Home Gaming Rise of the Tomb Raider “has definitely been delivering for us,” says Microsoft

Rise of the Tomb Raider “has definitely been delivering for us,” says Microsoft

3 min read
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I’m happy to admit when I was wrong – and boy, was I wrong about Rise of the Tomb Raider. While I didn’t think it could hope to compare to Fallout 4 in terms of hyper or even sales, I didn’t think it would do quite as badly as it did. Yes, it’s currently only available on a platform that’s lagging behind the competition – but I’d thought that the game would sell well enough given its legacy.

According to early reports, it really hasn’t. Despite that, Microsoft, Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix keep saying how pleased they are with how the arrangement’s turned out.

And they’re still doing that. Speaking to DualShockers, Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg said how he’s really pleased with Rise of the Tomb Raider.

“It’s definitely been a busy Holiday season, that’s for sure. We’ve been pleased with the reaction. I think first you look at reviews that were really really strong… The game is an incredibly high quality game, really fun to play, challenging, I think one of the most beautiful game I’ve ever seen on the Xbox One,” Greenberg says.

Microsoft and those responsible for making the game seem to be focusing more on the game’s critical reception than how well it’s doing – but keep insisting that it’s doing well enough.

“From that standpoint, it’s really clear that Crystal delivered a masterpiece, and so we’re just excited to be able to have that title exclusively this Holiday, and I think being able to offer that as part of our greatest games line-up is a great thing for our fans.

At the same time, you’re right. It launched in a very crowded window, but it has done well. A lot of people bought both Fallout 4 and Tomb Raider. At the same time we know a lot of people may have bought Tomb Raider and wait on Fallout or bought Fallout and waited on Tomb Raider.”

I know there are very likely a wealth of reasons that Microsoft opted to release Rise of the Tomb Raider on the same day as Fallout 4; all sort of corporate and fiscal reasons that dictated its release this year, instead of an early one next year. Perhaps it was released to capitalise on Black Friday, and the holiday shopping period. Who knows?

According to Greenberg, it has been doing well in those sorts of sales.

“You know, ultimately people will choose their favorite depending on what type of genres, reviews, or what their friends are playing, but so far we’ve been really pleased with Tomb Raider, and I know even over Black Friday it did very well, we’ve heard some very nice feedback from some of our top retailers. So we’ll continue to watch how it performs, but the game has definitely been delivering for us.”

Probably not delivering as much as anyone had hoped, which is the real pity. Rise of the Tomb Raider is excellent, and one of the best games I’ve had the pleasure of playing this year. PC Gamers? You’re in for quite a treat when the game hits your platform early next year, while PlayStation Owners will have to wait until November next year to play Lara’s latest adventure.

Last Updated: December 3, 2015

123 Comments

  1. Mistake Not...

    December 3, 2015 at 12:08

    I think Microsoft has to keep up appearances especially after they threw a bucketload of money to get the exclusive. So they’ll probably say anything to make people think they didn’t waste their money. I think an early December release would have worked out better.

    Reply

  2. Hammersteyn

    December 3, 2015 at 12:08

    • Ir0nseraph

      December 3, 2015 at 12:14

      Played it loved it sold it, it was like renting a good game for a 100 bucks.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        December 3, 2015 at 12:15

        Sold it, so someone else is grabbing it secondhand. Dammit you’re not helping the sales figures 😛

        Reply

        • Ir0nseraph

          December 3, 2015 at 12:15

          XD.
          That’s MS problem

          Reply

      • James Anderton

        December 3, 2015 at 12:20

        Drop it like its hot.

        Reply

      • oVg SOmaNY games

        December 3, 2015 at 12:29

        You turned Lara into a hooker 🙁

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          December 3, 2015 at 12:32

          LOL!

          Reply

        • Ir0nseraph

          December 3, 2015 at 12:43

          XD

          Reply

        • Captain JJ 4x

          December 3, 2015 at 12:44

          Well, she did sell out to the highest bidder…so, you know.

