Rise of the Tomb Raider is coming exclusively to Xbox One. This upsets Tuffcub a bit, naturally, and he’s not too pleased with the reasoning from Crystal Dynamics detailing why the game isn’t going to be on PS4 and exactly what you can do about it.
So, with Tuffcub being Tuffcub he’s taken that post and, with his of mix tongue-in-cheek humour and biting sarcasm, left a line-by-line response.
Dear Tomb Raider Community,
Hello there Darrell Gallagher, Crystal Dynamics Head of Studios!
As you may have seen, we’ve just announced that Rise of the Tomb Raider, coming Holiday 2015, is exclusively on Xbox.
Yes, that was a bit of a shock, wasn’t it?
We consider all of you to be the lifeblood of Tomb Raider and –
Wait. Stop. You consider us all “to be the lifeblood of Tomb Raider”? So why having you stopped the majority of next gen console owners from playing the game? That makes no sense, if you considered us all to be the lifeblood then the game should be on all systems, surely?
I’d like to give you some insight into this decision, and why we feel this is the very best thing for the Tomb Raider sequel we’re creating at the studio.
Go ahead, I’m listening.
Tomb Raider in 2013 was a success due in large part to your continued support.
Yes, the majority of which – especially on new generation consoles – came from PlayStation gamers, if I’m not mistaken. But carry on.
Our goal has always been to deliver something truly special with Rise of the Tomb Raider.
Well, you’ve certainly done that. Perhaps not special in the way you envisaged, but special nonetheless.
Today’s announcement with Microsoft is one step to help us put Tomb Raider on top of action adventure gaming.
So you’ve signed up with the current generation manufacturer in second place, and back in March last year the PS3 overtook the Xbox 360 in sales. The console has a lower user base, so it is impossible you can be “on top of action adventure gaming,” the numbers just don’t add up.
Our friends at Microsoft have always seen huge potential in Tomb Raider and have believed in our vision since our first unveil with them on their stage at E3 2011.
Look, let’s put the cards on the table; if someone is going to offer you a truck load of money your vision gets a bit blurred. Square Enix have shareholders to pay, and if Microsoft want to give you cash in exchange for Lara, that’s fine. But don’t try and tell us you signed with them due to your “vision”, perhaps if you said “Hey, MS gave us a billionty dollars and a unicorn so we gave them Lara!” you might gain a little more respect from gamers for being honest.
We know they will get behind this game more than any support we have had from them in the past.
Well, I should hope so.
We believe this will be a step to really forging the Tomb Raider brand as one of the biggest in gaming, with the help, belief and backing of a major partner like Microsoft.
No. Stop. Wait… what? You want to forge Tomb Raider – one of the biggest brands in gaming – into one of the biggest brands in gaming? Lara Croft is a genuine cultural icon, up there with Mario and Sonic, it’s not like Tomb Raider is some itsy bitsy game that no one has heard of.
This doesn’t mean that we’re walking away from our fans who only play on PlayStation or on PC.
Well yes, you are.
Those are great systems, with great partners, and amazing communities.
Well thanks, I am sure the amazing communities are pretty amazed right now.
We have Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris coming to those platforms this December, and Tomb Raider: The Definitive Edition is available on PS4.
You really think flogging the current PS4 game is a good idea at present? “Hey, you can’t have the new game, have the old game with slightly better graphics from last year.” That’s not going to win you any fans.
We know that there are probably many more questions and concerns. Please do send them to us, and we’ll answer to the best of our ability.
Not really.
Meanwhile we’re going all out to try and make something truly special – the most ambitious Tomb Raider game ever built.
Well good luck, it’s a shame a lot of us wont be able to play game.
scavenga
Please send it in, I’m co-signing this letter
Vandix
It has been said before on some websites.
The way Darrel says the last part is almost identical to the part where Don Mattric said,
‘If you don’t have internet, get a Xbox 360’.
It’s just ridiculous.
Youles
I think this will be a timed exclusive, but still, pretty wanky the MS to buy an established game’s exclusivity – why not create your own adventure game? Even more wanky that Square Enix/Crystal Dynamic or whoever it is to sell to them – didn’t the Titanfall devs/publishers say they regret going single-platform, particularly due to all the PS4 sales?
