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Microsoft Explains Rise of the Tomb Raider Xbox Exclusivity; Writer Attacked over Twitter

Microsoft Explains Rise of the Tomb Raider Xbox Exclusivity; Writer Attacked over Twitter

As reported by Eurogamer at this year’s Gamescom on Wednesday, August 13, the head of Xbox Phil Spencer has confirmed that Rise of the Tomb Raider’s Xbox exclusivity “ has a duration, ” and the game’s writer has been attacked over Twitter because of said exclusivity.

Yes, the deal has a duration. I didn’t buy it. I don’t own the franchise, ” Spencer said when broached on the subject.

It was revealed during Microsoft’s and Square Enix’s press conference that the Tomb Raider sequel would release in Holiday, 2015 for Xbox platforms, which Spencer also confirmed meant the Xbox One and the Xbox 360.

However, when asked how long the “duration” would last for, Spencer declined to comment. On the other hand, he did confirm that the game’s developer, Crystal Dynamics, is free to do whatever it wants with the game after its exclusivity on Xbox platforms expires, which infers releasing it to other platforms.

When people want me to say, can you tell us when or if it’s coming to other platforms, it’s not my job. My job is not to talk about games I don’t own. I have a certain relationship on this version of Tomb Raider , which we announced, and I feel really good about our long term relationship with Crystal and Square, ” Spencer explained to Eurogamer at Gamescom.

I get the reaction I see. If I’m a PlayStation person all of a sudden I feel like, the franchise has gone. I didn’t buy the IP. I didn’t buy the studio. It’s not mine. Where this thing will go over time, just like Dead Rising or Ryse , we’ll see what happens with the game. I don’t own every iteration of Tomb Raider , ” Spencer continued.

I don’t own them building Tomb Raider on other platforms. I can’t talk about the franchise that way. I can talk about the deal I have.

Spencer went on to assert that he cannot talk about how long the Xbox exclusivity will last, seemingly implying that it’s up to Square Enix how long the duration will last.

I have Tomb Raider shipping next holiday exclusively on Xbox. It is Xbox 360 and Xbox One. 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.

It’s not because I’m trying to be a headfake on anybody, ” Spencer added. “ It’s a deal between us and the partner. People ask me how much did we pay. There are certain things I’m just not going to talk about because it’s a business deal between us and them. Obviously the deal does have a duration. I didn’t buy the IP in perpetuity.

Meanwhile, following the Xbox exclusivity announcement, the writer for Tomb Raider , Rhianna Pratchett, was subject to abuse over on Twitter. Like a trooper, though, she calmly responded to the tweets in defense of herself and the Tomb Raider sequel itself.

Dear Tomb Raider fans, I’ll convey your concerns to Crystal, but I’m not the right person to be shouting at/being rude to about this, ” she said via her official Twitter account. “ Seriously Camilla Luddington [Lara Croft’s voice actor] & I are just trying to make Rise of the Tomb Raider a great game. We have no say in what platform is released on.

Rise of the Tomb Raider is slated to release in December, 2015. You can watch the game’s E3 announcement trailer via the embedded video below. We’ll bring you more news on Rise of the Tomb Raider and this year’s Gamescom should further information reach our ears.

[ Eurogamer / GamesReviews ]

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