Rise of the Tomb Raider is one of the best games we’ve played all year – with it winning not just our best Xbox One game, but also our best Action game. Now that the game is done and dusted though, comes news that the head of Crystal Dynamics, Darrell Gallagher, has left the company and its overlord, Square Enix.
Apparently, he‘d given up on his role months ago, with his leadership duties moving on to Scot Amos and Ron Rosenberg. It’s only now been announced, with Square saying the transition was “seamless.”
“Darrell became head of Crystal Dynamics back in 2009, led that studio to reboot the Tomb Raider franchise, and for the last three years he has led our western studios,” Square Enix’ Western CEO Phil Rogers said in a statement.
“I want to thank him for his tremendous effort and contribution to Square Enix, along with the amazing entertainment he has helped create. I am sad to see him go but respect his decision and we should all celebrate the sheer blood, sweat and tears he has put into our company over the last ten years. We are excited for him and his family on their next chapter. We wish them the best of luck in the future.”
The immediate thing to think is that he left, with a suitcase stuffed full of Microsoft dollars, or was given his marching orders following how poorly that deal’s panned out – but I think that’s a hasty conclusion to jump to.
Last Updated: December 17, 2015
Francois Knoetze
December 17, 2015 at 11:33
Finished it yesterday and that bit after the credits made me scream in a Batman voice: “WHERE IS HE!?”
Jonah Cash
December 17, 2015 at 11:55
Maybe his contract was a timed exclusive???
Captain JJ 4x
December 17, 2015 at 12:06
BOOM!
James Anderton
December 17, 2015 at 12:13
Give that man an upvote!
RinceThis
December 17, 2015 at 12:21
lol
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 17, 2015 at 12:35
Headshot!
oVg
December 17, 2015 at 12:36
Re-booted out… No? Tough crowd.
UBER!!! for 1
oVg
December 17, 2015 at 12:07
I would love to know the backroom politics behind this game. So, Microsoft published the game. Square Enix had nothing to do with it. Its not even on their site.
The entire deal was a predictable mess. No amount of damage control could fix this FAIL.
now if Square EXPLAINED to us that there was going to be no sequel Like SEGA did with Bayonetta 2, and that Microsoft resurrected it from the grave like Nintendo did with Bayonetta then there would be NO PROBLEM.
But its clear, it was COCK BLOCKED by the Green bullies.
I dont blame him for leaving, Just a shame he left on such a low.
Captain JJ 4x
December 17, 2015 at 12:12
Yea. Agreed.
Now that half the old fan base feels betrayed and has pretty much turned away from the franchise.
oVg
December 17, 2015 at 12:14
lol, dont forget, gamers are fickle. They will buy the PS4 version at full retail next Christmas.
Then Crystal Dynamics will receive some long lost well deserved admiration.
James Anderton
December 17, 2015 at 12:14
Rumor has it its coming out end of January.
oVg
December 17, 2015 at 12:18
What year?
James Anderton
December 17, 2015 at 12:23
2016? as in this January.
oVg
December 17, 2015 at 12:31
For PC, partly Microsoft PCs. PS4 is cock blocked Mass Effect 1 style.
Hammersteyn
December 17, 2015 at 12:15
I’ll buy it on sale, I never forget these kinda things.
Captain JJ 4x
December 17, 2015 at 12:19
Hear hear
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 17, 2015 at 12:36
I’m even going one step further, bargain bin… Squeenix isn’t getting a cent from me.
Captain JJ 4x
December 17, 2015 at 12:18
No way I’m buying this at full price.
Old games at discounted prices.
oVg
December 17, 2015 at 12:22
But PS3 owners payed full price for Bioshock 2 years after it was released on 360. AND, full price for Mass Effect 2 a year after the 360 release and they got no ME1 as Microsoft had 5 year ownership of the Mass Effect 1 IP.
This exclusive shit needs to stop.
and when the bloody hell are gamers going to play on-line cross platform.
RinceThis
December 17, 2015 at 12:24
Not going to happen. I think they have a meeting each year to decide how to rape our wallets. Only person not invited is Gabe…
oVg
December 17, 2015 at 12:34
Gabe eats all the cake, thats why he is never invited.
RinceThis
December 17, 2015 at 12:35
hahaha
Captain JJ 4x
December 17, 2015 at 12:25
Yea man. If it were an exclusive from the start. Fine, I can live with that.
Sure, I’d love to play Forza on my pc, but I can’t, never could. So it’s okay.
But taking a game that I’ve played for so many years and then suddenly making it a timed exclusive…they can suck it. My loyalty towards Tomb Raider is dead.
I’ll get it 75% sale on Steam, because if I have to wait so long just to get it on pc, I can easily wait a bit longer to get it on special. Makes no difference.
oVg
December 17, 2015 at 12:28
TRUE. Its no Street Fighter and that is for sure. Its a loyal fanbase who admire Lara Croft for what she stands for. The first Female protag from 20 years ago when gaming was considered to be for fat grease balls.
Imagine if this was Star Wars we are talking about. AND A SEQUEL to a very well supported re-boot. SUPPORTED by the fans.