Anyway, I won’t really lose sleep over a game I can’t buy/play, and I certainly won’t buy another console just to play it, so MS can continue to throw their money away I guess.
Youles
And I won’t be buying that Osiris game, not for £30! The last game was a £10 PSN game at best.
Starman
You’re missing the main reason why they did it – they previously said they weren’t happy with tomb raiders sales, so with the money from ms has offset the risk to themselves on the sequel.
They knew full well the x1 is behind on sales but went with it anyway. Going up against uncharted probably helped the decision. A lot of commenters on here said they preferred UC anyway so wouldn’t have got it.
A the end of the day its a company making a business decision. No company really gives a stuff about its fans, just making money.
Forrest_01
But I still can’t see how ruling out 10 million potential customers could be seen as a good business decision. Unless it is timed of course as some have speculated.
Trouble with that (if that is the case) is that they should have just come out & said so – Although they are probably under agreement with MS not to. However, we gamers can be a sensitive lot & it’s likely that a lot won’t pick it up purely out of spite even if it does come to PS4 now.
Starman
I get the whole missing 10m potential customers but we don’t know the in and out’s of game financing & development. Maybe without ms’ money the game wouldn’t have happened at all or would’ve been a half arsed effort. I enjoyed Bayonetta but didn’t boycott capcom for doing a exclusivity deal with Nintendo for the sequel.
Forrest_01
Yeah, I can’t say I agree with boycotts for one little mistake or misstep (or business decision when reams of cash are lovingly placed on a table in front of you) & mentioned it yesterday when someone suggested that it would be a good idea to not bother with anything that gearbox put out just because Aliens Colonial Marines was a steaming pile – Its effectively just cutting off your nose to spite your face.
I would probably pick up the new TR if it did amble its way to PS4 at some stage, but I just know that there will be many thousands, perhaps millions that will feel pretty jaded by this & just won’t bother.
Just a shame is all.
Greg Turner
For me the issue here isn’t even that it’s exclusive – not great news I admit – but that they aren’t being transparent about it. Hiding behind corporate speak ‘it’s first on XBox in 2015 is all we’ll say’ rather than just rejoicing that you have a timed exclusive is shady as hell. It’s misleading for XBox consumers and also for fans of the game – who currently have no idea what the situation is.
That’s something I appreciated about the Sony conference (and they don’t always get it right) the fact that I’m super clear on what is fully exclusive and timed exclusive.
Great article Tuffcub.
DividSmythe
Well said Tuffcub.
I own an Xbone and don’t be buying this game. Not just because I didn’t really like the last TR but the because the way both SqEnix and/or C.D. have turned it into a massive cash grab. I hope it doesn’t drive any sales of Xbone because of this deplorable behaviour by those 2 and MS.
Gaztee
It’s a funny move really as weren’t the majority of previous sales on the PS platforms?? Can only be the money talking, but I’m sure that it’ll still sell poorly as I can’t see it being a system seller.
Tuffcub
Ha I wasn’t expecting this to be posted :)
Forrest_01
It says a lot when the announcement post from yesterday has five pages of comments pretty much all saying how disappointed they are & that it was a foolish decision.
In my experience, there are two kinds of stories that get that kind of numbers in terms of responses: Competitions & general fuckwittery. Guess which this is.
TSBonyman
Nice response, although the game is still available for preorder on PS4 everywhere so i think it has to be just a timed exclusive.
Forrest_01
I suspect that’s just the tardiness of retailers tbh.
Mick: “Oh John, they’ve just announced that new Tomb Raider game is going to be Xbox only, should we take the PS pre-order pages down now?”
John: “Nah, leave it Mick. Let the gamers go nuts with speculation. Besides, I’m drinking mah tea.”
Personally, I wouldn’t trust John as far as I could throw him! ;)
Starman
And places like GAME will happily take your £5 preorder even if the game never comes out.
scavenga
Oh, that’s our John – he’s such a rootin, tootin whatchamacallit!
Smallville2106
It’s not. I have been contacted by ShopTo about them cancelling my preorder as it’s no longer going to be available on ps4.
TSBonyman
Oh well, if they are cancelling preorders that’s that then. Now i can feel righteous about calling SQeenx and CD a bunch of tossers.