Microsoft confirms Rise of the Tomb Raider Xbox exclusivity deal "has a duration"

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Xbox boss Phil Spencer has confirmed to Eurogamer that Microsoft's controversial exclusivity deal for Rise of the Tomb Raider "has a duration".

However, he declined to confirm how long that duration is set for.

Last night, during its Gamescom press conference, Microsoft and Square Enix made the surprise announcement that Rise of the Tomb Raider would launch holiday 2015 exclusively on Xbox. That, Spencer confirmed, means Xbox One and Xbox 360.

Source: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-08-13-microsoft-confirms-rise-of-the-tomb-raider-xbox-exclusivity-deal-has-a-duration?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialoomph

[LaP]

Let's hope it's between 3 and 6 months and not 1 year.

[JonnyLH]

Why didn't they say this all along and not cause an absolute ruckus which has been proven to be false?

[Polonium]

Declining to announce the duration and not mentioning timed in the show leads me to think its months rather than years.

Shady tactics by MS.

[jakem1]

Why didn't they say this all along and not cause an absolute ruckus which has been proven to be false?

 

I thought they're original statement was clear enough.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

I thought they're original statement was clear enough.

 

They should just have said "coming first to..." like Sony did to have avoided this PR headache.

 

Whole conversation

 

Here's our conversation:

 

"When people want me to say, can you tell us when or if it's coming to other platforms, it's not my job," Spencer told Eurogamer. "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.

 

"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.

 

"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."

 

So, what, exactly, is that deal?

 

"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.

 

Is there a time limit on the exclusivity period?

 

"Yes, the deal has a duration. I didn't buy it. I don't own the franchise."

 

Can you tell us how long the duration is?

 

"No. It's not because I'm trying to be a headfake on anybody. 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 then. Obviously the deal does have a duration. I didn't buy the IP in perpetuity."

 

Angry gamers have directed many of their comments towards Square Enix, accusing the publisher of selling out and alienating their PlayStation and PC owning customers.

 

"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," wrote Darrell Gallagher on the Tomb Raider tumblr. "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."

 

 

Source: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-08-13-microsoft-confirms-rise-of-the-tomb-raider-xbox-exclusivity-deal-has-a-duration

[vcfan]

why are ps fans greedy. you have uncharted, which is a game id rather play than tomb raider

[trooper11]

Declining to announce the duration and not mentioning timed in the show leads me to think its months rather than years.

Shady tactics by MS.

Shady how exactly? MS and Sony will regularly announce games as launching first on their console with several different ways of saying it. Who announces the duration of a timed exclusive?

I guess the problem is that MS didn't use the world timed, instead they said exclusive in 2015, which definitely indicates timed, but is not direct about it. Again, what is so unusual about this compared to how timed exclusive deals are announced across all platforms?

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Shady how exactly? MS and Sony will regularly announce games as launching first on their console with several different ways of saying it. Who announces the duration of a timed exclusive?

I guess the problem is that MS didn't use the world timed, instead they said exclusive in 2015, which definitely indicates timed, but is not direct about it. Again, what is so unusual about this compared to how timed exclusive deals are announced across all platforms?

 

The way they go about addressing questions after, instead of just saying yeah it's timed and clearing everything up each person in MS decides to do their own thing. Here's Aaron

 

[trooper11]

They should just have said "coming first to..." like Sony did to have avoided this PR headache.

I really don't get why MS is getting creamed for this. As if this is some new tactic or something. They said exclusive in 2015. People are angry over the wording, that is it. Plus, they are getting mad about MS not saying the duration, but then what is the point of a timed exclusive. Sony hasn't mentioned what the duration of all of their 'first on...' games.

I swear people are so easily upset sometimes.

The way they go about addressing questions after, instead of just saying yeah it's timed and clearing everything up each person in MS decides to do their own thing. Here's Aaron

 

What was wrong with that post? He literally referred him to CD's comment. Sounds like Aaron was not the one that could directly comment beyond the official line. Phil, of course, is another matter seeing as he runs the division.

[Skiver Veteran]

Why is MS getting all of the fallout fullstop? Surely Square Enix are just as to blame by the intentional wolly statements?

