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.
Foxhound_Solid
Hahahahahaha. Ace. Just ace.
BAGPUS
“Well good luck, it’s a shame a lot of us wont be able to play game.” – Yeah, you will. If it’s that important a game to you buy an Xbox one.
It’s a paid for timed exclusive, not anything that hasn’t happened before. Move on people, nothing here to see.
Forrest_01
What a ridiculous comment. So you are suggesting that if we wanted to play a sequel to a game that appeared on PS3 that was allegedly (at first) not coming to PS4, we therefore need to stump up £350 to get ourselves an XboxOne that we may neither need nor want?
More money than sense comes to mind.
I mean it’s somewhat irrelevant anyway, as we now know it’s timed, but to suggest that someone needs to make an investment of that sort just because one game appears on a rival console is mental (& not particularly helpful I might add).
However, your last sentence does make sense. It does pay to note however that this article popped up before the exclusivity was revealed as timed.