After a stealth Silent Hill announcement and Rise of the Tomb Raider‘s Xbox exclusivity, yesterday was a big day for Gamescom surprises. But, as we all expected, that exclusivity won’t be permanent and Rise of the Tomb Raider will be free to appear on other platforms someday.
The news was confirmed by Eurogamer, who tracked down Microsoft’s Phil Spencer and got him to admit that their deal with Square Enix “has a duration.” He couldn’t say what Square Enix plans to do with the game after this deal expires, but he could confirm that the game will also launch on the Xbox 360 next year:
Spencer: “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.”
Eurogamer: “Is there a time limit on the exclusivity period?”
Spencer: “Yes, the deal has a duration. I didn’t buy it. I don’t own the franchise.”
If history is any guide, Square Enix will likely announce Rise of the Tomb Raider’s future destinations (cough PC, PS3, PS4 cough) sometime after the game’s 2015 release.
