One of the largest upcoming first-party releases for the Xbox console this year will be Rise of the Tomb Raider, scheduled to release November 10, 2015. As many have also realised, the game will be launching alongside Fallout 4, announced in June, before E3 2015. The latter has a established playerbase from previous games, and while Tomb Raider also has a large community, Fallout 4 has almost become a mythical game, awaited for since 2007, when Fallout 3 hit shelves.
Game Director on the new Tomb Raider title, Brian Horton, states that Rise of the Tomb Raider is ready to go against the behemoth, and its quality will stand out, even when pitched against one of the largest releases of the year. The game will also offer a alternate experience, with a different aim to the Fallout games.
“We’re big fans of Fallout, it’s such a great game. But we believe we offer something completely different from a gaming experience point of view. We feel good about the date and the quality of the game will speak for itself. If you’re a fan of Tomb Raider in all incarnations whether it’s the core classics, the legendary first era of Crystal Dynamics or the reboot, know that we’re going to have something a little bit for everyone in here. And we want the player to feel like they can play the game the way they want. So if you’re a fan of more stealth-based gameplay you can play it that way, if you like more action it’s there also.”
While it is expected that Fallout 4 will have larger sales figures than Rise of the Tomb Raider, availability on platforms greatly restricts the playerbase. Fallout 4 will be available on Xbox One, PS4 and PC at launch, however due to agreements between Microsoft and Square Enix, Rise of the Tomb Raider will have a year of exclusivity to Xbox One. This will give Tomb Raider a second chance, with its second release wave next year.
It is obvious that these titles will be targeted at different audiences, regardless of their launch. Tomb Raider will be presented in a fast paced, cinematic style, while Fallout 4 is a slower paced RPG, with choices and decisions forging the storyline. Many gamers will not be picking both games up at launch, however the release is nearly one month before the holidays, where game sales peak massively. As both games release in the fall, and hit this timeframe, those who wish to obtain both can easily do so. No matter how big of a franchise Fallout is, Horton is confident that their game will boast quality, and a unique experience.
Source: Gaming Bolt
Matt was a regular ICXM contributor in 2015, publishing 110 articles across game reviews, Windows and PC, and Xbox news. Their work focused on hands-on reviews, platform commentary, and breaking-news reporting during the Xbox One’s first full year of post-launch coverage, including the early days of Backwards Compatibility and Windows 10 gaming. They post on X as @RTEnvi.