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Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition is the new, definitive-ish UK No. 1
FIFA 14 used to be the UK No. 1, then it took an arrow to the knee from Lara Croft. Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition is the new chart leader in Her Majesty's Kingdom, usurping the six-week rule of the footie sim. Not that it was a definitive victory, mind you. The PS4 and Xbox One ports were less than 500 sales ahead of the latest FIFAball, underlining just how well EA's game is still doing. While a new No.1 has us excited enough to go on a mass-murdering island tour, the rest of the chart is Samesburg. Still, the King is dead! Long live the Queen - until next week that is.
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition more definitive on PS4, says Digital Foundry
Now that Tomb Raider has made its way to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the techie aesthetics experts at Digital Foundry have used their bag of tools to compare the graphics found in these new versions of the game. End result: The PlayStation 4 release pulls ahead ever so slightly. Though it's been known that the PlayStation 4's Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition can reach 60 frames per second (though not at all times) while the Xbox One game runs slower, Digital Foundry has also discovered that certain cutscenes in the Xbox One game are reduced to 900p resolution. Oddly, this resolution change only applies to those select vignettes, while the game itself maintains its high-definition 1080p visuals. Further, Digital Foundry finds certain graphical bells and whistles lacking in the Xbox One game, saying "alpha-based effects in certain areas give the appearance of rendering at half resolution - though other examples do look much cleaner. We also see a lower-quality depth of field in cut-scenes, and reduced levels of anisotropic filtering on artwork during gameplay. Curiously, there are also a few lower-resolution textures in places on Xbox One, but this seems to be down to a bug (perhaps on level of detail transitions) as opposed to a conscious downgrade." While Digital Foundry ranks the PlayStation 4 game above the Xbox One version for pure graphical splendor, the comparison also notes that neither of the next-generation games runs as well as the original, 2013 release of Tomb Raider on a modern gaming PC. Both of the console games, however, feature more built-in content and an improved 3D model for Lara Croft.
Tomb Raider arrows onto Mac, out now
Mac owners can raid some rebooted tombs starting today, with Crystal Dynamics' 2013 edition of Tomb Raider out now on the App Store for $50. A word of warning: The App Store version doesn't feature online multiplayer, but Mac ports specialist Feral Interactive says other versions are on the way next week on January 30. PS4 and Xbox One owners are up next on January 28, with those platforms being treated to Definitive Editions. If you're wondering what exactly makes those versions Definitive, check out the graphical improvements which include improved texturing, a more detailed Lara model, and even silkier hair graphics - because she's worth it.
Tomb Raider sales broke even by the end of 2013
Though publisher Square Enix originally lamented its lower-than-expected post-launch sales figures, Crystal Dynamics' Tomb Raider earned back its development costs by the end of 2013, executive producer Scot Amos told Eurogamer this week. "By the end of last year - Tomb Raider is in the black," Amos said. "We've crossed the line of profitability for the last-gen and PC versions." Despite its record-setting first-week performance and sales that topped 4 million units worldwide in the months following its launch, Tomb Raider was characterized by Square Enix as a financial disappointment. The publisher cited "weak" sales for Tomb Raider and other published games as factors driving its financial losses for the 2013 fiscal year. An upgraded reissue of Tomb Raider for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 titled Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition is due for release on January 28.
PSA: Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light free now on Xbox Live Gold
Action puzzler Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is next up in the Games with Gold program, and Xbox Live Gold members can download it for free on their 360s right now. Raid the Joystiq tombs and you'll see we gave LCatGoL (catchy) four and a half stars. In the words of one Mr. Ludwig Kietzmann, "Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light introduces an unexplored social element into a franchise that I've come to adore for its sense of isolation and discovery. A second player, acting as Aztec guardian Totec, necessarily disrupts that atmosphere, but also facilitates unplanned moments of creativity." Developer Crystal Dynamics is hard at work on a new Tomb Raider to follow on from last year's reboot, and a follow-up to Guardian of Light isn't in the works (as far as we know!). That said, the Californian studio made sure it never said never...
