Square Enix Reassures That ‘Rise of the Tomb Raider’ Is Xbox Timed Exclusive

Announced back in June at E3, Rise of the Tomb Raider looked to be a bold sequel to the emotional events of Tomb Raider (2013). But as fans began to get excited for the new title, some were let down when it was revealed at Gamescom in August that it would be an Xbox exclusive.

Furthermore, Tomb Raider fans on PC and PlayStation were angry, especially as Tomb Raider debuted on PC and PlayStation in 1996. It also didn’t help that there was a huge amount of confusion around the announcement due to the wording (Microsoft called the game a ‘holiday exclusive’ and not just an exclusive through and through) as well as mixed messages from the Microsoft PR team.

Following the backlash, all three parties then confirmed that Rise of the Tomb Raider would be a ‘timed’ exclusive, meaning that the game would likely come to PC and PlayStation sometime after the Xbox release. However, after yesterday’s reveal that Microsoft would be publishing the game on Xbox platforms, Square Enix has been forced to clarify Rise of the Tomb Raider‘s exclusivity once more.

Speaking to Game Informer, Square Enix said the following:

“Yes, Microsoft will be publishing ‘Rise of the Tomb Raider’ on Xbox, Microsoft has always seen huge potential in ‘Tomb Raider’  and they will get behind this game with more support across development, marketing and retail than ever before, which we believe will be a step in continuing to build the ‘Tomb Raider’ franchise as one of the biggest in gaming.”

While it’s unclear as to what that development and marketing support entails, it does add fuel to the rumors that Square Enix couldn’t afford to finance Rise of the Tomb Raider’s development on their own. The idea was speculated after Square Enix sad that Tomb Raider (2013)‘s sales led to an “extraordinary loss” and it wasn’t until the release of Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition (the 2013 game but with better graphics and all of the DLC) on PS4 and Xbox One earlier this year that the game became profitable.

Square Enix also added:

“Our partnership with Microsoft on ‘Rise of the Tomb Raider’ does have a duration, but we aren’t discussing those details at this time and are focused on collaborating to deliver a great game on Xbox One and Xbox 360.”

While that is incredibly vague (which seems to be a running theme with these statements), it does offer Tomb Raider fans on PC and PlayStation a bit of hope. So although it’s unclear who will be publishing Rise of the Tomb Raider to PC and PlayStation, when that release will happen or even if the PC and PlayStation versions of Rise of the Tomb Raider will suffer without Microsoft support, this can be considered as good news. Maybe it’s better to wait for Rise of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition on all platforms anyway…

Source: Game Informer

TAGS: Crystal Dynamics, Microsoft, PC, PS3, PS4, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Square Enix, Tomb Raider, Xbox 360, Xbox One

Square Enix Reassures That ‘Rise of the Tomb Raider’ Is Xbox Timed Exclusive

‘Destiny: The Dark Below’ Timed PlayStation Exclusives Revealed

Despite being offered on four consoles, Sony was determined to make Destiny a PS4 selling point when the first-person shooter launched earlier this fall. One of the major reasons to play the game on a PlayStation console, rather an an Xbox 360 or Xbox One, was the exclusive content being offered by Activision and Bungie only on Sony’s platforms (as a timed exclusive). The upcoming first expansion to Destiny continues that trend with a pair of timed exclusive incentives only on PS3 and PS4.

Much like the original Destiny release, The Dark Below will offer a PlayStation exclusive cooperative strike mission. In a game that is already so full of repeat content, actually having an extra strike to grind for gear and experience actually makes a significant difference and at the same time screws over Xbox players paying the same price for DLC. In addition to the exclusive mission, players on Sony consoles also have access to a new exotic shotgun.

The new PlayStation exclusive strike is called The Undying Mind and takes players back to Mars. Guardians and their ghosts will return to The Black Garden (which we all know too well by now) to battle a Vex machine-beast. We don’t have any other details about the mission yet, aside from the image below of the titular foe, depicting a new variant of the Vex Hydra. A similar Vex Hydra unit named the The Nexus Sekrion is the also the final boss of The Nexus strike on Venus so if you’re looking for actually new strike bosses… maybe in the next expansion.

Although the availability of an extra strike will likely be more exciting to the majority of Destiny grinders (and those of us still trying to hit 30…), the exclusive shotgun also looks like a lot of fun. The exotic-class weapon is a full-auto arc, four barrel shotgun. The 4th Horseman holds a five shot clip and an incredibly fast fire rate. Five shots may not sound like a lot to get off before a reload, but we have a feeling it will be enough to down just about any enemy you run into.

Xbox users aren’t totally out of luck though, as both of these exclusives are timed. We don’t know exactly when the strike and the new weapon will arrive on Xbox consoles, but the timed exclusive deal runs through autumn 2015, so it will be sometime after that. Combined with The Dust Palace strike, Exodus Blue PvP map, and a handful of weapons; the PlayStation exclusives in Destiny are definitely piling up. All that exclusive content didn’t stop the Xbox One from being the most popular console on Black Friday 2014, but it definitely provides plenty of motivation to stick to Sony for Destiny.

Do you think the exclusive content is enough reason to play Destiny on a Sony console rather than a Microsoft one? Is it enough reason to purchase a PS4? Let us know in the comments.

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Destiny: The Dark Below releases December 9, 2014 for PS4 and Xbox One at a price of $19.99.

Follow Denny on Twitter @The_DFC.

Source: PlayStation Blog

‘Destiny: The Dark Below’ Timed PlayStation Exclusives Revealed