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Xbox Boss Phil Spencer: Tomb Raider Exclusivity is the Xbox One's Answer to Uncharted - News

by William D'Angelo , posted on 18 August 2014 / 7,222 Views

Xbox boss Phil Spencer talked with Eurogamer in an interview about the exclusivity of Rise of the Tomb Raider. He admitted that he is a fan of Uncharted and the exclusive game is Microsoft's answer.

"I'm a big fan of Uncharted and I wish we had an action adventure game of that ilk," said Spencer. "We've started some, and we've looked at them. But we don't have one today of that quality. This is an opportunity."

"People push me as the content guy, shouldn't it all be about the content you're building?," added Spencer. "I want to own all of the hits on our platform. Well, not all of them - that's too much. But I want to have a stable of hits on our platform that we own. Absolutely. That's fundamental to us having a successful platform. When a unique opportunity comes up, I've got to go look at that. And this was a unique opportunity."

Spencer came out saying that he expected some backlash, but came out swinging saying that the partnership benefits both Microsoft and Square Enix. Microsoft will be helping market the game once it releases. He also feels the franchise will only grow in popularity.

"I knew there would be some push back when we came out," said Spencer "Certain people won't believe this: it doesn't come from an evil space. It comes from a space where there's an opportunity that maps really well with what we need in terms of the genre, and a partner that's looking for a partnership. Other people can do the deal, but it was a deal that fit well with us. And I think it could help the franchise in the long run and help Crystal and Square and us."

"Big games are good for our industry, and if we can make games bigger, in the long run, that's healthy," Spencer continued. "This business, the console gaming business, only stays healthy if people are all making money. It's a hits driven business, so 30 per cent of the things will go great, and 70 per cent of the things won't. But if you're a mid-sized publisher or an independent studio, you've got to take advantage of opportunities."

Spencer is "happy with the partnership" and knew there would be two sides when the announcement was made. He hopes that Xbox owners are happy, however he says he doesn't want people to be happy that "somebody else isn't playing the game" due to exclusivity. He added that he wants "gaming on Xbox to be great."

"This wasn't an attack against anybody else. It was an opportunity that came up for us that fit really well," concluded Spencer.

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A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. Outside, in the real world, he has a passion for the outdoors which includes everything from hiking to having received his B.A. in Environmental Studies. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.


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24 Comments
Namiirei (on 18 August 2014)

A temporary exclusive is a response ? Okkkkkk.

  • +12
y2jarmyofficial Namiirei (on 18 August 2014)

You underestimate this deal,even timed dlcs help shift sales. Like cod timed map packs. Now this is a whole game,assuming if it does come to ps4, and having a whole game like tomb raider as even a timed exclusive will help Xbox. Though it was said that this deal is like dr3 and so it might only come out on PC on 2016, and it will remain an MS exclusive. Everyone here that complaints about this should deal with it. Can't wait to play it on 2015😁

  • 0
Blood_Tears (on 18 August 2014)

You want an Uncharted? Take your balls out of Nadella's purse and create your own!

  • +11
Raziel123 (on 18 August 2014)

"He also feels the franchise will only grow in popularity."
hahahaha

RIP Tomb Raider.

  • +7
FentonCrackshell (on 18 August 2014)

Wrong answer! Should've created something to rival Uncharted. Instead, all they've done is generate hate toward the game and trim it's user base to one quarter. If Tomb Raider 2013 sold poorly across 4 consoles how then is Rise supposed to sell more units on one console. One that is struggling for that matter? Sorry Phil, I don't see any possible way for you to spin this and have it make any sense whatsoever.

  • +5
loy310 (on 18 August 2014)

Crazy how CD was able to get SE and MS to invest all this money into a 20 year old franchise. Move on already. TR is dead, it will spike here and there but don't expect Uncharted levels of success. CD is not a Naught Dog quality dev. People bought the TR reboot because there was nothing to play for a few months same with the remake.
Uncharted 4 is going to nullify this game.

  • +2
SirFortesque (on 18 August 2014)

Yeah.... a good Xbox response that I'm going to wait for the PS4 release to play =P

  • +2
VGPolyglot (on 18 August 2014)

It won't grow in popularity, it hit its peak in 1997.

  • +2
mizzou_guy (on 18 August 2014)

<i>He hopes that Xbox owners are happy, however he says he doesn't want people to be happy that "somebody else isn't playing the game" due to exclusivity. He added that he wants "gaming on Xbox to be great."

"This wasn't an attack against anybody else. It was an opportunity that came up for us that fit really well," concluded Spencer.</i>

B.S.

The game was already shown to be in development for another console. The only thing you did was pay to deny users of that console access to the game. If using money to deny content to people is your thing, then yes, this opportunity fit really well with what you think the gaming industry is about, Phil.

  • +2
ryuzaki57 (on 19 August 2014)

desperate measures for desperate people...

  • +1
Michelasso (on 18 August 2014)

I think SE is better taking off the damage caused by the breast surgery on Lara as a PS4/PC exclusive if they want to sell it again on those two systems.

  • +1
Riddick (on 18 August 2014)

Hi guys, remember that this new era is for the gamers, not for stupid business people with no idea about gaming. First, boycott to Square Enix games and once they see that the temple of Osiris doesn't sell they will think again and second support to one of the most important person in the Tomb Raider community Stella Lune signing her petition to rescint the agreement

https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/square-enix-and-crystal-dynamics-rescind-the-arrangement-to-publish-rise-of-the-tomb-raider-exclusively-on-xbox-one-2

  • +1
MARCUSDJACKSON (on 21 August 2014)

Lol dumb ass theres a difference in quality. A BIG DIFFERENCE!!!!

  • 0
GoldenGamer (on 19 August 2014)

I am sure the few X1 owners will be happy...to buy Halo 5 while ignoring TR lol.

  • 0
Josiah (on 18 August 2014)

I hope Uncharted doesn't degrade to Tomb Raider level.

  • 0
MARCUSDJACKSON (on 18 August 2014)

Lol dumb ass theres a difference in quality. A BIG DIFFERENCE!!!!

  • 0
silentdj151 (on 18 August 2014)

It's a shorterm solution and a bad one, but the publisher probably got the better deal since if it flops on the xb1 the publisher has been compensated for that risk. Eventually it will be released at least to pc and maybe ps4 if the terms allow it. A lot of hate on this from gamers in General...I could care less as a pc/Xbox gamer

  • 0
y2jarmyofficial (on 18 August 2014)

The answer to uncharted is is halo 5, tomb raider will help sell more but halo is the real answer to anything.last one did sold over 9 million, and it does not need to be bundled for a year to get good sales unlike every uncharted.

  • -1
GoldenGamer y2jarmyofficial (on 19 August 2014)

Uncharted was only bundled once and that's a year after release.Get your facts straight.Every Halo game was bundled last gen from launch.

  • 0
Iveyboi (on 18 August 2014)

It's funny because Uncharted was altered to compete with Gears and was based on Tomb Raider

  • -6
Rafie Iveyboi (on 18 August 2014)

It was more resembled from an Indiana Jones aspect. However, it does have a little of Tomb Raider influence.

  • +1
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GoldenGamer shikamaru317 (on 19 August 2014)

The rest of the world think Uncharted is better and they are right.Yiu cannot just make that quality type of game,which is why.MS does not have one.

  • 0