Watch this next-gen-em-up video of Tomb Raider PS4 vs PS3
As one of the first last-gen games to get a PS4 or Xbox One makeover, all eyes will be on Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition when it takes to the stage later this month. After all, the game's name places plenty of billing on it alone; as Crystal Dynamics' Scot Amos puts it, "Really, we looked at it from the end of current-gen, through PS3, 360, and PC, and those were the starting points for this next-gen version." Maybe this PS3 vs PS4 comparison, courtesy of IGN, will help you start to make your mind just how Definitive the graphical improvements are. The PS4 and Xbox One versions offer 1080p resolution, textures "blown up four times larger than they'd ever been," a more detailed head and model for the new-new Lara, more dynamic lighting, and other bits and pieces of cross-gen wizardry. On top of the visual enhancements, Definitive Edition also includes the game's previously released multiplayer DLC, the Tomb of the Lost Adventurer add-on, six extra outfits for Ms Croft, and other digital extras like comics and docu-vids. You'll be able to scrutinize Tomb Raider in all its next-gen shininess when it arrives for PS4 and Xbox One on January 28.
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition boasts 1080p resolution, 'buttery framerate'
Crystal Dynamics has detailed the numerous improvements players can expect to see in the upcoming PlayStation 4 and Xbox One release of Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, explaining that the new port is "a colossal effort, soaked in visual enhancements and technical optimizations." The game will run at a native 1080p resolution on the PS4 and Xbox One, and will be bolstered by a "buttery framerate" throughout. The new port is bundled with all of the game's previously released multiplayer DLC, along with the bonus The Tomb of the Lost Adventurer add-on, six alternate outfits, and a collection of digital comic books and documentary featurettes. Lara herself has also seen an upgrade for the upcoming port, as Crystal Dynamics has implemented a new head and face model for the game's misfortune-prone protagonist, along with subsurface scattering technology that results in more realistic skin glow. While a handful of games released last year for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 were available at a discounted rate for buyers who wished to upgrade to PS4 and Xbox One versions, Eidos notes that it will not offer a Definitive Edition discount for players who purchased a previous version of Tomb Raider on any platform. The company additionally revealed that Definitive Edition's upgrades are exclusive to current-gen consoles; an update for the Windows PC version of Tomb Raider is "not planned." Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition will be priced at $59.99 when it launches in North America on January 28.
Joystiq Top 10 of 2013: Tomb Raider
Team Joystiq is barging into 2014 with a celebration of last year's best games. Keep reading throughout the week to see our assembly of ingenious indies and triple-A triumphs. Lara Croft has now spent approximately half her life with Crystal Dynamics, but it was only In 2013 that their relationship truly bloomed. In the past, Tomb Raider games excelled through a zesty blend of platforming, exploration, and silly gunplay. As adventures to play and romp through, they were riveting, but ask what they were about beyond physical features and it'd be hard to come up with an answer. Tomb Raider was the series about the lady in the short shorts jumping through Incan booby traps, not tales about people changing and growing. They weren't human. In rebooting the series, Crystal Dynamics finally broke totally free of the mold defining what a Tomb Raider game could be. They made it a good story.
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition confirmed for Xbox One, PS4
As an ad on Spike's VGX site suggested earlier today, Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition is scheduled for a shipwreck on the PS4 and Xbox One in January 28. The Definitive Edition will include improved visuals, including TressFX, and all of the previously released multiplayer DLC. It will not support 3D visuals like the PC version. Definitive Edition is a collaborative effort between Crystal Dynamics, Nixxes and United Front Games. It's also already available for pre-order on Amazon. Ports of this year's Tomb Raider reboot were hinted at last month when Xbox One and PS4 versions were listed on Brazil's rating board. At that time, Amazon Italy also briefly hosted a PS4 listing for the Definitive Edition.
Ad suggests Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition for Xbox One, PS4
An ad for Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition has appeared on Spike's VGX website, noting a release date of January 28 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It encourages viewers to "watch the trailer," but clicking through to the game's site does not currently lead to a trailer for Definitive Edition. This year's reboot was supported with multiplayer DLC, but developer Crystal Dynamics noted in March that it did not have plans for single-player DLC. The contents of Definitive Edition will likely be revealed during tonight's awards show.