          Reply

        • HvR

          December 3, 2015 at 13:33

          Being passed from Xboner to the next

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            December 3, 2015 at 15:41

            Ewwwwwww

      • WitWolfy

        December 3, 2015 at 13:55

        I’m going for my second time. Cant get enough of this beauty.

        Reply

    • oVg SOmaNY games

      December 3, 2015 at 12:28

      BURN!!!

      Reply

    • WitWolfy

      December 3, 2015 at 13:51

  3. Loftus

    December 3, 2015 at 12:12

    I feel like shout at MS : ” Gitt outa your own asses, ye gloating lying bastards!”

    Reply

    • WitWolfy

      December 3, 2015 at 13:59

      Why? They sated its selling well.. Why the hate, did MS bomb your family or something?

      Reply

      • Loftus

        December 3, 2015 at 15:43

        Rather than shafting us with a timed exclusive. Give us a the finger and say only Xbox gets this game. That atleast i can handle

        Reply

  4. miaau

    December 3, 2015 at 12:14

    Where are the digital sales figures, though?

    Reply

  5. Hammersteyn

    December 3, 2015 at 12:15

    Maybe they really are happy. If their expectations was selling 300 000 copies…

    Reply

    • Loftus

      December 3, 2015 at 12:18

      Lets see how happy they’ll be when pc sales doubles xbox sales and then later ps4 also doubling their xbox sales

      Reply

    • miaau

      December 3, 2015 at 13:18

      Kingdoms of Amular did better than that, as a new IP and the studio was still closed by the backers (US State – New Jersey, I think?) for not being profitable enough or something.

      Reply

      • Captain JJ 4x

        December 3, 2015 at 13:51

        Kingdoms was so great.
        I wish we could get another.

        Reply

        • miaau

          December 3, 2015 at 13:52

          Totally. How much fun was that, while still having a few balance and bug issues (my first play, when I got the next big island I did quests in wrong order by accident and broke game, could not continue. Still replayed it, it was AWESOME.

          Reply

          • Captain JJ 4x

            December 3, 2015 at 14:07

            I really want to give it a replay. I had tons of fun with it. It was just so much fun all round.

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        December 3, 2015 at 13:57

        They spent a fortune developing the game, and even though it sold fairly well if I remember right, it didn’t sell enough.

        One of my favourite things about KoA was that it was released around the same time as ME3, when EA was touting Origin and how all their new games would be exclusive to that service… except only ME3 was, while KoA was still sold on Steam. Wondered if it being a new IP had anything to do with that, and they weren’t confident that people would buy it exclusively on Origin.

        Reply

        • miaau

          December 3, 2015 at 14:00

          Yeah, but it sold about a million in first 3 months and that was, it seemed, not enough. For a new IP.

          I read an in depth article at the time, it seemed that financially there was no real way to make back the money, even with the studio planning a MMO in same universe and stuff. It seems Dev just cost too much. pity. Cause it sold extremely well, I think a new IP RPG could hardly be expected to sell better.

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 3, 2015 at 14:16

            I think I know which article you’re talking about, also read it. I think the MMO is what actually killed the studio.

  6. Captain JJ 4x

    December 3, 2015 at 12:18

    Strange, it never delivered to the PS and the PC.

    Reply

  7. Greylingad[CNFRMD]

    December 3, 2015 at 12:20

    This might sound odd, but they’ve most probably alienated a few “potential customers” by doing the exclusive, for instance, if you deny your customers a product, in favour of someone else, you stand a chance of losing said customer for good…

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      December 3, 2015 at 12:21

      Not odd at all. They bit the hand that feeds them

      Reply

      • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

        December 3, 2015 at 12:23

        What amazes me is that they actually made that decision with the belief that it’ll swing more people to the Egg’sBone, such a pity though…

        Reply

        • Captain JJ 4x

          December 3, 2015 at 12:24

          That’s like advertising the Bulls drinking some brand of beer in the hopes that the fans of other teams will just start supporting them instead.

