800°

Rise of the Tomb Raider is Xbox One timed exclusive: Why did Square Enix sign a deal with Microsoft?

Tech Times: "Rise of the Tomb Raider has been at the center of attention ever since Microsoft and developer Crystal Dynamics, announced that the game will be exclusive to the Xbox One. However, things might not be as they appear, as Xbox's head honcho, Phil Spencer, came out to settle the score."

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techtimes.com
4172d ago Replies(8)
GamersHeaven4172d ago ShowReplies(3)
kneon4170d ago

That doesn't preclude it from being a stupid move. Many businesses have done stupider things than this.

I've spent far too much time arguing with C level executives over stupid decisions, and they often won't listen to us lowly engineers, until it's too late.

ElementX4172d ago (Edited 4172d ago )

I've said it a few other times but SE needs money. They will take any money they can get at this point. Their games aren't selling as they well as they'd like and they're losing money. Profits are down and they have to get some money somehow. I wonder why these journalists never talk about that? Just look at SE loses and profits.

Samsara824172d ago

Exactly what i just wrote....signing an exclusivity deal for a game was the best way for them to secure some funding to keep studio open.

AngelicIceDiamond4172d ago

I heard they were in some financial troubles right now.

Dark_Overlord4171d ago

They are, and it's their own damn fault. Rather than giving people what they want (and would buy), they attempt to force crap on them or just not bother giving them what they want at all.

e.g

Europe pleaded for a physical release of Drakengard 3, Squ-enix gave us the middle finger, so I and many others just didn't buy it.

Samsara824170d ago

Have friends that work at eidos....thats what I heard from them....people dissagree but development costs are so high hese days for studios like this and if games dont meet objectives....studios cut jobs....like it happened a couple of months ago at eidos....

qwerty6764169d ago

inb4 they're about to crumble and MS swoops and and buys them.

i really hope this doesnt happen but MS has been known to buy failing companies in the past.

SuperBlur4171d ago

I've said it previously and was shut down by disagrees. They have invested so much money into TR, Hitman and Thieft reboot. Not to mention Murdered Souls Suspect which flopped hard . How many times a studio can invest money without seeing a return on it before going bankrupt.

jimjam34424170d ago

i never realised how many games se have published recently that flopped. hitman and thief seem to have just been handled poorly, while murdered soul suspect is a good game i hear, its not main stream enough to be successful at a $60 price tag, so after they lose all this money on 3 failed franchises, they take theyre one successful ip, and risk the reputation of the whole franchise on a quick cash grab. tell me how se got thier hands on three great ips like hitman, thief, and tomb raider? because like thq with red faction, they have no clue how to listen to fans.

come_bom4170d ago (Edited 4170d ago )

Tomb Raider didn't flop. It simply didn't generate as much money as SE expected. I think where SE lost more money was on Final Fantasy 13-2, Final Fantasy 13-3 and Final Fantasy 14. Those games cost a ton of money to make.

SuperBlur4169d ago

I did not say TR flopped , i said MS:Suspect did . But onto TR subject , they sold millions of copies and still did not make a profit or high enough profit to call it a success back at SE headquarter. Even the PS4/Xbox1 sold well and still wasn't enough for them.

DanteVFenris6664170d ago

The first TR sold 5 mil and that was below what they'd like. Sounds like expectations are just too high, not because they couldn't reach them

noctis_lumia4170d ago

5 mil for a multiplatform games is crap sry
check the uncharted games..one console and sold more

SuperBlur4169d ago

Expectations were high because they invested well above 100 millions into the development of TR.
http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

http://www.vg247.com/2013/0...

OpieWinston4170d ago

I still see Square Enix selling off IPs soon.
They'll keep their money sink and japanese money makers like Final Fantasy/Kingdom Hearts/Bravely Default/Etc...

But probably dump the risks they don't want anymore...Thief/Tomb Raider/Hitman.

alb18994170d ago (Edited 4170d ago )

I think you are right but SONY needs money too and a lot more, every company does what needs to do to survive. The hate is because is time exclusive for MS but when Destiny gave beta and exclusive content to ps4 no one were talking about money or hating......
Take it like a man and wait one year later if you want to play the game!
Or do it like me......I have both consoles ;)

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KevinRHG4172d ago

Microsoft was willing to help with the development costs of the game and in marketing. Smart move by Square especially considering the extra hype gained by being exclusive.

Also now Square can launch the game again a few months later on PC and perhaps on PlayStation 4. While it may suck for gamers who have to wait at the end of the day this is a business decision by Square and Microsoft and undoubtedly both companies did their homework before agreeing on the terms.

Kavorklestein4170d ago (Edited 4170d ago )

Yeah, people may be looking at this completely the wrong way. What if the game was on the list of gambles/financially unsure if they could continue development, or was about to be SCRAPPED?

