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Tomb Raider skipping Wii U

Crystal Dynamics believes "it would not be right" to bring latest Lara Croft revamp to Nintendo's next console as a port, leaves possibility for building one from scratch.

Don't expect Tomb Raider to arrive on the Wii U in time for the system's holiday 2012 launch, if at all. In a FAQ on the game's official website, Crystal Dynamics global brand director Karl Stewart said there are no plans to port this year's Lara Croft reboot to Nintendo's new console.

Lara won't be seeing you on the Wii U.

Lara won't be seeing you on the Wii U.

When asked if Tomb Raider would appear on the Wii U or other Nintendo platforms, Stewart said, "At this time, no. When we started developing the game we made a conscious decision that it was all about building the game for a platform and making sure the game was specific to that platform. Given that we've been working on the game quite a while before Wii U was announced I think it would not be right to try and port it across. If we started building a game for the Wii U we would build it very differently and we would build it with unique functionality."

Set for release on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC this fall, Tomb Raider will be an origin story of sorts. It will tell the tale of how Lara Croft came to be the crafty, nimble adventurer at the center of the long-running series. The game is the first installment in the series since 2010's downloadable multiplayer-focused Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, and the first stand-alone retail outing for the heroine since 2008's Tomb Raider: Underworld.

156 Comments

  • Namgis

    Posted Feb 19, 2012 10:55 pm GMT

    What I read. They don't want to tarnish their reputation by making a quick, poor port. Or any port for that matter. Makes sense. Why waste time and money on a port when that time could be spent making a console specific title. Exclusive WiiU title upcoming??

    I am very interested in playing as this new Lara. A reboot will be nice.

  • BlueFlameBat

    Posted Jan 31, 2012 11:08 am GMT

    If Nintendo wants to shake that kiddie image, maybe they should develop and publish a game based on Lady Death, Avengelyne, or Witchblade. Those series have controversial content that could ruffle more than a few feathers. Of course there will still be those that would always label Nintendo a kiddie company no matter what it does, but then again, there are still people who think Obama is not a U.S. citizen.

  • SlowMotionKarma

    Posted Jan 30, 2012 11:32 pm GMT

    tl:dr? Here's the summary: "Third-party publishers still considering Nintendo products 'casual' and passing over the system with their triple-A multi-platform games."
    It happens every generation with Nintendo. Publishers promise support, then realize it's not a "true" next-gen system so they just make some dumbed-down port and try to pass it off as the same game available on other systems. Nintendo is a first-party console brand. Has been since the Gamecube.

  • vengefulwilberg

    Posted Jan 30, 2012 9:50 am GMT

    @RitsukoEX
    Ding, ding, ding. You are correct! LOL! Thumbs up for the prize.
    LOL! The look of Dante in the first trailer was terrible. They made him look like a drug addict. However, they made him look less like a crack head in the new extended gameplay trailer even though he still has that questionable style that goes against the Dante dress code. I am still not a fan of the new look; but the gameplay is actually looking pretty good. The gameplay looks even good enough for a possible purchase.

  • RitsukoEX

    Posted Jan 30, 2012 7:31 am GMT

    @vengefulwilberg
    Dante in DmC?

  • jchristenberry

    Posted Jan 28, 2012 10:08 pm GMT

    @snxx
    touche. I should have been specific in my little rant. By real gamers I mean the generation (my generation) that started with gaming and has since "grown" past the brightly colored cartoon characters that Nintendo seems content to dish out over and over such as Mario. I can understand him being an iconic character and Nintendo is in the right by selling him to every new generation. But I prefer the companies who grow with the gamer, no restrict them to more childs play. That is my only real and true beef with Nintendo. Everything about their last two systems (now 3 with the Wii U / but I have hopes for it) has simply felt and looked like a kids toy to me.

  • vengefulwilberg posted Jan 28, 2012 8:38 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    vengefulwilberg

    Posted Jan 28, 2012 8:38 am GMT (hide)

    Who can tell me which video game character of a reboot got the worst makeover ever?

