'Rise of the Tomb Raider' just a timed exclusive to Xbox One?

The biggest reveal at Gamescom was the announcement of Rise of Tomb Raider coming exclusively to the Xbox One during the 2015 holiday season. But is it really going to be real exclusive, or a timed exclusive?

Twinfinite author Garrett Gault discusses why it's going to be the latter. While Titanfall was the exception to the rule, Gault believes that third party companies are foolish not to release their products on multiple platforms. In the same vein to Mass Effect, we will see the sequel to the Tomb Raider reboot on PlayStation 4 in some form.

In many cases we will see the first game in a franchise be exclusive to one platform, only for the success of that first game to lead the third party publisher to expand to as many places as possible to make the most capital they can.  One of the biggest franchises in recent memory that saw a shift similar to this was Mass Effect. The first two entries of the trilogy were Microsoft exclusives (the first debuting only for 360, with the second debuting for Windows and 360), only for the third game to release simultaneously on PS3, 360, and PC, along with a retroactive re-release of the first two games in a collection of the entire series for multiple platforms.

While Square Enix is going a different route with Tomb Raider, it doesn't matter. Eventually whatever money Microsoft paid for exclusivity won't matter once the contract is up.

This can only mean that Microsoft offered them a serious amount of money, but I still think that, whatever contract has been drawn between Microsoft and Square Enix, that contract will eventually expire. When that happens, expect Square Enix to reopen the series to multiple platforms, assuming Rise of the Tomb Raidermaintain’s the quality of the 2013 reboot. 

The article is completely spot on. Square Enix is the same company that throws in a bunch of money to their games, and when their games sell millions of copies they still consider it a failure. There's such a high benchmark that Square Enix places on their games and there's no way, reasonably, that it can reach its goal. Over four million copies and the game is a failure? Really?

In the same token, Square Enix isn't abandoning the Tomb Raider franchise on PlayStation. The reboot roughly sold half a million copies more on PS3 and obviously the franchise's main games have been featured on PlayStaton hardware.

Square Enix, the same guys who said the 4 million plus reboot of the franchise was a failure is going to completely abandon hardware that can give them at least two million more copies through the door? Forget it. Microsoft just ponied up because its their alternate tactic to compete with Sony.

Gamers are now faced with a decision. Either get the Xbox One to get the game immediately, or stick to plucking away at your backlog of video games and play it on your PS4 in about a year.

Photo from Destructoid

PSN Flash Sale: Tomb Raider, Thief 50 percent off until Thursday

Square Enix has been giving us the discounts recently. The Hitman series and Just Cause 2 have received major discounts during Sony's spring sale, and now both Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition and Thief are available for massive price slashes.


TR:DE for PlayStation 4 is just $29.99 at the PlayStation Store, along with both PS4 and PS3 editions of Thief.

Without question, getting the upgrade to Tomb Raider is definitely worth the price of admission if you haven't played the game yet, absolutely loved it and have the desire to play it again, or don't have a PlayStation Plus subscription.

There's enough differences visually to play the game. It's just unfortunate that Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics didn't take the time to dive into the game and fix some of the glitches - something that keeps it from being a must buy for everyone.

Especially to those that currently own a PS3. The original Tomb Raider is available for free in PlayStation Plus' Instant Game Collection. For those that have the subscription, there's simply not enough difference between the two to justify a $30 purchase.

Thief, on the other hand, is recommended for those that like stealth action games. The problem is, Dishonored may have already capitalized on this genre. The Bethesda game has been widely available for $10 or less on multiple occasions in the last year, and arguably, that game might be a better stealth action game than Square Enix's Thief.

Either way, both games will be on sale until Thursday on the PlayStation Network.

PlayStation Update for January 28th includes Tomb Raider update for PS4, Final Fantasy sale, free Smart As on Vita

The new Tomb Raider update for PlayStation 4 finally hits stores, PlayStation Plus subscribers get a game that will test their intelligence, and the expected Final Fantasy sale hits the United States in this edition of the PlayStation Update.


Image credit: Flickr

First, here's all the new releases this week for all the PlayStation platforms both at retail and PS stores.

PS4

• Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition - $59.99 (Digital / Retail)

Vita

• Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z - $31.99 (Digital; PS+ launch price)

PS3

• Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z - $59.99 (Digital / Retail)

Digital only

• Cyber Sled - PSone Classic
• The Firemen 2: Pete & Danny - PSone Import
• Mark Davis Pro Bass Challenge - PS2 Classic

It's disappointing to see that the TR update is released at full price. The game is only 10 months old, but graphical upgrades don't justify bringing up the price to full retail when this same game can be found everywhere for about $20 or less since last fall. At the very least, Square Enix could have given those that purchased the game on PS3 a discount.