What if Microsoft rescued them? What if although it will be a TIMED exclusive, MS is to THANK for keeping this game from disappearing COMPLETELY?

We really don't know all the details, and people who THINK they know it all, are just jumping to conclusions.

I would find it funny if Microsoft is actually the reason why ANYBODY gets to play this game, and saved it from going in the dumpster.
I think that's why Microsoft mentioned that they believe in the team, and their ambition and ideas for the Future of Tomb Raider... Because they practically are FUNDING the completion of an exciting/promising future title with a little trade off for timed exclusivity?
What if Crytek's situation made Microsoft want to think about studios differently, and they didn't WANT to see the same thing happen to Square Enix/Eidos/Crystal Dynamics, and figured out a way to make EVERYONE happy?

THEN what kind of tune would PC and Sony gamers be singing?
I would laugh so hard if people getting upset should actually be thanking Microsoft for saving a studio.
And before people say "Well why wouldn't MS just buy them out completely?"
Maybe because they see studios like to be free from ownership more than ever... for example: Studios like Insomniac?

I don't think we will ever know the full details, because maybe Microsoft wants to respect their (Square/Eidos/CD) financial situation, and keep it free from negativity- like the professional and Respectable gent Phil Spencer is?

Nightmar3Demom4169d ago

If Microsoft did all of that, they would have told the world that they saved Tomb Raider

zoolabus4163d ago

@z-cba

If they said that, nobody would believe them since people are so negative.

KevinRHG4161d ago

As cold as it may sound at the end of the day Microsoft does not owe anything to Sony consumers and vice versa. Personally I respect companies who fight for business and both companies are just as guilty of it.

At the end of the day if you are upset because you cannot play X game then do not blame the opposition but instead take some consumer responsibility for your purchase. That is why I am a multi-console owner. I did not want to get caught up in this US vs THEM brand mentality.

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160°

Forza Horizon 5 PS5 port tops 5 million sales, securing $300m in additional sales for Xbox

Forza Horizon 5 has reportedly sold more than 5 million copies on PS5.

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eurogamer.net
ocelot075d ago

I happily contributed during the Christmas sale.

Eonjay4d ago

All are winners here. Especially Microsoft who actually has a audience now that will buy their games. While I do miss the competition from Microsoft as a consumer, it is nice getting those games without having to buy another console and get another subscription. I just wish they released proper physical games.

ocelot074d ago

Yup fully 100% agree with you. On one hand I'm sad the way Xbox as a platform as gone. On another hand as you said one console is all you need really now for majority of games.

Wish they did release this physically as well as age of empires, flight sim, age of mythology.

Lightning774d ago

Xbox guys still buy games. Gotta kill this narrative.

fr0sty4d ago

It's a hard narrative to kill when MS confirms it by having to reach out to other platforms in order to get sales.

Lightning774d ago

@Frosty as usual you make no sense. With your logic then PS needs PC since those games are on there and HD2, deathstranding on Xbox. They're reaching out for sales because console is no longer enough.

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Agent755d ago

More reason for Microsoft to ditch Xbox and release on PS and PC. Imagine if Nintendo stopped faffing on with consoles, their games would reach eye popping sales, but they love control and that's losing them millions or billions a year. Mario Kart 8 and World on PS5 and PC, what sales would they hit?

Sgt_Slaughter5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

This comment makes absolutely zero sense. Nintendo is never leaving the console industry as a manufacturer; they have the second highest selling system of all-time, and some of the highest attachment rate of any developer ever. The PS5 won't even touch Switch 1 sales, so why would Nintendo even entertain the idea of this? MK8D sold 70 MILLION UNITS on the Switch. That is the "eye popping sales" you're going on about, if anything Sony wants that for their games that they never get.

Agent754d ago

What you're saying is, if Nintendo ditched consoles, it wouldn't make a bigger killing from releasing all of its games on PlayStation and PC, maybe even Xbox if Microsoft grows a backbone? Mario Kart 8 and Breath of the Wild as examples, what sales would Nintendo hit on PlayStation 5, PC and Xbox Series X? Nintendo could still bang on with controllers, joycons and cams etc. to bulk up its profits. Nintendo has been holding back its fans for years now when it comes to tech. Last time it was up there was with the GameCube and that generation, it was the second most powerful console, Xbox being top in terms of tech, followed by PlayStation 2 then Dreamcast. Average tech holds back AAA games, the Switch 2 is apparently up there with PlayStation 4 tech. I agree that the Switch has pulled off some amazing games, although some games were Wii U ports. I understand that Nintendo will never leave the console industry, but it most definitely has missed the boat when it comes to maximising game profits. Nintendo has only been on top (not handhelds) with the NES, Super NES, Wii and Switch, but the Switch is a handheld console, Nintendo skipped that generation and didn't release a home console and that's also the case with the Switch 2. The Switch isn't anything new to a certain extent, as SEGA's Nomad and Sony's PSP could be connected to a TV. Some gamers can't accept that Nintendo pulled out of the home console market with the release of the Switch, comparing to sales of home consoles is a pointless exercise. I don't care about PC gaming, but I hope Microsoft ditches consoles for PC and PlayStation. Most gamers are fed up with all these consoles and game sales at an all-time low, gaming does need a single format. One tech, we all choose which brand we want to buy and that's it. It has never done the likes of VHS, DVD and Blu-ray any harm and someone mentioned on here a number of years ago, owning a Sony DVD player, you could only watch Sony produced movies and play Sony produced music CDs.