          Reply

          • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

            December 3, 2015 at 12:26

            Nail…Head… I couldn’t put it better myself…

          • Loftus

            December 3, 2015 at 12:28

            I understand your arguement, but bulls people only drink brannas and Tab (being health conscious blokes)

          • Captain JJ 4x

            December 3, 2015 at 12:29

            This is true. So maybe beer was the wrong example 😉

          • Hammersteyn

            December 3, 2015 at 12:32

            I’ll prove you very,very wrong 😉

          • Captain JJ 4x

            December 3, 2015 at 12:33

            About bulls fans being men or drinking Tab?
            *runs into the ocean for safety*

          • Hammersteyn

            December 3, 2015 at 12:33

            Hahaha, I’ll sip a whiskey while I wait for you to get out of the water.

          • Loftus

            December 3, 2015 at 12:39

            Hammersteyn ? are you a Bulls fan ?

          • Hammersteyn

            December 3, 2015 at 12:40

            yes sir

          • Loftus

            December 3, 2015 at 12:44

            I don’t watch rugby, but i was shown the new jersey and it looks cool

          • Hammersteyn

            December 3, 2015 at 13:17

            I love the orange and black away one

          • HvR

            December 3, 2015 at 13:36

            So Bulls going from Pink to Orange is the new Black……..

          • Hammersteyn

            December 3, 2015 at 14:52

            LOL they have a pink one this year to. But for special occasions

          • Loftus

            December 3, 2015 at 12:38

            It doesn’t count if thou a kg of ice with your brannas and coke or if you drink bud light 😛

    • Captain JJ 4x

      December 3, 2015 at 12:23

      Well, they definitely lost my day-one sale.
      I’ll get it when it hits R100 on sale.

      Reply

      • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

        December 3, 2015 at 12:25

        Exactly! Everyone that was interested in the game, on other platforms, will follow the exact same purchase route… It’s sad…

        Reply

    • oVg SOmaNY games

      December 3, 2015 at 12:33

      That is what everybody was shouting from the rooftops back in March.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        December 3, 2015 at 12:36

        I think MS doesn’t care whether Square gets out of this alright or not. They only care about consoles sold. Same with Disney. As long as EA brings them cash for Star Wars games EA can do as they please.

        Reply

        • Captain JJ 4x

          December 3, 2015 at 12:38

          I think that Disney honestly believes they made the right choice by choosing EA.

          Reply

          • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

            December 3, 2015 at 12:39

            I think Porche has been regretting their decision for a while now…

        • oVg SOmaNY games

          December 3, 2015 at 12:38

          I actually think it was damage control. Square told them that they cant hit 60fps/1080p and Microsoft back then were expecting U4 to be released in November. The Bone was going to be killed. So they bought them out to keep whatever install base they have rolling.

          Reply

          • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

            December 3, 2015 at 12:40

            Hehehe, “Upgrade to the PS4 version for better Textures and higher frame rates…”

          • oVg SOmaNY games

            December 3, 2015 at 12:41

            We will wait and see 365 days from now. If the PS4 version is anything other than 1080P/60fps then consider Tomb Raider as dead as the early 2000s.

  8. oVg SOmaNY games

    December 3, 2015 at 12:20

    The Order 1886 sold more copies.

    RUNS

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      December 3, 2015 at 12:20

      Not bad for a “tech” demo

      Reply

      • oVg SOmaNY games

        December 3, 2015 at 12:22

        I was going to place that as the biggest financial disappointment of 2015 but Lara takes the cake.

        Reply

    • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

      December 3, 2015 at 12:21

      Oomph…In the Groin bone…

      Reply

    • Loftus

      December 3, 2015 at 12:25

      True, but i double there will be vampire tollie in Rise of the Tomb Raider.

      Reply

    • Captain JJ 4x

      December 3, 2015 at 12:27

      Arkham Knight on pc sold more copies.

