
Back at Gamescom 2014, Microsoft confirmed that the next game in the Tomb Raider series, Rise of the Tomb Raider, would be coming to Xbox One and Xbox 360, and that the game would be a timed exclusive on those platforms.
Now, though, it appears that there's more to the deal than meets the eye. Aaron Greenberg, Head of Marketing for Xbox, has sent a couple of tweets this week that suggest that the game is indeed fully exclusive to Xbox platforms. It all comes in the wake of last week's Street Fighter V announcement, when it was confirmed that the game would be exclusive to PlayStation 4. Since then, Microsoft have been dropping hints about a number of projects.
In response to a tweet asking for a new Banjo-Kazooie or Conker game, Phil Spencer replied to state that he's working on "making amends" for Street Fighter V.
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But yesterday, Greenberg stated that absolutely and unequivocally, Microsoft are the company that will be publishing Rise of the Tomb Raider.
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Whether or not this means that the game is now fully exclusive to Xbox One and Xbox 360 (and we assume a PC release is on the cards too), we don't know. But it sure looks likely. It would be a pretty convoluted deal for Square Enix to publish a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 3 version of the game while Microsoft do the honours on other systems. We can pretty much lock this in as an Xbox exclusive, at least until the wind changes direction and everyone decides to backtrack, anyway.
Comments 21
Would make sense - it would be Microsoft's answer to Sony's Uncharted franchise. I'm not a big SF fan but I love TR so this is great news for me, although I'm sure there are a great many (single console) gamers on both sides who will be feeling hard done by right now...
Whilst he's at it maybe Phil should be looking to lock down Titanfall 2 exclusivity...
Good thing I have both consoles but I don't enjoy seeing gamers on other platforms get locked out of games, especially when in the case of Tomb Raider it was supported in bigger numbers on PlayStation. Yes, I know it's business and I know mine is probably the unpopular opinion but whatever. I'll buy both games, I do feel bad for the people on both sides who miss out though, so will not join the celebration. I will celebrate however if a decision is made in the next few weeks to scrap the 360 version. Not likely but it would be for the best and MS would reap the benefits as well. It gains a full-on now current-gen console exclusive that will move consoles off shelves and gamers benefit with an even better game that we know is taking advantage of the better hardware to the fullest.
That said, more deals are surely coming from both sides. I've always looked at Mass Effect as more of an Xbox game and the series has gone downhill since the MS-published original, if they're going to deal with EA again, I'd rather that than Titanfall 2 but the latter would probably be the more fiscally responsible decision.
Yeah I wish all devs would drop 360/PS3 support and focus all their time, energy and money on the current gen stuff.
I'm surprised Sony had the resources to pull this off as they're in financial dire straits right now. Microsoft have got a bottomless wallet in this respect...
I'm hoping 2015 will be the last year of cross-gen, I had that hope for 2014, but it's clear there's still stuff getting through over the next year as well. Not a big fan of it but it's ok as long as 2016 and beyond is all current gen.
And yeah, I think MS will win this console war in the end because it has the money to spend to do so, just like Sony back in the day. I don't like the locking out but Sony was the bully during the PSone and 2 eras, now they're getting it turned around on them. Competition is a good thing but in the end any market MS enters it eventually gains complete control of so it's just a matter of time for consoles really.
Well, as much as I hate claiming preexisting IPs as console exclusives, given Street Fighter V, the bar has been lowered. If MS wants to go all out exclusive on this one (minus PC master race) I guess that's fine. Now all Nintendo needs to do is make a game in 1079p 59 FPS and this console war crap can be settled. I've never heard of a generation where console wars were fought by pretending a console was a gaming PC or something.
@Vincent294
Might as well be PCs at this point, at least in the case of PS4 and X1. Updates and patches for games on a daily basis. Have to install games before playing them. I won't lie, I do miss the simpler times.
@Gamer83 That is what backlogs were meant for. I know that's what I've been working on, and it saves me money as well. It might be your only option at this point besides GOTY Edition. I don't mind the occasional patch, but look at today's games and GOTY is that much more tempting. Overpriced DLC is included, game actually works when you get it, very few patches, essentially how things should've been.

