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In an interview with Eurogamer just today, Xbox head Phil Spencer stated that Microsoft’s lock on the Tomb Raider franchise had a time limit. While he alluded to the IP as a whole without directly referencing Rise of the Tomb Raider it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the high odds are in favour of the game seeing light on the PS4 as well as PC platforms. Millions of gamers can breathe a sigh of relief and cancel their death threats and hitmen. Hooray!
In the 24 hours since the announcement of Rise of the Tomb Raider being an Xbox One exclusive the internet has managed to whip itself into a frenzy (surprising right?) and call a new set of plagues down upon Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics. Now that things have been cleared up, in a round about “we’re not just going to be honest with you” sort of way, it begs the question; Why bother in the first place?
Perhaps I can’t look at this from the same sort of business sense that Mr. Spencer can but I can’t even begin to fathom the end goal of deceiving consumers at a press conference when you immediately shoot yourself in the foot mere hours later. I get what a total exclusivity deal can do if it’s the right game; boost sales of your console, possibly convert some single console faithful. Apart from really pissing some people off though, the ‘exclusive but not really exclusive’ ruse just seems silly.
For clarification (kinda, but not really) purposes let’s take a look at a snippet of the conversation between Phil and Eurogamer:
“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.”
It’s easy to see that Microsoft is not calling ownership on the entire IP here but it’s like trying to get a nun to take her panties off in church to have Phil speak plain English about what the deal actually is. IMPOSSIBLE. He won’t confirm if Rise of the Tomb Raider is 100% exclusive to the Xbox franchise but he also won’t confirm if the game will be able to port to other platforms. Jesus H. Crackers Phil! English my man (insert proper profanity laced Pulp fiction reference here)! DO YOU SPEAK IT?! While you’re trying to achieve some political agenda for Mr. Gates and company you’re purposely misleading the same gamers that you claim to cherish so much. It’s nauseating Phil.
Now let’s be fair about this too, it’s not only Phil that’s guilty here. We’ve seen the same sort of practices from the Sony camp as well when a lot of the Destiny extra content looked to be exclusive and ended up being timed. Again, what was the purpose of this in the end game? Perhaps one of you readers can shed some light on why there’s an advantage to lying just to be exposed in the not too distant future?
Why don’t we clarify a few simple things right here, right now. If a game is exclusive go ahead and say so. If a game is a timed exclusive go ahead and say so. If DLC is exclusive go ahead and say so. If DLC is a timed exclusive go ahead and say so. See how easy it could be gentlemen? Can you imagine how much happier your consumers would be if you were just straight up and honest with them?
What’s your take on this readers? How long until we see an official “Rise of the Tomb Raider for PS4” announcement? We’d love to read your well thought out and intelligent responses below.