Gamescom: Rise of the Tomb Raider is a Timed Exclusive for Xbox

Yesterday at gamescom, it was revealed that the upcoming Rise of the Tomb Raider will be an Xbox exclusive when it launches Holiday 2015. Now, speaking with Eurogamer, Xbox head Phil Spencer has confirmed the title will be available for both the Xbox One and Xbox 360 at launch, but also that it won’t be an exclusive forever and may still come to the PlayStation 4 and/or PC.

“I have Tomb Raider shipping next holiday exclusively on Xbox,” Spencer said. “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.”

He was asked specifically if there was an exclusivity period. “Yes, the deal has a duration. I didn’t buy it. I don’t own the franchise.”

But he wasn’t able to talk about how long the exclusive will last for. “It’s not because I’m trying to be a headfake on anybody. It’s a deal between us and the partner. People ask me how much did we pay. There are certain things I’m just not going to talk about because it’s a business deal between us and then. Obviously the deal does have a duration. I didn’t buy the IP in perpetuity.”

Rise of the Tomb Raider continues the story of Lara Croft as she seeks to learn more about the deeper, secret world she has discovered around her. Obsessed by what she has seen, Lara is now threatened by a shadow organization intent on killing her for what she knows. She is pushed to her physical and mental limits as she seeks the truth buried deep within the tombs of an ancient world. To unravel the mystery of a Lost City, Lara must use her survival skills and wits, learn to trust new friends, and ultimately accept her destiny as the Tomb Raider.