At least the PS4 houses the definitive TR: Definitive Edition.

Also, a potential steal is here for both Dragon Ball Z fans and Vita owners. There hasn't been much national buzz on the game, but there can't be much sacrifice on the Vita version that will sit at nearly half the retail price of the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions on Tuesday for PlayStation Plus subscribers.

Image credit: Flickr

Speaking of the PS+, here's the full list of Final Fantasy games on sale beginning Tuesday. This is the same sale that began a while back in Europe. All the old FF games are nine dollars are less; those that are thinking of getting Final Fantasy XIV should also note that both standard and collector's editions are on a massive sale. Both retail at $40 and $60, respectively.

• Final Fantasy Origins - $5.39
• Final Fantasy III - $8.99
• Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection - $8.99
• Final Fantasy V - $5.39
• Final Fantasy IX - $5.39
• Final Fantasy XIII-2 - $8.99
• Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (Collector's Edition) - $32.39
• Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (Standard Edition) - $21.59
• Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions - $4.49
• Dissidia Final Fantasy - $8.99
• Dissidia Duodecim Final Fantasy - $8.99

Usually a FF sale hits annually, and it's a good time for those that like to complete collections or are looking for a long RPG to make the winter months shorter. The highest recommendations: FF IV, FF IX, and Tactics for those that enjoy the strategy elements; War of the Lions is a PSP re-release of the PS original.

This week's free game in the Instant Game Collection for PS+ subscribers is Smart As. From the PlayStation Blog:

Join the brain gaming revolution! Use cutting-edge touch, tilt and camera controls to prove how smart you are in the first ever socially networked brain game on PS Vita. Solve math, memory, logic and word puzzles, crack augmented reality challenges and sharpen your rapid-fire reflexes to storm up the online leaderboards and show off your scores to the world via Facebook and Twitter.

Finally, here are a couple of other discounts:

• Curve Studios Mega Bundle - $13.49
• Ethan Meteor Hunter - $4.89

I don't know about any of those games, nor do I have an opinion. Have a great week!

Square Enix plays down Tomb Raider Definitve Edition FPS difference

The console war continues with another battle between PlayStation 4 and Xbox One's versions of Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition and the frame rate. Square Enix tries to put the fire out and explain why both versions are just fine.


Before the weekend, rumors spread that the PS4 version of TR:DE would normally run at 60 frames per second while the XBO would process it at an average of just 30 FPS. An unnamed representative of the publisher told VG24/7 that both versions of the Tomb Raider update give "the same outstanding...experience."

A Square Enix representative has sent us the following statement on the whole frame-rate issue. It reads, “Both platforms offer the same outstanding Tomb Raider experience. Delivering the core Tomb Raider gameplay at native 1080p and running at 30fps was always our primary goal given the type of experience Tomb Raider is and the exploration we want players to do. Anything beyond 30fps for this version is gravy.”

Most console gamers are used to games running at 30 FPS. That's the average in triple-A titles. But it's clear that at the very least, developers are having less issues using the PS4 hardware to give their titles a crisp 1080p resolution at nearly 60 FPS the entire time, which is incredible.

This message from Square Enix was simply a PR move so they can avoid a sales hit for the XBO version.

FPS shouldn't discourage XBO owners that both have the console and/or plan to pick up this new edition of TR. The game looks fantastic on both platforms, and even if it ran steadily at 30 FPS on XBO, in no way does that render the game unplayable.

Image credit: Flickr

Tomb Raider: How do PS4 graphics compare to PS3 in 'Definitive Edition?'

Tomb Raider will have a re-release on PlayStation 4 with upgraded graphics, and there's certainly a "definitive" difference in quality.

IGN put out a video comparing both PS4's Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition and PlayStation 3's Tomb Raider. Right from the start, it's easy to tell the difference in a more lively and realistic Lara Croft.



After watching the video, the difference between the games are incredibly different graphically. As explained, developer Crystal Dynamics had much more room to work with in order to improve both the character model of Croft and improve the environments.

Gone are the blurry background effects and in is a much more crystal-clear looking game that looks to run very smoothly. While graphics alone shouldn't sell anyone on a video game, all the noted improvements should make skeptics give a second look to TR:DE.