 

IMO, I hate platform exclusives... get rid of them all and let platforms go truly toe to toe on spec and features :)

[spenser.d]

Fun watching PS4 fans get their panties in a bunch over something that's not an issue.

[Woelfel]

It's funny, PS4 fans are mad at that but you didn't hear Xbox fans mad that the new Tomb Raider wasn't on Xbox One but it was on PS4, and that was a full exclusive afaik. Oh how funny it is, right?

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Why is MS getting all of the fallout fullstop? Surely Square Enix are just as to blame by the intentional wolly statements?

 

IMO, I hate platform exclusives... get rid of them all and let platforms go truly toe to toe on spec and features :)

 

Yeah they are, from the blog post to their own marketing team

 

 

(tweet now deleted)

[watkinsx2]

I really don't get why MS is getting creamed for this. As if this is some new tactic or something. They said exclusive in 2015. People are angry over the wording, that is it. Plus, they are getting mad about MS not saying the duration, but then what is the point of a timed exclusive. Sony hasn't mentioned what the duration of all of their 'first on...' games.

I swear people are so easily upset sometimes.

 

 

Reeks of double standards doesnt it!

[Brandon H Supervisor]

you know, it's not the fact that it's a timed exclusive that bothers me so much as it's a timed exclusive for a Direct Sequel.

 

making a new IP or even a reboot exclusive is one thing but when you make a direct sequel of a game that the prev version was fully multi-plat just doesn't sit right with me and quite honestly annoys me, and that's not just because i don't have an xbox. it's a matter of principle in my mind

[trooper11]

Well now that MS has made it clearer that its a timed exclusive, everyone can calm down and move on.

[Showan]

Anyone remember this:  Xbox One users will have to wait 1yr for some of the DLC content for Destiny.

Xbox fans were told to suck it up and get over it

 

The bottom line is this,  Microsoft has something that can't it's rivals can't compete with and that's $$$.

And this seems to be making people upset to no end.

 

It seems that any company can do these type of things but Microsoft.

 

I guess Microsoft will be in a proverbial rock and hard place no matter what they do,.

 

And this is coming from an owner of both of these consoles.

[Torolol]

well, MS are not known for the clarity of their own PR

[Polonium]

Anyone remember this: Xbox One users will have to wait 1yr for some of the DLC content for Destiny.

Xbox fans were told to suck it up and get over it

The bottom line is this, Microsoft has something that can't it's rivals can't compete with and that's $$$.

And this seems to be making people upset to no end.

It seems that any company can do these type of things but Microsoft.

I guess Microsoft will be in a proverbial rock and hard place no matter what they do,.

And this is coming from an owner of both of these consoles.

Not even in the same ball park. Tomb Raider came to all platforms prior to this and now MS have tried to make it exclusive.

Imagine Halo came out on Xbox but 2 went Sony and Xbox never saw it again to finish off the campaign.

That's what happened (almost) here.

Destiny is a new IP.

[George P Global Moderator]

I thought they're original statement was clear enough.

 

It was clear enough but some people are so quick to rage that things get lost on them, really what else could "exclusively on Xbox in 2015" mean?  When does this even come out?  November 2015?  September 2015?   It's going to be the typical timed exclusive bit like I've said in the other thread, but no, let's just rage because that's the easy thing to do.

[GotBored]

Someone should sue for false advertisement... :rofl:

[trooper11]

Not even in the same ball park. Tomb Raider came to all platforms prior to this and now MS have tried to make it exclusive.

Imagine Halo came out on Xbox but 2 went Sony and Xbox never saw it again to finish off the campaign.

That's what happened (almost) here.

Destiny is a new IP.

MS tried to make it exclusive? Where did you hear that? MS bought a timed exclusive, that's all.

I swear you guys want to make this a bigger deal then it is.

[Woelfel]

I would laugh if the duration is the life of the title. LOL.

[watkinsx2]

Not even in the same ball park. Tomb Raider came to all platforms prior to this and now MS have tried to make it exclusive.

Imagine Halo came out on Xbox but 2 went Sony and Xbox never saw it again to finish off the campaign.

That's what happened (almost) here.

Destiny is a new IP.

 

 

How is it any different from when Sony signed an exclusive with Eidos in 1997 denying the N64 and Saturn a sequel?

 

http://www.tombnews.com/news/1997/09/1801/