On Tuesday, Microsoft’s pre-show press event at Gamescom revealed some startling news. Rise of the Tomb Raider, the true next-generation follow-up (Tomb Raider: The Definitive Edition doesn’t count) to Crystal Dynamics’ critically acclaimed 2013 Tomb Raider reboot is now an Xbox One exclusive slated to release Holiday 2015. As expected, there was an outcry by Lara Croft fans all over the world, even sparking an online petition to convince the studio to rescind their decision. In a futile attempt to quell the hellfire raining from the various Twitter feeds and forum posts of gamers, the head of Crystal Dynamics, Darrell Gallagher, released a post on the official Tomb Raider tumblr attempting to explain the reasoning behind the Tomb Raider franchise’s apparent betrayal of PS4 and PC gamers worldwide, and how the move would be beneficial for the series as a whole (http://tombraider.tumblr.com/post/94529480860/rise-of-the-tomb-raider-update). Amidst all the public backlash, there are many questions to be asked, but arguably the most significant one is simply, “Why?”
Xbox One exclusive games have been a mixed bag of sorts since the release of the console late last year. With Ryse: Son of Rome and Dead Rising 3 looking to be premiere launch titles, Microsoft expected the games to be system-sellers. Yet both games underperformed, and reviews were less than stellar. To add fuel to the console-exclusive fire, both Ryse and Dead Rising 3 are now releasing on PC this fall. This move, in particular, leads the astute gamer to wonder, “…why make them Xbox One exclusive in the first place?” The answer is simple, and has already been mentioned in this very paragraph, to sell systems.
Historically, tying a game down to one console has resulted in a general increase in sales for that specific system. Look at game franchises such as Halo on the original Xbox or God of War on the PlayStation 2. However, in the case of the Xbox One, console exclusive games are just not selling systems like Microsoft expected them to. With Naughty Dog developing the PlayStation 4’s most anticipated game in Uncharted 4, coupled with the fact that the Xbox One is desperately losing the next-gen console war in terms of sales, Microsoft needs another AAA franchise to migrate over to their side in order to compete with Sony. With this in mind, it is easy to see the benefits Microsoft would reap from Crystal Dynamics’ decision to make their flagship IP exclusive to the Xbox One.
Come holiday season 2014, gamers and/or relatives of gamers will flock to the nearest Wal-Mart or Best Buy to purchase a shiny, new next-generation gaming console. Their choices? The Xbox One or the PlayStation 4. There are many reasons to pick one system over the other, and cognizant gamers will do their research in order to decide which console suits them the best. However, more casual players or their gaming-illiterate relatives probably don’t know too much about how many teraflops the PlayStation 4 has over the Xbox One, what the difference between 720p and 1080p is, or why the cake is a lie. And it is this fact that Microsoft seeks to capitalize upon with the Xbox-One exclusivity of Rise of the Tomb Raider, or any other Xbox One exclusive game. It is quite simple really, gamers will likely purchase the console that has the most games they want to play. And if Rise of the Tomb Raider is a game that they want to play, that’s one more reason to bring an Xbox One into their living room, and throw $400 into Microsoft’s pocket.