Square Enix Explains Xbox One Deal for Tomb Raider
In addition to the likes of Halo 5, Rise of the Tomb Raider is one biggest titles for Microsoft this year. The sequel to the hit reboot of the Lara Croft franchise is a console exclusive for the Xbox One, at least until late 2016, and this has left many fans puzzled as to why Square Enix has decided to do a deal with Microsoft in the first place. Speaking in an interview with Examiner, Square Enix CEO Phil Rogers explained some of the details.
“I hope fans know that it wasn’t an easy decision,” Rogers said. “I think any sort of partnership at this level is a decision that took a long time for us to get to. The decision at a studio level, we took very, very seriously. We knew it would, in the short-term, disappoint fans.”
“We’re about growing our IP, this is a long-term decision. We’re going to take Tomb Raider up to the next level. With Microsoft’s belief, passion and sort of muscle to help us deliver, we really think this is going to be an awesome game that people will enjoy for years and years to come.”
According to Rogers, the financial backing of Microsoft as well as the extra marketing the game will receive as an exclusive title on the Xbox One give it an edge over other holiday releases, which should help to establish the franchise once again and help make the Tomb Raider series even better.
Rise of the Tomb Raider will release on the Xbox One and Xbox 360 in November, while the PlayStation 4 version will arrive at some point in 2016.