5d ago Replies(6)
DivineHand1255d ago

I agree. Nintendo is leaving billions on the table. If they left console gaming behind and let us say released a mainline Pokémon game on android and IOS, in addition to console and PC, I cannot imagine the amount of profit they would enjoy.

Modern phones are good enough to play most Nintendo switch games so if they made a mobile controller that can interface with android and IOS phones, they could port games like Mario Kart 8 to mobile phones and other consoles. I am sure they would be enjoying sales from both their own unique controllers and the game sales itself.

The only thing they stand to lose is the 30% cut from all software sales being released on their system. Perhaps they believe they can earn more from that vs sales of their own IPs on other platforms.

Agent754d ago

Mario Kart 8 apparently hit just under 70 million sales on Wii U and Switch, although that figure includes the game packaged with the console, so I'm not sure on single game sales (disc, card and download). No Nintendo console out there, I think Mario Kart 8 would've hit bigger sales when you add Android and IOS, which is a good point. Nintendo's games don't exactly need ground breaking tech, but if that was there with a single format, Nintendo could then keep up. Don't get me wrong, I love the Switch and Switch 2, but PS4 tech games going into 2026 and onwards, again, it's a limited console from Nintendo.

BehindTheRows5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Nintendo games already reach eye popping sales. In fact, neither PlayStation nor Nintendo really HAVE to put their games on other systems. Even Sony's PC releases don't sell anything big (outsold of outliers like Helldivers II).

That said, I agree about Microsoft with Xbox. Outside of being a gateway to Game Pass, they should drop the platform and cut their losses. Stick it out as a 3rd Party pub and make bank that way.

5d ago
Neonridr4d ago

so what.. just have PlayStation in the console space? Great news for innovation and pushing each other to be better.

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neutralgamer19925d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Yeah it makes way too much business sense for these games not to be on PS and PC. If it's 300 million Sony got 90 million from simply allowing the sale of the game. MS need to get the development house in order so these games can come out at the same time that's when you make real big money

5d ago
Eonjay5d ago

This is correct. There is a lost sale aspect by not being available day and date on PlayStation. Halo is day and date so everything else should be too. This may not be possible all the times but they are not served at all by taking the Forza 6 route. No one is buying and Xbox or getting GamePass to play the next Forza. When the realize this they will just enforce day and date for all games.

5d ago
Eonjay4d ago

Halo is coming out after FH6...

VenomUK4d ago

@Wommens @Potdy Keep creating those alt accounts!
The truth is Forza, Gears and Halo and Starfield and the WHOLE SLATE will be going to PlayStation.
Microsoft has sold more copies of Forza on PS5 then it did on Xbox Series S/X.
The RAM price rise could lead to the 'Xbox PC' being delayed - if that happens Microsoft might not release it at all.

Stop running defence for a trillion-dollar company that doesn't know you exist.

maximusprime_5d ago

The way I see it, most racing gamers prefer playing on Playstation. It has been so since PS1.

As I said before, that Forza Horizon 5 would do well on PS5. So I was right

Sgt_Slaughter5d ago

Racing games have primarily been an arcade + PC endeavor in-terms of popularity. GT and Forza pale in comparison to the decades of arcade/PC simulator racing games that defined the genre. iRacing, Assetto Corsa, Rfactor, NR2003, Automobilista, GTR 2/GT Legends, GPL, GP4, Daytona USA, Richard Burns Rally, SEGA Rally, Virtua Racing, etc..

Console games have only just started on the path to comparing to them, but even then, the physics on PC are unmatched.

BehindTheRows5d ago

Again you don't know what you're talking about. Daytona/SEGA Rally, as examples, never sold ANYWHERE NEAR what GT has and has never been as popular either (particularly in EU). Put out a new Daytona and GT8 and watch the latter absolutely dog walk it in sales. On top of that, most of those games are very different from one another. They can co-exist. If you want to go there, the highest selling "racing" series is Mario Kart. Hint: console. It hasn't been an Arcade + PC > console for a very long time.

badz1495d ago

all those games combined didn't sell as much as Gran Turismo

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80°

RAM Price Increases Could See Next-Generation Console Releases Delayed

Insider Gaming has learned that the ongoing price increases in RAM due to the rise in AI could delay the next generation of console releases.