Tomb Raider next-gen reveal teased, ports classified
A VGX reveal of Xbox One and PlayStation 4 ports for Tomb Raider is on the cards, after Square Enix responded teasingly to rumors this week. The Crystal Dynamics game cropped up on Brazil's ratings board with PS4 and Xbox One versions listed, while an Amazon Italy page (now removed) pointed to a PS4 port titled Tomb Raider: Definitive Version. "It's so hard to keep a secret these days!" a Square Enix representative told IGN when approached. "We appreciate all of the enthusiasm, however we don't have any details to share just yet. That said, we highly recommend you keep an eye on any major gaming events happening in early December." Given Square Enix's fondness for not responding to "rumor and speculation," we'd say it's time to raise some eyebrows. We can't say it doesn't make sense either: Lara's gritty reboot sold 4 million copies across five months on the current generation, and a next-gen port would help to stir interest in the already announced next-gen sequel. Or, Square Enix could just be being coy about revealing that sequel rather than any ports, regardless of any classifications or listings. We don't know what to read into the publisher's playful winks and knowing smiles, but it seems likely we'll get some Tomb Raider news in a couple of weeks, when Spike TV's VGX awards show hits our screens on December 7.
Tomb Raider plots journey to Mac
Feral Interactive is bringing the Crystal Dynamics reboot of Tomb Raider to the Mac later this year. Mac specialist Feral wasn't any more specific than that, but the good news is there are only 84 days left in the year, so the wait can't be all that much longer. We were fond of Tomb Raider when it hit PS3, Xbox 360, and PC earlier this year, doling out a healthy four stars in our review. Square Enix was infamously less fond of Lara's adventure, despite the game shifting more than four million copies as of August. Maybe the Mac port's [x] millions of sales will help to satiate the publisher's hunger.
Tomb Raider worldwide sales exceed 4 million units
Darrell Gallagher, head of product development and studios at Square Enix, says Tomb Raider has sold over four million copies worldwide since its debut earlier this year. "We now sit in a great position where the decisions we made and the willingness to embrace a new direction resulted in the fastest selling game in the history of the franchise and the most critically acclaimed title ever produced from the studio," Gallagher writes in a blog post on Gamasutra. Outside of Tomb Raider, Gallagher calls out Sleeping Dogs and Just Cause 2 as successes for the company. Sleeping Dogs has become "profitable" for Square Enix and both games enjoy a monthly active community of over half a million players each. Tomb Raider is a game we thought catered well to both series diehards and new fans alike, in a story arc depicting Lara's ascent from amateur globetrotter to toughened adventurer. A sequel is currently "well into development" for next-gen consoles.
Layoffs hit Crystal Dynamics, Tomb Raider unaffected
Square Enix has laid off around a dozen staff at Crystal Dynamics, the publisher confirmed in a statement to Joystiq. "We've made some decisions at Crystal Dynamics this week around the second project we're working on, which has resulted in a small number of roles (roughly 12) becoming redundant as we re-scope the project," the statement reads. "We're a close-knit team at Crystal and wouldn't be making these changes if we didn't feel it was absolutely necessary," the publisher said. The staffing changes do not impact the subset at Crystal Dynamics that is working the next-generation Tomb Raider sequel, which was confirmed by Square Enix's CEO Phil Rogers earlier this month. Square Enix will "help those affected as best we can" and asks that anyone currently searching for talented developers contact 'mtrout at crystald.com.'