      Reply

      • oVg SOmaNY games

        December 3, 2015 at 12:28

        TRUE 🙂

        Reply

      • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

        December 3, 2015 at 12:28

        It returned more…

        Reply

        • oVg SOmaNY games

          December 3, 2015 at 12:28

          BWAHAHAHA

          Reply

        • Captain JJ 4x

          December 3, 2015 at 12:28

          Like, refunded more than Tomb Raider sold?
          Possible 😀

          Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          December 3, 2015 at 12:30

          Crap, what I said XD

          Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        December 3, 2015 at 12:30

        There were more refunds than copies of Tomb Raider sold 😛

        Reply

    • WitWolfy

      December 3, 2015 at 14:06

      Yeah, but that could just be thanks to false advertising and PS fanboys like me who thought it would be a GeOW clone. And by that I mean Co-Op campaign and Horde like modes and crappy P2P MP…

      If it had that the game would’ve been a success.

      Reply

  9. oVg SOmaNY games

    December 3, 2015 at 12:26

    Square Enix should give everybody at Crystal a massive raise (excuse the pun) because if there is one draw back with exclusives is that it has to be above average in quality or there will be no sales a year later as everybody on the other platforms ALREADY know what to expect.

    If it got a 7/10 even on Metacritic none of you PS4 fans would give a shit about the port.

    Also, the 720p/30fps Bone version would not be as sniggered at as much if a year later the PS4 version received the same 60fps/1080p quality as last years PS4 version.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      December 3, 2015 at 12:33

      And that version was fantastic!

      Reply

      • oVg SOmaNY games

        December 3, 2015 at 12:34

        I sold it to BT games the day after the exclusive deal was revealed. BT wanted to give me R250 for it. I told them to give me R5 for the petrol 😉

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          December 3, 2015 at 12:37

          proft!

          Reply

          • oVg SOmaNY games

            December 3, 2015 at 12:39

            😉

        • WitWolfy

          December 3, 2015 at 14:00

          Like the day I traded in MGS V.. They gave me R350 for it… Damn that was generous of them!

          Reply

  10. Alien Emperor Trevor

    December 3, 2015 at 12:40

    GOTY 2017!

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      December 3, 2015 at 12:41

      hahaha

      Reply

    • Captain JJ 4x

      December 3, 2015 at 12:41

      *GOTS

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        December 3, 2015 at 12:42

        Why? Does it have underwater sections?

        Reply

        • Captain JJ 4x

          December 3, 2015 at 12:43

          Hehe. Maybe it needs it.

          Reply

        • oVg SOmaNY games

          December 3, 2015 at 13:02

          No, no bikini allowed anymore. It might upset timid gamers.

          Reply

    • oVg SOmaNY games

      December 3, 2015 at 13:01

      Not if its a Port

      Reply

  11. oVg SOmaNY games

    December 3, 2015 at 12:44

    Not even MIDWAY STUDIOS could tarnish the Tomb Raider franchise as bad as 2015.

    Reply

    • Captain JJ 4x

      December 3, 2015 at 12:45

      I hope the guys at Square Enix at least got some free consoles to give to their families for Christmas.

      Reply

      • oVg SOmaNY games

        December 3, 2015 at 12:49

        After they win best Producers of 2015 for LIFE IS STRANGE Im sure they will get 4X4s 😛

        Reply

        • Captain JJ 4x

          December 3, 2015 at 12:50

          Damn. Point made.

          Reply

          • oVg SOmaNY games

            December 3, 2015 at 12:53

            I dont think Square is to blame. It was Microsoft smoking out the competition before the festive season. They knew they were going to get owned by having an inferior version and at a time when U4 was to have been released. As for HALO 5…

          • Captain JJ 4x

            December 3, 2015 at 12:54

            That’s true. It’s just sad that they had to do this to the TR franchise.