The game is worth a replay, and doing so on the brand new console could be very satisfying.

The only question will be the price-point. Even with the addition of DLC, Square Enix needs to keep in mind that the older edition of the game has hovered around the $20 or less price point at most retailers for months. Anywhere from a $40-50 retail price tag would be reasonable.

But this is the same publisher that said TR failed when it sold 3.4 million units in its first month of release, so we'll see how much they want to recoup on their failure they decided to re-release.

TR:DE is set for release on January 28th on PS4 and Xbox One.

PlayStation Plus Update (8/6): Free Hitman, major discount on Rayman Origins

After a couple of less than impressive weeks, Sony should be winning their PlayStation Plus subscribers back this week with another solid Triple-A title being released for free, and plenty of discounts headlined by the Rayman series.

Hitman: Absolution is another free title from Square Enix, who had Sleeping Dogs for free earlier this year on PS+. The newest edition of Hitman has been available for about $20 everywhere, and was packaged free in a Newegg sale of Tomb Raider earlier this summer.

Free DLC content is also available for Hitman.

Here's the entire list of discounts this week (based off of the PlayStation Blog):

EscapeVektor - Regular Price: $9.99 - PSN Sale Price: $4.99 - PS Plus Price: $3.99

Wicked Monsters Blast! HD - Regular Price: $9.99 - PSN Sale Price: $4.99 - PS Plus Price: $1.00

Superfrog (PS3 and PS Vita Cross Buy) - Regular Price: $9.99 - PS Plus Price: $7.99

Rayman Sale

• Rayman Origins - Regular Price: $19.99 - PSN Sale Price: $9.99 - PS Plus Price: $5.00
• Rayman 3 HD - Regular Price: $9.99 - PSN Sale Price: $4.99 - PS Plus Price: $2.50
• Rayman Arena - Regular Price: $9.99 - PSN Sale Price: $4.99 - PS Plus Price: $2.50
• Rayman 2 Revolution - Regular Price: $9.99 - PSN Sale Price: $4.99 - PS Plus Price: $2.50
• Rayman 2: The Great Escape - Regular Price: $5.99 - PSN Sale Price: $2.99 - PS Plus Price: $1.50
• Rayman - Regular Price: $5.99 - PSN Sale Price: $2.99 - PS Plus Price: $1.50

That's a 75 percent savings off of everything Rayman for PS+ subscribers. The real steal is Rayman Origins, which I will be buying, for just $5. Those that want to pick up the Vita version will be in luck, as that's also marked down all the way to $6.25 (and the version I'll be getting).

For those that want to pick up Wicked Monsters Blast! HD, the reviews aren't positive for the family-friendly multiplayer game citing plenty of problems with play control and distinguishing players with the PlayStation Move and subjective content for younger players. Still, for a $1, it might be worth to just try it out.

Other August additions to the Instant Game Collection will be Bit.Trip Presents: Runner2, Machinarium (PS Vita version), Zen Pinball 2: Star Wars Pinball, and Darkstalkers Chronicle.

'The Last of Us' Reaches 3.4 Million Sales in First Three Weeks

Naughty Dog's newest hit was one of the best-received games in the history of PlayStation 3, and now it's the fastest-selling game.

Sony released the news that The Last of Us exceeded expectations in its first three weeks available to the public, selling a total of 3.4 million copies in all formats. The game has received the best score overall on GameRankings for any PS3 game at 95.05 percent, besting previous leader Jouney by around 2.5 percent.

"These sales figures are a testament to the blockbuster quality of The Last of Us," said Shuhei Yoshida, president of Sony's Worldwide Studios, in a quote from IGN.

"The teams at Naughty Dog are true visionaries and their storytelling capabilities are second to none, this title is an undisputed demonstration of that. SCE continues to be committed to delivering unique gameplay experiences that redefine the interactive entertainment industry and The Last of Us is a perfect example."

IGN also points out that this was around the same total that Tomb Raider sold for in first month, yet publisher Square Enix considered the game a failure. Yes, it was a available on more platforms than just PS3, but it still shows how enormously high SE has their expectations at.

Especially for the Tomb Raider franchise, which wasn't touched since 2008.

Anyway, Naughty Dog and TLOU deserves all the high praise, sales, and overall success of the game. Even if the genre isn't to someone's liking (it's certainly not my favorite), the production is top-notch, the story is engrossing, and the gameplay matches the pressures of surviving from one scene to the next.

[Source: IGN]

[Image credit: Flickr/naughty_dog]