Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics recently spoke out on the decision to make Rise of the Tomb Raider an Xbox exclusive during the Holiday 2015 window, highlighting the fact that the exclusivity deal does have a duration.
In a Q&A, the studio explained:
Yes, our deal with Microsoft has a duration. We aren’t discussing details of the deal, and are focused on delivering a great game on Xbox One and Xbox 360.
Yes, Crystal Dynamics is excited to be partnering with Microsoft to make the best game possible. As Darrell mentioned in his message, we have a long history with Microsoft and they have been a very strong supporter of the franchise. They will help us grow and nurture the Tomb Raider franchise more than ever before.
We did not make this decision lightly. Our goal is to build the best game that we possibly can, and our relationship with Microsoft will help us realize our vision for the game.
We certainly didn’t intend to cause any confusion with the announcement. The Microsoft Gamescom stage was a great place to make the initial announcement, but not necessarily to go into details.
Are you still frustrated by the game's timed exclusivity for Xbox platforms, or are you past all the console-warring drama at this point? There's no doubt this will help Microsoft compete against Sony next holiday season when Uncharted 4: A Thief's End launches.
