Rise of the Tomb Raider timed Xbox exclusive for Holiday 2015 (No PS/PC, SE publish)

SE once again proving that they are truly the stupidest publisher in our industry.

Complain about TR selling 3 million +
Release TR Definitive with PS4 version outselling the XB1 version 2:1
Knows thats the PS4 has twice the fan base of XB1

Conclusion: we should take MS's money hat and make TR a timed exclusive for XB1.

SMH. Personally I don't care about the recent TR but wow the fan base is pissed. This game is going to flop especially with expectations SE has had.

Yup, S-E just continues to try top themselves with their incompetence.
 
Has anyone been over to the eidos forums? They going ballistic over there lol

The tumbler too lol, although the way they word the "Oh don't worry PC and PS4 owners, you have temple of osiris to play instead!" didn't exactly help.
 
Seems there is some mixed messages, but it seems clear it's timed.

I am hoping it's permanent though. I think it'd kill the franchise's growth in its tracks and hopefully permanently put away the new shitty formulation of Tomb Raider once and for all. I am crossing the fuck out of my fingers right now. They literally could not have picked a more perfect game in my mind to snatch - a sequel to the horrific original bastardization of the franchise, one I loathed with all my heart for destroying a series that was still a true original in the industry and remained so since few if any games play like it even today. This 'me-too', check-list by design series couldn't be worse, and so since they decided to destroy a franchise I love, I want nothing more than to sit back and watch it deconstruct :D

Well said. I was trying to think of a way to say this, and you nailed it. Tomb Raider is already dead, so I hope this move puts the final nail in the coffin.
 
Has anyone been over to the eidos forums? They going ballistic over there lol

haha. They have every right to be.Why release the definitive version on PS4/PC if you were not going to release the sequel on these platforms down the road. It is beyond ridiculous.
 
so does anyone have the lifetime sales of tomb raider 2011 with platform breakdown? also the remastered version? if i had to guess i say playstation version sells more, tomb raider just seems like a playstation brand like mgs and ff
 
If this stays exclusive to the xbox, SE will never get my money for it. Congrats on the business strategy SE, hopefully the money hats from MS is more than the lost sales will be (probably not).
 
I still read this as just a timed exclusive. If it was exclusive forever, Microsoft would've marketed the shit out of that. Expect a Rise of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition for PS4 in 2016.
 
I see, in that case I would say have the thread title changed to "RUMOR: CBOAT ' Timed Exclusive'" as I thought it was SOP for GAF to not have this kind of info stated as official in a thread title unless it was officially substantiated.

Not taking a shot at GAF MODs, just I thought that was how it worked.

A mod posted this a couple of pages back:

CBOAT received a 3 day ban for doubling down on Titanfall resolution claims which were proved wrong on release. Looked at in context of his overall track record, his accuracy is fine. Most of the people squawking for his head post E3 couldn't be more transparent if they tried.

As far as this timed exclusivity goes, the writing is on the wall. If Geoff Keighley can't get a straight answer, Andy McNamara from Game Informer says it's timed, along with shinobi and cboat?

cmonson.gif
 
I'm so glad that the movie industry didn't become quite this self destructive. Could you imagine if Marvel movies could only be shown on a Samsung TV for example?
 
Can't help but think this was a brilliant move by Microsoft and an incredibly stupid one by Square Enix. Time for Sony to put TR:DE up on PS4's PS+?
 
haha. They have every right to be.Why release the definitive version on PS4/PC if you were not going to release the sequel on these platforms down the road. It is beyond ridiculous.

Why release MGS2 on OG Xbox if the were never gonna release the first and third games on it? Or why release Twin Snakes on GameCube if they wouldn't get the sequels? Not like it hasn't been done before.
 
This doesn't seem much worse to me than making No Mans Sky or Hellblade timed exclusives. Nobody wins from any exclusive 3rd part content except for MS and Sony but it is just the nature of the beast when there is fierce competition. People griping so much about this one instance of it seems a bit crazy.

Xbone has an established track record of delivering technically and objectively inferior ports, so it's not really the same situation. With Xbone (fake) exclusives, even if you own the console, you're going to have to wait for the PS4 or PC version unless you want to play the game in 720p/900p, Black Crush, 24fps mode.
 
Considering we are getting Uncharted that year it's no big deal. Plus Holiday 2015 to me says it could come as early as January 2016. No big deal. Gives me plenty of time for Uncharted and others.
 