          • oVg SOmaNY games

            December 3, 2015 at 12:55

            FUCKERS THE REAL SALT IN MY WOUND is how much I advocated the 360 version when it was first released. I bought 2 versions to show Crystal how much I love them … 🙁

          • oVg SOmaNY games

            December 3, 2015 at 12:58

            WAAAAAAAAAA WAaaaaaaaaa 😛

            fuck em

  12. Alien Emperor Trevor

    December 3, 2015 at 12:47

    I must be honest, I get a fair amount of schadenfreude every time a TR article comes up.

    Reply

    • Loftus

      December 3, 2015 at 12:52

      Using one of ’em $10 word righ’ there, ain’t ya ? 😉

      Reply

      • Captain JJ 4x

        December 3, 2015 at 12:52

        It’s also his safe-word with Rince.

        Reply

        • Loftus

          December 3, 2015 at 12:53

          Safe word? mmm now i want to watch!

          Reply

          • Captain JJ 4x

            December 3, 2015 at 12:54

            XD

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          December 3, 2015 at 12:55

          Rince tried to make his safe word “mmmpphhMMPPPHHHmmmpphhh” but I said no.

          Reply

          • Captain JJ 4x

            December 3, 2015 at 12:56

            LOL

          • Loftus

            December 3, 2015 at 12:59

            Just back up like a halve a foot or else they’ll choke, that’s what i do instead of the heimlich maneuver

          • oVg SOmaNY games

            December 3, 2015 at 13:02

            BWAHAHAHAHA!!!

        • miaau

          December 3, 2015 at 13:20

          I hear “stop” is the best safe word

          Reply

          • HvR

            December 3, 2015 at 13:30

            “eina f** dis seer” also works

          • miaau

            December 3, 2015 at 13:42

            I will try and remember that.

            Have the muggers been told that?

    • miaau

      December 3, 2015 at 13:19

      yes, yes, very cute. (ok, that came out sarcastic, I actually laughed about this comment, ok). But is it misery of others?

      I won a chess game last night, described by another stunning German word: Zugzwang

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        December 3, 2015 at 13:39

        Not so much misery as misfortune. Uncharitable of me, but I’m only human after all.

        Reply

        • miaau

          December 3, 2015 at 13:41

          still, misfortune? Of MS or the poor suckers who bought the game? That is my confusion. I suppose you mean MS. Microsoft, not multiple sclerosis

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 3, 2015 at 13:53

            Of the PS4 gamers who’re upset they can’t play it now, because as a PC gamer I’m used to this kind of situation. And particularly since I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to hear “hee hee hee you can’t play game X!” and all the endless spin-offs thereof. Suddenly it’s not okay when the only difference is now it’s affected them too.

          • miaau

            December 3, 2015 at 13:58

            true, true. Ah, I see a new perspective, and I pride myself on seeing them myself.

            Never really thought about that, cause I just do not care, fun or not fun there is boring or something else Yoda said.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 3, 2015 at 14:06

            Exactly. Can’t play it now? That’s okay, play something else. You’ll still have fun while playing a different game.

          • Quinn Pulohanan

            December 3, 2015 at 16:44

            I actually enjoy looking forward to “TR flops/undersells” articles, just like when Fox’s Fantasic 4 majorly bombed earlier. I don’t know. I just seem to get a quick high from knowing other people’s passions blew in their faces, which is why I get giddy when reading movie and videogame flop lists like this. I’m just a terrible person like that.

    • Hammersteyn

      December 3, 2015 at 15:42

      LOL!

      Reply

  13. WitWolfy

    December 3, 2015 at 13:46

    • Hammersteyn

      December 3, 2015 at 15:39

      Is piss and bile hate? Got plenty of that

      Reply

  14. Harley Walter

    December 3, 2015 at 15:44

    I played the last Tomb Raider and it was on my games played top 5 games list. I can’t wait to get Rise of the Tomb Raider for PC>

    Reply

  15. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    December 3, 2015 at 16:03

    Lol @ Microsoft!

    Reply

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