to the team, play the game and [Microsoft] is a very committed organization to our properties. It just makes it that much more exciting for us,” Rogers said.
“It (passion) becomes the most important thing. We’re about growing our IP, this is a long-term decision. We’re going to take Tomb Raider up to the next level. With Microsoft’s belief, passion and sort of muscle to help us deliver, we really think this is going to be an awesome game that people will enjoy for years and years to come.”
If Microsoft’s involvement means a better Tomb Raider, then it’s hard to complain. That said, in the light of announcements of other platforms for the game before the Xbox One version is even out, it all seems like it’s a bit of backtracking and ass-covering.
Last Updated: July 28, 2015
RinceThis
July 28, 2015 at 09:34
http://gifsec.com/wp-content/uploads/GIF/2014/04/money-gif.gif
RinceThis
July 28, 2015 at 09:45
So the reasoning behind them doing this isn’t mentioned… Just that MS has passion, so they deserve it first? I call BS.
Hammersteyn
July 28, 2015 at 09:51
Suddenly they’re not telling us to buy Temple of Osiris anymore.
oVg R2million Swimming Pool
July 28, 2015 at 12:49
lol that left a sour taste.
Dutch Matrix
July 28, 2015 at 09:52
I call BS and I christen it BS. So the passion of the fans with a PS4 can go to take a royal flying fuck off a high bridge? I hope this game flops in the sales department. Let it be a fucking expensive lesson to Squeenix. (pardon the expletive laden rant. But this is a serious slap in the face of fans with Donald Trump’s dick.)
RinceThis
July 28, 2015 at 09:53
I agree. OvG has washed his hands with the franchise, and I don’t blame him. I get having a timed exclusive for new games, new IPs, but for a fucking PART 2?! So what, PS4 and PC platforms will have to live with spoilers before they get the game? Fuck that.
Dutch Matrix
July 28, 2015 at 09:55
And for a franchise that has been one of the cornerstones of gaming??? Ugghh. Make me so sick!
Lollies the Laughing Lollipop
July 28, 2015 at 10:56
Cornerstone of Gaming, jirre more like the gravel dirty road of gaming..
Dutch Matrix
July 28, 2015 at 11:16
Shouldn’t you be fucking your mother or something right now?
oVg R2million Swimming Pool
July 28, 2015 at 12:48
On its 20th birthday too.
oVg R2million Swimming Pool
July 28, 2015 at 12:47
What makes it a bigger kick in the Nuts is that the PC outsold the console version of the definitive edition.
RinceThis
July 28, 2015 at 12:53
Exactly, wtf?
oVg R2million Swimming Pool
July 28, 2015 at 12:56
Not to mention that the real PC fans went for TRESS FX chips just to make her hair look real.
BacchusZA
July 28, 2015 at 09:53
I recall there being mention that the previous game did ok, but not well enough that a sequel was a sure thing, & that MS ponying up the cash for the timed exclusive meant that this one now *would* be made.
How true that is I have no idea, but if so it means a lot of people who are complaining & threatening a boycott should actually be going “Well, it sucks that I have to wait to play this on my PS4, but hey, thanks MS for making sure that I CAN at some point”.
RinceThis
July 28, 2015 at 09:56
I think I heard something like that too, because 3.4 million copies sold is NOT enough? Damn.
Hammersteyn
July 28, 2015 at 09:58
They had to sell 5 000 000 copies of the first TR to break even apparently. Good luck hitting that number on XBOX Ones alone. No comes the ass kissing even before the game is out on XBOX
HvR
July 28, 2015 at 10:05
Because they blew multiple times their development budget to market the hell out of the most well known IP ever.
HvR
July 28, 2015 at 10:01
Do not forget Phil visiting them and telling them they are doing a good job.
RinceThis
July 28, 2015 at 10:02
I wonder if he offers them handsies as well?
HvR
July 28, 2015 at 10:03
No it is MS, he offers them the opportunity to give him a rubbing.
Hammersteyn
July 28, 2015 at 10:38
I bet he enters the offices with a suitcase and leaves without one
oVg R2million Swimming Pool
July 28, 2015 at 12:45
Its the same as making Mass Effect 3 an exclusive for one year. Same thing.
The Sten
July 28, 2015 at 09:50
How you can expect to maintain unimaginably high sales expectations while chopping up, moving around, or dividing your fanbase I’ll never know. Do these guys even logic?
RinceThis
July 28, 2015 at 09:53
What you said.
Hammersteyn
July 28, 2015 at 09:51
Total backtracking. I’m amazed we cant preorder this yet.
Allykhat
July 28, 2015 at 10:29
Yet Tomb Raider has been played out on Sony’s systems since the first Playstation…
I’m sorry but this is pure ass covering. Or should I say Money Filled Suit-Case Covering…
oVg R2million Swimming Pool
July 28, 2015 at 12:58
True, also, how many XBONES and PS4s were on the market when this deal was made? I think they were even at 3mill.
Allykhat
July 29, 2015 at 09:54
To be quite honest, Square shot themselves in the foot here… There ware twice as many PS4s out in the wild than Xbones. Would have been more beneficial for them in the long run I rate.
Lollies the Laughing Lollipop
July 28, 2015 at 10:56
So over a lara craft game, they were always boring, Only reason most ppl like the games was for the polygon titties and fur patch of the first titles.
oVg R2million Swimming Pool
July 28, 2015 at 12:52
I enjoyed the puzzles. They don’t do those anymore thanks to the ADD kids.
Nikola
July 28, 2015 at 11:22
Hahahaha what absolute nonsense just digging the whole deeper please Microsoft has so much passion for Tomb Raider hahah come on, you have to be dumb to believe that crap when everybody knows they got paid good money to keep it exclusive for a year or so…I would not have a problem if they just kept it exclusive for MS that makes more sense this seems to me a desperate move to try sell more console as their exclusives are a joke!
Viking Of Science
July 28, 2015 at 11:48
It’s Releasing the same day as Fallout 4 on the Xbone…. It’s not going sell at all unless they move the date….
WitWolfy
July 28, 2015 at 12:02
I’m still getting it day one.
oVg R2million Swimming Pool
July 28, 2015 at 12:54
I’m buying an XBOX ONE just so I can get to play this game before it becomes old news on the PS4 next XMAS… 😛
James Anderton
July 28, 2015 at 14:46
http://cdn.meme.am/instances2/500x/1057456.jpg
Jonah Cash
July 28, 2015 at 15:41
That is a truly lame reason right there! My word, passion makes it OK??? I also call BS!