Tomb Raider

A few weeks ago we ran a story saying that the new-gen version of Tomb Raider would run at only 30FPS. That has turned out to be only half true. On the Xbox One, 30FPS is about the limit. On PlayStation 4, you can expect anything up to 60FPS.

A lot was made of the "irresponsibility of publishers" when Square Enix announced Tomb Raider was a stinking failure (although they didn't use those words). Despite the fact it had managed to push millions and millions of units in a matter of months, it had still not been profitable. While Crystal Dynamics' latest had garnered sales most developers would never even think possible, it still managed to sit in the red.

Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition might contain improved graphics, a new Lara and all the DLC, but there's one area in which it certainly isn't "definitive." Scot Amos of Crystal Dynamics has today confirmed that the new-gen version of last year's Tomb Raider reboot will be limited to 30 frames per second.

Ok, so Square Enix are playing this game. Despite the fact that a Game of the Year edition is almost certainly coming to PC, and despite the fact that it would make sense to have the new features of Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition in that Game of the Year release, Eidos representatives are still saying that it isn't going to happen.

If there was a single thing that made me consider a purchase of Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, it was the announcement that it will come pre-loaded with voice commands. Forget annoying menus which have you slowly breaking out of the action. Scream the word “SHOTGUN!” at the TV and let your Kinect or PlayStation Camera do the rest. You might get some strange looks from the neighbours, but who gives a damn what they thing, anyway. Scot Amos revealed the…

I never really managed to get into the multiplayer modes present in Tomb Raider, but there were very mixed murmurs about it. Some people loved it, others hated it, but that's what happens when a previously single player franchise turns its attention to the online mode. Those that didn't enjoy it, or who didn't fully test it, have another chance to check it out with the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, as the back-end has been completely re-written.

It's a dangerous thing to consider: that game that you paid $60 for last year, re-released on a next-gen machine, where the developers expect you to pay another $60 for some minor new features. On a Q&A at the official Eidos forums, Scot Amos defended the decision to charge full price on the next-gen version of Tomb Raider.

The 'Definitive' version of Tomb Raider might be coming to next-gen consoles - complete with TressFX, a new face and a great big price tag - but that doesn't mean Square Enix isn't willing to try to get PC gamers to buy the same game all over again. Tomb Raider GOTY Edition has appeared on the Steam registry, and that means a new version of 2013's hottest action adventure is absolutely bound to be on the horizon.

Cross-gen games are definitely going to be a thing in the first year of PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, especially from third party developers. The latest to be added to the list of maybes (along with The Last of Us and Grand Theft Auto V) is Tomb Raider, which Amazon have listed for the PlayStation 4.

The next Tomb Raider game (Tomb Raider 2 presumably, although it seems a little late in the day for that) is already "well into development" and will be available for next-generation consoles. Although nothing specific has been said, it's fair to presume it'll at least end up on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.