Rise of the Tomb Raider Hits PC Next Month
By Rob Gordon 26 December 2015
Rise of the Tomb Raider’s Steam Store page gives hope to PC Tomb Raider fans, suggesting that the title will hit the online service at some point in January 2016.
Although Rise of the Tomb Raider was initially only released on the Xbox One, the gaming community knew that, one day, that timed exclusivity deal would run out. Now, it looks as though Tomb Raider fans who prefer to game away from Microsoft’s console have had their first hint at when the game will hit the shores of other devices. It seems likely that Rise of the Tomb Raider will be released for PC in January, 2016.
Some savvy users on NeoGaf noticed that the game had received a speculative release date over on its Steam Store page. The Steam Store page is not alone at hinting at this January PC launch, either. Earlier in December, Amazon France also predicted a release in the first month of the new year, going even further and stating that Rise of the Tomb Raider would hit the online retailer on January 29.
Although this is not confirmation from publisher Square Enix that the prospective January release is correct, it seems likely that PC players will be able to get their hands on Rise of the Tomb Raider very soon. Of course, PS4 owners may have to wait a little while longer. However, given that the game is hitting PC storefronts earlier than many gamers would have expected, there is the possibility that the title could also reach Sony’s console in advance of the expected holiday 2016 release date.
Both Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics could do with the game hitting other platforms as soon as possible. Although the publisher in particular has stated that it is happy with the sales figures for the game so far, reports are suggesting that Rise of the Tomb Raider has barely made a dent in the market since its release. It seems as though, in spite of Microsoft’s arguments to the contrary, the title’s release against Fallout 4 has led to only one winner.
What may be even more disappointing for Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics, however, will be the fact that the game has received rave reviews upon release, with some even considering it better than the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. In fact, it could be said that Rise of the Tomb Raider was one of the best 2015 titles that gamers didn’t play. It makes the fact that the game has sold poorly even more tragic for the development team, with hope now resting on a gradual increase in sales alongside bumps from new platforms.
In the meantime, however, Square Enix will need to do everything possible to try and get the game selling. Alongside this PC release, a free demo of Rise of the Tomb Raider has appeared on the Xbox One marketplace, which may prompt on-the-fence users to take the plunge. Let’s see whether Rise of the Tomb Raider can start having a larger influence on gaming in the new year.
Sources: NeoGaf, Steam Store
