Tomb Raider Approaching Six Million Units Sold, Exceeds Expectations

[Alex Co]

Tomb Raider Approaching Six Million Units Sold, Exceeds Expectations

Crystal Dynamics studio boss Darrell Gallagher reveals the Tomb Raider reboot will hit six million units sold by the end of this month, and thanks fans for their support for making the game the fastest selling entry in the franchise's history.

Just in case you didn't know, Lara Croft's latest adventure and reboot, simply titled Tomb Raider, has been quite the success for studio Crystal Dynamics and publisher Square Enix. While the publisher post on the official Tomb Raider Tumblr [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/131446-Tomb-Raider-Made-Money-Despite-Publishers-Early-Disappointment], Crystal Dynamics boss Darrell Gallagher posted a lengthy message announcing that its the game's "Birthday" this week, and congratulated fans for their support for the game's success. According to Gallagher, they will surpass six million units sold by the end of the month, and "having achieved profitability in 2013," Tomb Raider has "exceeded profit expectations and continues to make significant contributions to our overall financial performance."

Gallagher adds that at launch, the reboot has set franchise records for the fastest selling day one and month one in Tomb Raider series history, and this, in turn, has made the Tomb Raider (2013) the best-selling game in the franchise's history. Not only did Gallagher thank fans, but he also used the message to state what's ahead for the series. "And like every great adventure, the story continues long after the initial launch. It's great to be able to look back at the last twelve months and share some of the achievements we are really proud of. We can't wait to continue our adventures with Lara in the sequel that is in development at Crystal Dynamics. We are also looking forward to building on the success and lessons learned from the reboot to continue redefining and setting new benchmarks for Tomb Raider in the years to come," Gallagher finishes.

As someone who loved the reboot, I'm very happy that it's exceeding expectations. While six million units sold might be small compared to the Call of Dutys and Grand Theft Autos of the gaming world, it's still a very impressive achievement -- especially for a franchise deemed irrelevant by some. If you've yet to play the reboot, The Escapist's review gives it a full five-star mark, and states, "This is the Tomb Raider you've wanted for years." [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/reviews/10207-Tomb-Raider-Review-An-Icon-Reborn]

Source: Tomb Raider Tumblr [http://tombraider.tumblr.com/post/78758228963/a-special-note-from-head-of-studios-darrell]

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[Jandau]

Oh my god, Games sell past the first week/month after release? WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT!?!?!?

This is one thing that always kinda bothered me when publishers measure a game's financial success - the fact that they focus almost entirely on initial sales. This isn't the movie industry (though even there disc sales make more and more money), games often tend to have a slower, longer burn, with many potential customers holding off for reviews, word of mouth, sales, patches, etc. Sales do slow down as time passes, but you need to wait for at least a year past release to have a decent idea of how well your game did.

Kinda reinforces the notion that the people running this industry don't really know anything about it...

 

[Erttheking]

Well, I am glad to hear that it is doing well. Though like the above poster said, it seems like many of the higher ups in the industry really don't know what the Hell they're doing.

 

[rofltehcat]

But only the first week or so actually counts! If a game doesn't sell 3.6 million copies in the first two weeks or so it is obviously a failure! Also, obviously the only way to boost game revenue is to pump more money into development and use expensive stuff like motion capturing! What could ever go wrong? After all bigger is always better.

Seriously though, good to hear they were actually selling better than their first reactions suggested. Maybe some publishers will learn a little from it.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

Excellent, now we get a sequel. Only thing i didnt like about the remake was the tomb levels, they were very short and easy. Would love some of the massive puzzle tombs that were in the original. But other than that i liked the game, story and the new Lara.

 

[AstaresPanda]

STILL NOT GOOD ENOUGH lol How was this game considers a failure again ? Oh yes, greedy assholes.

 

[TheMemoman]

Oh my god, Games sell past the first week/month after release? WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT!?!?!?

This is one thing that always kinda bothered me when publishers measure a game's financial success - the fact that they focus almost entirely on initial sales. This isn't the movie industry (though even there disc sales make more and more money), games often tend to have a slower, longer burn, with many potential customers holding off for reviews, word of mouth, sales, patches, etc. Sales do slow down as time passes, but you need to wait for at least a year past release to have a decent idea of how well your game did.

Kinda reinforces the notion that the people running this industry don't really know anything about it...

That's an interesting take. Maybe the "people running this industry" are following the Hollywood model, maybe they were Hollywood, burned-out, business douches. It would certainly fit with the douchebagued business pattern we've seen in the last years. You know, the price gouging, IP milking, cynical reboots and remakes, lay-offs, disrespect to the "consumer" ( not audience, not gamers, but "consumer" as in "gives us your money and fuck you!").

Ironically, Tomb Raider was a pretty good game. But that's because the actual talent needed to make a videogame software solution still seems to be composed by good hearted programming geeks who love gaming. It's the bosses who where brought in to satisfy greed the ones that are fucking up.

 

[J Tyran]

STILL NOT GOOD ENOUGH lol How was this game considers a failure again ? Oh yes, greedy assholes.

Really speaks of the greed modern publishers have, is your game both profitable and the best selling one in a series that spans over a decade? Not good enough, it must make moar! money.

All them are the same and have the same greed.

 

[Panorama]

Excellent, now we get a sequel. Only thing i didnt like about the remake was the tomb levels, they were very short and easy. Would love some of the massive puzzle tombs that were in the original. But other than that i liked the game, story and the new Lara.