I actually think the die hards got burnt like a One Direction fan. They wont be coming back.
Hammersteyn
December 17, 2015 at 12:14
I bet Square places the blame on him for the exclusivity and they throw in some bonus content as apology to try and win back the people they snubbed
oVg
December 17, 2015 at 12:17
Maybe it was him, he gambled, back when the Bone and PS4 were tied at 3 million consoles sold each 2 years ago. Nobody could have predicted that SONY was going to regain PS2 admiration as nobody expected Microsoft to fail so hard on the concept of the Bone.
It was a gamble, somebody lost, somebody has to take the fall.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 17, 2015 at 12:38
I think you’re on to something, it wouldn’t surprise me if this is exactly what happened.
oVg
December 17, 2015 at 12:40
It was 2 years in production. According to Microsoft it only went into production because of their financial backing. Somebody thought the PS4 was dead out the gate and went fuck it, where do I sign.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 17, 2015 at 12:46
Serves them right for doubting King Playstation the Fourth.
oVg
December 17, 2015 at 12:47
Never underestimate the power of a WORLD WIDE RELEASE a year before the competition.
NOOOOOOOBS
RinceThis
December 17, 2015 at 12:22
Yeah, total fuck up.
oVg
December 17, 2015 at 12:25
Some of these marketing top brass suits who pen these stupid concepts know nothing.
For Fcuks sake EVERYBODY ON LAZY GAMER the day after the news PREDICTED THIS SHIT.
RinceThis
December 17, 2015 at 12:25
Sadly the punters will pay for it.
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 17, 2015 at 12:27
Day one! WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
RinceThis
December 17, 2015 at 12:27
You behave!
Hammersteyn
December 17, 2015 at 12:31
I bet he even buys milk on sale 😛
RinceThis
December 17, 2015 at 12:35
ohhhhh
oVg
December 17, 2015 at 12:29
GOTY
coip
December 29, 2015 at 21:58
“The entire deal was a predictable mess”.
I’d hardly call one of the best games of the year and the best Tomb Raider game ever a “mess”. That’s what the deal produced: a huge critical success.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 17, 2015 at 12:34
Let’s hope he doesn’t go to Kojima Productions. Kojima needs an A-team, not Microsoft’s scraps.
RinceThis
December 17, 2015 at 12:37
Kojima must GITFS!
oVg
December 17, 2015 at 12:45
http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/rws.gif
RinceThis
December 17, 2015 at 12:46
Yes, I meant it!
oVg
December 17, 2015 at 12:46
You mean Konami
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 17, 2015 at 12:47
I hope he means konami… otherwise we might need to send Rincey to that re-education camp in Limpopo….
RinceThis
December 17, 2015 at 12:47
Tralalala!
oVg
December 17, 2015 at 12:48
Sponsored by Opera
RinceThis
December 17, 2015 at 12:47
No, the over-rated Kojima. I grew out of his contrived plots years ago, dude is also way to into himself.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 17, 2015 at 12:48
😮
RinceThis
December 17, 2015 at 12:49
I meant every word, and would do it all again! I regret nothing! Weeeeee!
oVg
December 17, 2015 at 12:49
Rince is MARVEL through and through. No time for Otaku themed Anime.
RinceThis
December 17, 2015 at 12:51
http://cdn2-www.musicfeeds.com.au/assets/uploads/dad1c3cfe774fc61de228e1532ff5222.gif
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 17, 2015 at 12:49
WHAT?! That’s crazy talk! Are you oxygen-deprived? Quick, take off all your clothes so you can breathe!
RinceThis
December 17, 2015 at 12:50
Gasp!
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 17, 2015 at 12:51
It’s working! He’s going to be okay everyone.
RinceThis
December 17, 2015 at 12:52
If only someone could invent clothes that allow you to breath…
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 17, 2015 at 12:53
I know. Or a man. That old guy managed to breath just fine with only a bald head.
oVg
December 17, 2015 at 12:57
They have edible clothes 🙂
RinceThis
December 17, 2015 at 12:58
What, for a starter 😛
Hammersteyn
December 17, 2015 at 12:50
O_o
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 17, 2015 at 12:52
Quick give this man a HUG! HE’S HAVING A MOMENT!!!!!
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 17, 2015 at 13:02
…
RinceThis
December 17, 2015 at 13:06
lol
Hammersteyn
December 17, 2015 at 12:49
http://i.memeful.com/media/post/lMzjeJM_700wa_0.gif
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 17, 2015 at 12:50
I think I’m rather going to wait for Tomb Raider the Reboot 2 to go free on PSN+ (it’s inevitable), next year is Uncharted 4’s year any ways. Sorry Squuuenix, but you F’ed Up badly, and I can’t in good conscience reward stupidity.
oVg
December 17, 2015 at 12:52
Dont forget, the 3rd in the trilogy is also an EXCLUSIVE or the lies will start showing.
RinceThis
December 17, 2015 at 12:56
I think Lara Croft is highly over-rated as a character anyway *runs singing
oVg
December 17, 2015 at 13:07
So was Marry Poppins.
She was a maid, not a domestic worker.
RinceThis
December 17, 2015 at 13:08
Ohhhhh