'Nosgoth' is a multiplayer game, not developed by Crystal Dynamics
Speaking to VG247, Square Enix community manager George Kelion confirmed that a game set in the same universe as Crystal Dynamics' Legacy of Kain series is under active development by an unnamed studio. "Nosgoth exists and is in active development, but is not a traditional Legacy of Kain action-adventure game," Kelion said. "Nosgoth is set in the same universe as previous LoK games, but on a different branch to the Blood Omen and Soul Reaver series. The community should not be thinking of Nosgoth in terms of a single-player experience." Kelion added: "Nosgoth is not being developed by Crystal Dynamics. Crystal Dynamics are not working on a Legacy of Kain game." References to the titles "Nosgoth" and "War for Nosgoth" were discovered in the driver files for an AMD Crossfire patch last month. Earlier this year, Square Enix registered the domain "WarForNosgoth.com," though the site itself does not yet exist. "This isn't something we'd normally do," Kelion explained, regarding the decision to confirm the game's existence, "but we wanted to just give folks a bit more context for the direction, rather than just batten down the hatches."
Legacy of Kain revival suggested by AMD drivers
Some potentially good news in the world of eternal grudges today, with more evidence of a new game in the Legacy of Kain series being unearthed. Buried in the driver files of a new patch to AMD's Crossfire program are several references to "War for Nosgoth" and "Nosgoth." The files were spotted by Eidos forum user Corlagon, via a tweet from an AMD employee. Kain fans will know that the game takes place in the realm of Nosgoth, and you may also recall that Square Enix registered the domain "WarForNosgoth.com" earlier this year. Furthermore, SteamDB, which keeps records of Steams extensive database, logged the image above, again suggesting Kain and Raziel might return to go another round. As VGLeaks notes, the symbol in the image matches the configuration of the Pillars of Nosgoth, one of the important landmarks in the Kain series.
Tomb Raider on sale for $14 at Green Man Gaming
Frugal survivalists can enlist in Lara Croft's prequel adventure, Tomb Raider, for $13.60 today. The deal is over on PC digital distribution outlet Green Man Gaming, which has the Crystal Dynamics reboot currently listed at $17 - simply add coupon code "GMG20-LLASD-D8WBQ" (without quotes, boldness is entirely up to you) in the checkout screen and you'll get the extra-reduced price. In our review of Tomb Raider, we cited the joy of exploration and story's revelatory crescendo as catalysts for our love of Lara's coming-of-age tale. "The arc is drawn perfectly, with the edges of the old Tomb Raider starting to poke through as the story comes to a close, teasing what's yet to come." Several DLC packs have been issued, adding new maps and modes to the multiplayer side of the game. Crystal Dynamics has said it has no plans to offer single-player DLC.
Everything Tomb Raider 50 percent off on Steam this weekend
Steam is offering a 50 percent discount on assorted Tomb Raider games this weekend. The sale drops the price of the latest Tomb Raider game to $25, with the Survival Edition knocked down to $28. The Tomb Raider Collection, which features 10 games from the series (including this year's entry), is also part of this weekend's deal. That sizable bundle of games can be bought for $35. Steam's weekend sale ends at 10am Pacific time on Monday, May 6. PS3 owners can still pick up Lara Croft's recent adventure on PSN for $30 this weekend.
Tomb Raider $30 on PSN this weekend, $20 on GMG
There are some killer deals on Tomb Raider this weekend. On the console front, the downloadable PSN version has been chopped to $30. The deal runs until this Monday at noon PT.On PC, you can snag the Steam version of Lara's latest adventure for $25 from Green Man Gaming. What's more, applying the code "GMG20-GGN5D-FC3NA" will knock another five bucks off the price, dropping it down to $20.That's like a penny for every arrow-related fatality in Tomb Raider.
Tomb Raider 1939 multiplayer maps out now, other DLC dated
Tomb Raider is bolstered by more multiplayer DLC today: the 1939 multiplayer map pack, a pair of maps including Dogfight – a concrete bunker forgotten since World War 2 – and the open spaces of hunting ground Forest Meadow. The map pack costs 320 MS Points ($4) and is available for download on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC right now.Last month's Cave and Cliffs map pack was a timed Xbox 360 exclusive. Today, Square Enix revealed that it's coming to PS3 and PC mid-April, while the Shipwrecked multiplayer map pack will debut on all platforms in early May. On top of that, some of the exclusive launch DLC for Tomb Raider is available for download across all platforms now, including those Hitman: Absolution guns and other retailer-specific content.