I would rather see the Xbox division vanish before Nintendo buys them. Their core focuses and directions are so apart from one another. Maybe Nintendo can get Rare back, but that's become a has-been studio now, so even that dream seems pretty worthless.

Of course, that is assuming Xbox is crumbling. I think heavy pegs have to be shattered for that to happen.

I would happily have a former Microsoft team replace Nintendo's hardware design (both internal hardware, and controller design), online network design (self explanatory), and bring modern, relevant franchises like Halo and Forza to compliment old-school classics like Zelda, Mario and Metroid.

Now granted, we'd probably only get one generation's worth before Nintendo fucked it up and came out with a console that you controlled with farts or something, but what a one generation that would be...
 
Better. It's not great to make a standalone game exclusive, it's far worse to take the sequel to a pretty well received game and make that exclusive. Unless said sequel couldn't exist without your money (Bayonetta 2), but shit that's just not the case here.
 
The fact that Microsoft is not shouting from the rooftops that it's a permanent exclusive should give you all the information you need about whether or not it's timed. I can't imagine anyone with critical thinking skills believing that it's not timed based on all of the question dodging that's been done today.

The letter on Darrell Gallagher's blog is pretty telling. Sounds like it is a permanent one. Especially considering he pulled a Don Mattrick "we have a product for you" with the TR:DE and Temple of Osiris line.
 
Yeah. Just like the PS3 would never catch up the Xbox 360.

I'm not saying they will catch up, but it's been less than a year since launch.

No, you don't understand. It is literally impossible at this point for Microsoft to ever catch up. The only reason Sony did with PS3 was because it relatively stronger performances in Japan and Europe. Microsoft doesn't even have that to fallback on. It's getting trounced in America and every other territory on Earth now. Even if Microsoft were to someone start exploding in the USA and sell better month-to-month, there's now no way they can surpass PS4.

I'm sure securing Tomb Raider was part of Microsoft's plan to try to change the trajectory in the USA, but it won't do them much good.
 
"XXX Website officially says" does not answer my question. Where Square Enix announced the platforms for the game at the time of its reveal?

They didn't, but officially confirmed to Eurogamer that it was multiplatform, unless Eurogamer is completely mistaken.
 
I don't know or care about the "backlash" angle from Playstation fans. Not saying there won't be one...just don't care. But you know, I was so hung up on how nonsensical this move was for S-E, that I didn't even think about how dumb it was for MS.

You may be right about TR not really moving the needle for them as a system seller. (In fact, I think you probably ARE right.) The only thing I can think of is MS knows Uncharted 4 is coming and they are frightened that they felt they desperately need to have something exclusive that at least sorta plays in that same ballpark as Uncharted, as a sort of a "me too!" deal. And they certainly aren't going to get it out of their 1st-party, not in time anyway, so they rushed out and made this deal.

That's really the only thing I can even think of that makes any kind of sense for MS's motivation. Seems terribly misplaced, but it is what it is, I guess.

Well damn, I'm starting to believe this too, let's see how this pays off in the end.
 
Xbone has an established track record of delivering technically and objectively inferior ports, so it's not really the same situation. With Xbone (fake) exclusives, even if you own the console, you're going to have to wait for the PS4 or PC version unless you want to play the game in 720p/900p, Black Crush, 24fps mode.

An XBone exclusive* game just won a SIGGRAPH award.
 
SE once again proving that they are truly the stupidest publisher in our industry.

Complain about TR selling 3 million +
Release TR Definitive with PS4 version outselling the XB1 version 2:1
Knows thats the PS4 has twice the fan base of XB1

Conclusion: we should take MS's money hat and make TR a timed exclusive for XB1.

SMH. Personally I don't care about the recent TR but wow the fan base is pissed. This game is going to flop especially with expectations SE has had.

Not in any position to say.

Depending on their situation, having guaranteed cash up front is way more useful to SE than having projected cash sometime in the future.

Especially when you consider the game is still hitting the PS4 and PC after 2015, and they'll be able to get some money from those markets anyway.
 
I have both systems and I prefer my Xbox One. They seem to be doing fine on their own merits to me -- especially with Spencer in charge and the constant updates to the OS every month. :)



Yeah, there really hasn't been any conflicting information on it either. I don't think this situation is the same though -- TitanFall was a new IP by a new studio (even if it has major talent behind it) while Tomb Raider is a pretty huge franchise. This is probably just business as usual, but that's the gaming business for you.
MS would gladly give you away to cut down that 2+/1 global sales ratio. Trust me, they're not "doing fine on their own."
 