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insider-gaming.com
18d ago
slate9117d ago

What is even the incentive of upgrading to the next-gen after this console generation we've had? Graphics are plateauing, prices at an all time high, studios skipping entire generations or simply releasing just one game for it...
Its a mess

Jin_Sakai17d ago

Been gaming all my life. This is the worst generation ever.

jznrpg17d ago

How do you gauge each generation? There has been a lot of really good games this gen. I only care about the games. First party hasn’t been the best but the generation isn’t over yet

DarXyde17d ago (Edited 17d ago )

jznrpg,

Thing is, every generation before this one has had something that defined console identity. Very little beyond bigger/more detailed games and performance modes are really there.

I feel the last generation that cared very much was gen 7; Capcom's darkest era, but I have to give them props for being really experimental at the time. We saw plenty of new games that still tried to do something new. Outside of Metaphor and Clair Obscur, this gen has been pretty forgettable if you ask me. I'm sure a lot of it is the corporatization of the industry and the creative talent has to keep making sequels and spiritual successors because the cost of development is out of control. But even then, plenty of these experiences are experiences we've had already. And the thing is. Switch 2 and PSVR2 could really be doing incredible things, but it's just not there. Xbox I just don't see the value or point anymore but that's just me.

anast17d ago

Why has is been the worst? I've been gaming all my life and this gen. has been one of the best.

Vits17d ago

Not to mention that just like this generation, the next one will also be shared between the current and next gen console at least for a couple of years. So the few titles that it will had, just like this one, will run on the console you already have.

franwex16d ago

We will be getting games on PS4, PS5, and PS6, haha.

Extermin8or3_16d ago

I think people have to remember the pandemic at start of this gen and how it effected game development. This next gen we will see the PS4 etc support dropped and truly see the full utilisation of SSD's improvements to ray and path tracing and the impact of AI upscaling etc will be where the biggest improvements will come from.

isarai_lee16d ago

My sentiments exactly, next gen has got to prove it's worth before i buy into it this time. This has been the weakest generation in my 30yrs of gaming. From the drawn out cross gen garbage, to so many games getting stuck in development hell or canceled, to the ABSURD levels of trend chasing to the point of self destruction, this gen just wasn't worth it

thorstein16d ago

I'm pretty sure I've already read a story that said Playstation is only halfway through this console's generation and that PS6 is a way off.

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darthv7217d ago

Im good with next gen being pushed back to 27/28. It feels like this gen has only just begun.

Melankolis17d ago

Covid-19 held back everything at least 2 years worth. Although many people disliked, i think only UE5 can generally distinguish this gen from the previous one.

DarXyde16d ago

UE5 is definitely impressive, but I would also give the nod to the current version of Decima, at least the way it looks for Death Stranding 2.

CornholioX17d ago

That's normal how you think. Time goes faster when you're older and i bought my PS5 since day 1 release and now it's 5 years old. I don't mind a year delay to release PS6 in holiday 2028.

DoubleYourDose16d ago

Tomorrow isn't promised to any of us.

Eonjay16d ago

I was under the impression that next gen wasn't coming till 2027.z u9gsq

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victorMaje17d ago

Regardless of RAM price increases, I strongly believe there’s still a lot of potential left for the current gen. I’d be fine with at least 3 more years.

jznrpg17d ago

Whenever it comes out is fine with me. I still have backlog for the next year at least

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80°

Forza Horizon 6 marks the end of an era for Xbox, but could result in the best entry yet

It could be argued that it was the release of Forza Horizon on PlayStation, and not the news that Halo is coming to it, that heralded the real end of the console war.

Halo’s brand power has been on the wane for some time now, especially given the lukewarm reception to Halo Infinite when it was released four years ago. Every time a Forza Horizon game is released, however, it’s always up there as a legitimate Game of the Year contender.

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videogameschronicle.com
18d ago
darthv7217d ago

This one will be special. I can feel they will put lots of respect to the environments and scenery.

LucasRuinedChildhood17d ago

I think that the map in this one will be the strongest since Forza Horizon 3.

17d ago Replies(5)
DivineHand12517d ago

I hope they go all out with the presentation since the last game was a cross-gen release.

I can't wait.

17d ago
Reaper22_17d ago

Best open world racing games ever. Cant wait to see what they come up with. Microsoft struck gold when they purchased them.🤘

17d ago
maximusprime_16d ago

One of my PSN friend actually worked on Forza Horizon games. I played with him on LittleBigPlanet years ago. Really good at designing some LBP levels. He's lucky to work for top team.

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