Rise of the Tomb Raider is a timed-exclusive for Xbox

A big portion of Tomb Raider fans were disappointed when they heard the news regarding the upcoming game in the Tomb Raider franchise. For those who are not yet aware of the controversial deal that Microsoft made with Square Enix (owner of the Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics), well, it seems that only Xbox owners will be enjoying it- Playstation and PC owners will be left only with YouTube gameplay videos and reviews. But there’s a still a chance that the rest of the gaming community will load up the game in their consoles and computers after the game's launch for Xbox One and 360. But let’s put things in order first.

The Initial Announcement

The unexpected announcement was made in Microsoft’s Gamescom Press Conference. The news also included a release date of the game the next holiday in 2015. The news spread quickly and Darrell Gallagher (Head of Studios at Crystal Dynamics) was quick to reply to the hundreds of fans who wanted at least an explanation for this:

“Today’s announcement with Microsoft is one step to help us put Tomb Raider on top of action adventure gaming. 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. We know they will get behind this game more than any support we have had from them in the past - 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.”

You can read the full post on Tumblr.

It was indeed a shock for the Tomb Raider fans who do not own an Xbox console. Oh, and speaking of an Xbox console, it still wasn’t clear at the time if the game was coming to Xbox One only or Xbox 360 too.

The News Update That Followed

In an interview with Phil Spencer (head of Microsoft’s Xbox division and Microsoft Studios), Eurogamer’s news editor Wesley Yin-Poole got the best news that the disappointed fans could get under these circumstances. When asked if there is a time limit on the exclusivity period, Phil Spencer told Wesley, “Yes, the deal has a duration. I didn't buy it. I don't own the franchise.” This means that after the deal ends Square Enix will be able to release the game on other platforms too- but until the time comes (something that Spencer did not disclose), the company’s hands are tied.

“I'm not trying to fake anybody out in terms of where this thing is. What they do with the franchise in the long run is not mine. I don't control it. So all I can talk about is the deal I have. I don't know where else Tomb Raider goes.”

In addition, Phil Spencer confirmed that the game will be released both for Xbox One and Xbox 360.

The End Result Remains The Same, Though

Regardless of what happens in the future, Playstation and PC owners are bound to watch Xbox owners play the new addition in the franchise. This is surely a win for Microsoft, but I’m quite curious to know how much Microsoft paid Square Enix in order for them to withhold the launch of the game in other consoles.

The online outrage that burst when the news were announced resulted into a change.org petition that suggests boycotting the game unless it’s released for Playstation and PC. The petition gathered more than 10.000 sigs in less than 24 hours, but can it really achieve something? Personally, I don’t think this will have any significant impact on the end result. What do you think?