Then the backlash is from the power of the I.P, Not by the practice of MS or square.

The reason for the backlash isn't really relevant. The fact is there is a backlash aimed at MS (for the most part). Had they have announced some amazing new IP today that they funded, everybody would be bigging them up. Instead they ambiguously announced a money hatted exclusive sequel to a game that sold great on PS4. Just don't feel it does the perception of the company much good.
 
If this is a timed exclusive, how long can we expect MS & SE to keep this charade up? Do they really think they can keep it going long enough to effect console sales? The vitriol seems pretty real right now.
 
I'm sure this has been asked a hundred times in this thread, but do we know for sure if this is a true console exclusive or just timed?

Microsoft's wording makes me think it is only timed but the Crystal Dynamics guy's tweet makes me think otherwise.

Has there been confirmation either way?
No there hadn't and there won't be unless the deal changes a'la TitanFall.

Simply on the basis MS apparently cannot just say, or get CD to clearly say, the game is exclusive for the life of the ge or something similar in the vein of EA's TitanFall statement it's more likely it's timed.

Clearly with timed exclusives the fact it's timed is almost never admitteded until times up - a'la oh Bioshock is coming to PS3 fancy that we had no idea. Part of the deal is normally to pretend it's not timed or at least not acknowledge it.

Problem is both MS and CD have found themselves under extreme pressure to clarify which it appears they can't as they're just re-stating the same line from the PR.

The line in question is carefully worded to imply exclusive without confirming it and with a get out insertion of a time period which also implies timed.

My guess is SE where happy with timed but unwilling to commit 100% as EA were with TitanFall - just the fact they issued a lengthy explanation indicates they're trying to avoid closing off franchise to just a single platform. The wording of the release though is poor and isn't coming across the way they seemed to intend.

So best guess currently is timed (otherwise why not clarify when asked?) but unconfirmed and likely to remain as such.
 
Xbone has an established track record of delivering technically and objectively inferior ports, so it's not really the same situation. With Xbone (fake) exclusives, even if you own the console, you're going to have to wait for the PS4 or PC version unless you want to play the game in 720p/900p, Black Crush, 24fps mode.

Oh, ok. That makes it okay for Sony to get timed exclusives but not Microsoft. Gotcha.

I don't think you're serious.

MS would gladly give you away to cut down that 2+/1 global sales ratio. Trust me, they're not "doing fine on their own."

Because the Xbox One not selling better than the PS4 means they aren't doing fine.
 
I don't know or care about the "backlash" angle from Playstation fans. Not saying there won't be one...just don't care. But you know, I was so hung up on how nonsensical this move was for S-E, that I didn't even think about how dumb it was for MS.

You may be right about TR not really moving the needle for them as a system seller. (In fact, I think you probably ARE right.) The only thing I can think of is MS knows Uncharted 4 is coming and they are frightened that they felt they desperately need to have something exclusive that at least sorta plays in that same ballpark as Uncharted, as a sort of a "me too!" deal. And they certainly aren't going to get it out of their 1st-party, not in time anyway, so they rushed out and made this deal.

That's really the only thing I can even think of that makes any kind of sense for MS's motivation. Seems terribly misplaced, but it is what it is, I guess.

The problem I see with this deal is that it's for HOLIDAY 2015, that's more than a year from now, it doesn't have a real immediate impact on console sales other than bragging rights, they're not going to benefit from bundled sales anytime soon, and unless the sales trend gets DRASTICALLY reversed (they need something that is going to solve this immediate problem but so far there is nothing that looks to change that substantially), SE is going to be missing holiday sales on the platform from a much larger userbase.

Granted that is going to be covered by whatever monetary payment MS is prepared to make, SE might be looking at reduced interest in the IP when it's delayed on the PS4, especially when it gives a strong IP like Uncharted another opportunity to occupy that void in the genre, they risk alienating a large userbase and losing support for subsequent titles this generation, and unless they're planning to release only one title this generation, they might end up losing out on future sales when they are looking at releasing another game on multiple platforms, so I'm not sure how this makes sense for SE at all.
 
Don't go there

Go where? With truth? I am not talking "master race" jargon; Hitman started and has been defined on the PC. The first game only ever came out on PC, which was what I was getting at regarding the platform...

Hopefully my explanation shows exactly what I mean. Hitman has always been PC first, for that's where it started.
 