Would be good for MS if this turns out to be an Xbox exclusive after all, especially since the news of SFV. Phil's words when asked about the exclusivity were always a little ambiguous:
"Yes, the deal has a duration. I didn't buy it. I don't own the franchise." and
"Obviously the deal does have a duration. I didn't buy the IP in perpetuity."
All he was ever confirming was that there was a limit, and he hadn't purchased the rights for every Tomb Raider game from now until eternity. People read it as a timed exclusive, but there really wasn't anything to back those thoughts up, and Phil wouldn't be drawn on what limits the deal had.
@Chameleon1977
Yeah, there has to be legal terms in the contract that's f'ing up both sides from saying everything they want to. A franchise this big, it can only benefit Phil Spencer to be able to say, 'yes this is console exclusive, Xbox is the only console brand Rise of the Tomb Raider will ever appear on.' I'm sure he wants to be able to come right out and say that. Maybe we can get some confirmation at one of the early shows next year before E3.
What a great get for Microsoft.
I would have rather had SFV, but I suppose this is the reason I invest in multiple systems. Though like someone said above, it wouldn't surprise me if MS just locks down Titanfall. Overall I just hope this doesn't turn into the generation of what's that term? Moneyhatting? There's gonna be a lot of sad one console gamers out there...
@Vincent294 correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't both Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros in 1080p/60FPS? (4 player split screen being the exception in the former)
I'm not the biggest fan of Street Fighter, but I was bummed out when I heard that SFV was PS4 exclusive, but if where getting Rise of the Tomb Raider exclusive, I think we got the better deal Besides, we got Killer Instinct and Mortal Kombat X is coming soon, and I rather play that then SF.
I'm guessing this was probably the original deal just to get the game timed exclusive. Tomb Raider is a massive franchise, so it would cost a pretty penny to even be timed.
Good news indeed. I loved the reboot tomb raider and I can't wait till the next one
@hydeks,
Street Fighter V (5) is PS4 exclusive. knowing capcoms track record with street fighter expect the following games
2015 Street Fighter 5
2016 Super Street Fighter 5
2017 Super Street Fighter 5 Arcade Edition
2018 Super Duper Ultra Hyper Sonic Boom Street Fighter 5 Edition.
One of those other versions will hit XBOX one. lol
@Sir_JBizzle Yes, I just want to see some glorious 1079p 59p FPS games just to poke fun at how picky some gamers have become. The reactions would be hilarious.
@Vincent294 Ahhh I follow you now... Haha
So time to sit back and see which way the backlash goes. I've thoroughly enjoyed the way that some websites seem to think that TR as a timed exclusive was the destruction of all gaming and proof of MS being evil whilst SF5 on the PS4 is a savvy and sensible business move. If This is no longer a timed exclusive any bets on which way opinion falls?
Tomb Raider 2 being exclusive is a good thing, they can use the extra funds to further develop the game and now they only have to worry about one console instead of both
@CunningSmile
I typically don't take sides in the console war banter (own all 3, play all 3), but you do make a valid point that I feel needs to be addressed.
There was a heck of a lot of uproar and finger pointing at MS for the Tomb Raider announcement, yet, where are those same fingers pointing now? Seems to me there's an awful lot of hypocrisy going on with the SF5 reveal...
@JaxonH
I think it's a matter of MS fired the first shot, now Sony has to fire back. There's more PS4 owners out there so naturally there will be less uproar. There's also the fact that it is the PS fanbase that supported Tomb Raider in greater numbers. I'm pretty sure, however, had Sony money hatted for Mass Effect or Splinter Cell or another franchise mostly associated with Xbox, you'd have seen the same kind of rage Tomb Raider got. At the same time, the anger was misplaced. It's SE who should've drawn most of the wrath because despite the constant support from PS fans, that idiotic company continues to screw that userbase over. At least Capcom is pretty fair with its exclusive dealings (not that it has much of a choice these days). Anyway, I think it's crap both ways but it is what it is. Even if I had no plans to get an X1 before the Tomb Raider announcement I would've bought one after because it's clear MS is going to be chasing some big third party exclusives. Things are just getting started.
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