There was much chatter recently about a new Tomb Raider title and next-gen console owners were definitely pumped for the new title. However at Gamescom yesterday Microsoft and Square Enix announced that Rise of the Tomb Raider, due for release by holiday 2015, will be an “Xbox exclusive.” The thought that this title would only be for Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners didn’t sit too well with PlayStation and PC gamers but they need not worry. This title isn’t really an Xbox exclusive after all.
Square Enix and Microsoft should have revealed during the press conference that Rise of the Tomb Raider will be available first only on the Xbox albeit for a limited time. Its not that the title will never be released on PlayStation or PC, its just that it may take some time before the title lands on Sony’s console after it has made its debut on the Xbox.
This was confirmed by Microsoft’s Xbox chief Phil Spencer in an interview with Eurogamer. When asked whether this deal has a time limit Spencer replied in the affirmative, “Yes, the deal has a duration. I didn’t buy it. I don’t own the franchise.”
Square Enix will be free to do whatever it wants with the title after its deal with Microsoft ends. This means porting the game over to PlayStation and PC. This deal is actually similar to Xbox One titles Dead Rising and Ryse: Son of Rome which will be launched on the PC after being limited to Microsoft’s console.
Spencer did not reveal just for how long Rise of the Tomb Raider will remain an Xbox-only title before its released for other platforms. We may not have that information for quite some time as the launch is over a year away but at least we can rest assured that PC and PlayStation may also get this title at some point.
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