No, you don't understand. It is literally impossible at this point for Microsoft to ever catch up. The only reason Sony did with PS3 was because it relatively stronger performances in Japan and Europe. Microsoft doesn't even have that to fallback on. It's getting trounced in America and every other territory on Earth now. Even if Microsoft were to someone start exploding in the USA and sell better month-to-month, there's now no way they can surpass PS4.

I'm sure securing Tomb Raider was part of Microsoft's plan to try to change the trajectory in the USA, but it won't do them much good.

We shall see.

PS3 wasn't outselling Xbox 360 in Europe to start the generation.

Furthermore, this might be the first generation that Sony doesn't have the extra few million sales worth from Japan to bank on, considering those sales have been underwhelming for them to date.

I doubt Xbox One catches up with PS4. I also doubt they need to for the company to see the Xbox initiative as worthwhile. I'm just saying it's been less than one year, and I'm not willing to go to Vegas and put money on a winner after 8 months, are you?. For all we know the next out-of-nowhere Minecraft-level hit is an Xbox One exclusive and everything changes.
 
A mod posted this a couple of pages back: Originally Posted by bishoptl

CBOAT received a 3 day ban for doubling down on Titanfall resolution claims which were proved wrong on release. Looked at in context of his overall track record, his accuracy is fine. Most of the people squawking for his head post E3 couldn't be more transparent if they tried.

As far as this timed exclusivity goes, the writing is on the wall. If Geoff Keighley can't get a straight answer, Andy McNamara from Game Informer says it's timed, along with shinobi and cboat?

cmonson.gif


I see, I suppose if it is considered true enough by the MODs then it will be posted as such in the title. Thanks for clearing that up. I still stand by my earlier A and B post earlier, if it turns out it is a timed exclusive thanks to the evidence of MS not shouting 100% exclusive from the rooftops and the un-willingness of MS and SE/CD to alter from their exact statements in the press release SE are still dicks for how this is being handled. Hope whatever extra cash MS threw their way will be worth the PR backlash from fans and possibly well followed journalists.
 
Seems there is some mixed messages, but it seems clear it's timed.

I am hoping it's permanent though. I think it'd kill the franchise's growth in its tracks and hopefully permanently put away the new shitty formulation of Tomb Raider once and for all. I am crossing the fuck out of my fingers right now. They literally could not have picked a more perfect game in my mind to snatch - a sequel to the horrific original bastardization of the franchise, one I loathed with all my heart for destroying a series that was still a true original in the industry and remained so since few if any games play like it even today. This 'me-too', check-list by design series couldn't be worse, and so since they decided to destroy a franchise I love, I want nothing more than to sit back and watch it deconstruct :D

*bow* :) ...

seriously - if i'd know ahead of time that ms was gonna dick with a third-party game, this's the one i would've hoped for. very hard for me, personally, to care (tho i still think se's decision was pretty shameful, & will only end up hurting them in the eyes of many fans long term). anyway, great post...
 
I still can't quite wrap my head around how much money this must have cost Microsoft.

Square Enix said that Tomb Raider underperformed on PS3/360/PC.
They then reissued it on PS4/XBO as the Definitive Edition.
PS4 outsold, out-performed XBO (By around 2:1?)


Regardless of that, if this is indeed a timed exclusive, the wording of "Exclusively on Xbox" is a pretty fucking scummy way of wording it. There's a world of difference between saying "First on Playstation" and "Coming Holiday 2015 - Exclusive to Xbox"...

If it is a true exclusive, then boy. Microsoft must have had a B52 filled with money to land at Squenix's HQ...
 
I've been at work all day has this been posted lol
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People should reconsider how much they let this get to them. There is no future in which this stays exclusive. The way I see it is SE got a big cash infusion, a partner to help promote it against Uncharted, and they'll still release it on PC and PS4 for a second wave of sales in 2016 (after Uncharted tapers off).

Let's be real. If it's a good game all SE has to do for the burn victims (seems to be mostly console warriors) is appease their egos by adding some graphic enhancements and stamping "Definitive Edition" somewhere on it.
 
I still think its incredibly stupid for SE to stifle their biggest franchise with a holiday exclusive period, but good move for MS I guess.

Personally I'll wait till the game comes to PC. I liked TR2013 a lot, but I didn't really love it. I would never buy it on XBONE, cause I know it will be an inferior version. The coming PS4/PC versions will be better. That kind of shit drives me crazy.

Obviously that doesn't apply to rock solid exclusives, because there is no other place to get them. I'll buy an XB1 soon enough, that controller looks sexy as hell.
 
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