This sums it up pretty good. Found the game good fun, enjoyed the reimaging or atleast redesign of lara and hope the tombs become just all round better.

 

[Baresark]

Of course the publisher was freaking out about it not reaching expectations, Squenix is part of the old guard. In the days of disc based games, poor sales in the first couple of months soon placed the game out of consumer hands because the next big game came along in that time. Welcome to the digital age! I swear, I really am starting to dislike Squenix. They are just incapable of changing their view to meet modern standards.

 

[JettMaverick]

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-03-26-tomb-raider-has-sold-3-4-million-copies-failed-to-hit-expectations

Happy now Squeeenix?

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

Oh my god, Games sell past the first week/month after release? WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT!?!?!?

You ninja, you.

Maybe this will finally show the publishers that initial sales don't mean jack shit. I really loved Tomb Raider. So much that I would definitely buy the Definitive Edition if they were to release it on the PC. Or if I get a PS4. But I don't know if that will happen anytime soon.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

The Escapist's review gives it a full five-star mark, and states, "This is the Tomb Raider you've wanted for years." [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/reviews/10207-Tomb-Raider-Review-An-Icon-Reborn]

Ahhh, so it has a functioning nude cheat does it?
(for those confused, it's a 90's joke)

Next time I am going shopping, I will have to see about it for PC.

 

[Foolery]

Nah. Still not good enough. It must sell. HARDER. FASTER. STRONGER. But it's ok. We can rebuild it, as a reboot of reboot. Laura Croft will now be a 30 something caucasian male with short brown hair and a tragic military past.

 

[A.K.B.]

The Escapist's review gives it a full five-star mark, and states, "This is the Tomb Raider you've wanted for years." [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/reviews/10207-Tomb-Raider-Review-An-Icon-Reborn]

Ahhh, so it has a functioning nude cheat does it?
.

to think I've read somewhere that the lead director of the project actually wanted to include a nude mod to the game. but the art director ( or the writer, or whoever was ) refused to do so.
I can't accurately remember the details of this rumor _ I've read it a while back, and you know what a slough a gamers memory is_

still. on the subject at hand : CRYSTAL DYNAMICS FOR THE WIN !!
I wish them the best of luck.

 

[Trishbot]

Square Enix: "So when we said that 3.4 million copies in ONE MONTH was a "disappointment", we may have been a tad premature... and greedy... and woefully out of touch with reality. Meanwhile, we're very proud of our Final Fantasy XIII brand. The new game sold a stellar 250,000 at launch, which is only an 85% dropoff from the original game! Lightning truly is the face of Square Enix that will save our company."

 

[cerebus23]

The TR reboot was an amazing game glad its doing well. should have gotten more consideration on that goty thing but was released far too early i think and people had just forgotten about it.

 

[marioandsonic]

Square Enix: "So when we said that 3.4 million copies in ONE MONTH was a "disappointment", we may have been a tad premature... and greedy... and woefully out of touch with reality. Meanwhile, we're very proud of our Final Fantasy XIII brand. The new game sold a stellar 250,000 at launch, which is only an 85% dropoff from the original game! Lightning truly is the face of Square Enix that will save our company."

It seems like Square Enix has some very skewed priorities.

That, or their executives are nuttier than a Snickers bar.

 

[otakon17]

STILL NOT GOOD ENOUGH lol How was this game considers a failure again ? Oh yes, greedy assholes.

Yeah, I remember a certain Jimquisition episode discussing how Tomb Raider when it first came out was an "abject failure" in the eyes of the company even though it sold a tidy 2 million plus. Now they give it a few tweaks, probably at minimal cost I might add, and re-release it and suddenly it's selling like hotcakes and they're happy again.

Square Enix: "So when we said that 3.4 million copies in ONE MONTH was a "disappointment", we may have been a tad premature... and greedy... and woefully out of touch with reality. Meanwhile, we're very proud of our Final Fantasy XIII brand. The new game sold a stellar 250,000 at launch, which is only an 85% dropoff from the original game! Lightning truly is the face of Square Enix that will save our company."

It seems like Square Enix has some very skewed priorities.

That, or their executives are nuttier than a Snickers bar.

I'll take "Nuttier than a Payday" for $1000 Alex.

 

[otakon17]

Nah. Still not good enough. It must sell. HARDER. FASTER. STRONGER. But it's ok. We can rebuild it, as a reboot of reboot. Laura Croft will now be a 30 something caucasian male with short brown hair and a tragic military past.

There is a tumblr post out there depicting this...with them having no shirt on and washboard abs and teeny, tiny, tight shorts.

Not really my bag though.

The Escapist's review gives it a full five-star mark, and states, "This is the Tomb Raider you've wanted for years." [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/reviews/10207-Tomb-Raider-Review-An-Icon-Reborn]

Ahhh, so it has a functioning nude cheat does it?
.

to think I've read somewhere that the lead director of the project actually wanted to include a nude mod to the game. but the art director ( or the writer, or whoever was ) refused to do so.
I can't accurately remember the details of this rumor _ I've read it a while back, and you know what a slough a gamers memory is_

still. on the subject at hand : CRYSTAL DYNAMICS FOR THE WIN !!
I wish them the best of luck.

I still remember fondly the first Tomb Raider game and Lara stating she needed to change out of her wet clothes. I literally raced back into the room my cousin was playing the game in only to see it fade to black. But I've grown past such... immature things.

(Not really, now you've got me wondering if there is a proper nude mod floating about dammit! Curse you Escapist poster!)