  • vengefulwilberg posted Jan 28, 2012 8:37 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    vengefulwilberg

    Posted Jan 28, 2012 8:37 am GMT (hide)

    @Ultramarinus

    Well said. I couldn't agree more. I was never able to take the past Lara Croft seriously. This is the best make over for a video game character ever.

  • vengefulwilberg posted Jan 28, 2012 8:33 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    vengefulwilberg

    Posted Jan 28, 2012 8:33 am GMT (hide)

    I don't see this as an excuse. There probably will have to be alot of chances that needs to be made in order for the game to use all of the functions the Wii U provides. The Wii U is a pretty unique looking system from what I have seen.

  • vengefulwilberg posted Jan 28, 2012 8:29 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    vengefulwilberg

    Posted Jan 28, 2012 8:29 am GMT (hide)

    I am just glad they did away with that lame lara croft of the past. The focus isn't on the body and big lips. I can't wait to see this game in action.

  • jezz555

    Posted Jan 28, 2012 8:03 am GMT

    the real reason is that the wii u just like the wii before it is going to suck and be a system for children. nice going eidos!

  • moviequest14

    Posted Jan 28, 2012 6:58 am GMT

    @Soothsayer42 : I get where you're coming from..but I'm not saying that the other titles aren't good..I never said that there aren't other excellent AAA titles...there are many just as good (Some even better than most Nintendo titles)...I never said that Nintendo games are better than any AAA titles (though technically,because of scores,some of them are ''AAA'' titles) but you shouldn't paint all of anything with the same brush...to say all wii-games are crappy because many are is like saying that all AAA titles are just shooting games because many are..Yes there are many absolutely horrible..but that should be expected considering the wii has have 1,220 titles.There are more than 100 wii games that are great-excellent. The ps3 has it's fair share of negatives too (over 80 titles that haven't even made a 50) and would have many more it had more games...the wii has almost DOUBLE the amount of ps3 games...wouldn't you expect more to be bad then?

  • Ultramarinus

    Posted Jan 28, 2012 6:15 am GMT

    @wolfbm

    Male here and Lara's stupid bimbo looks always made me never care for her one bit, her new look is actually spot on and the first time I ever got interested in a Tomb Raider game is this one. She now looks as someone beautiful yet quite real and serious.

  • superbuuman

    Posted Jan 28, 2012 3:35 am GMT

    Lame excuse, Wii U will now even have normal control scheme & hardware to boot. Anyway their loss, if they are going to be like that, I won't be buying this game, I also own PS3 and PC.

  • Vodoo

    Posted Jan 28, 2012 12:16 am GMT

    @TombRaiderChic... I love how you came up with that whole convoluted story, lol. Do you honestly think there are ANY men out there that rather not have Lara be more... full featured? No man is threatened by a video game character, let alone people in general. You're looking into it too much. She's supposed to be representative of her early years. And who knows... maybe she got implants later on after her family won the lottery

  • Spinnerweb

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 11:10 pm GMT

    I'm sad about the reboot (in my mind only failed franchises get rebooted) even though the story of the series ends with TR: Underworld. I'm glad it's skipping the Wii U though, it's the last console I'd imagine a Tomb Raider game to be on; it's so fat!

  • wolfbm

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 10:07 pm GMT

    @TombRaiderChic..uhm you do realize the guy who originally made and created Lara came back to be the head of design for this game? I would think if anyone would know how she was supposed to be it would be her creator. For years TR got so much flak for how her ..uhm how should I say..ample size was so them decreasing it was in relation to the outcry of female gamers since I know not a guy who had a problem with it. Secondly this game is supposed to be when she is really young...way before any of the other games, so yeah she won't be as experienced in her tasks as she later came to be. I'm not putting you down since I gladly welcome women gamers (my wife is an avid one) i'm just letting you know the facts before you throw your "sexism" foul flag on the field.

  • voldalin

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 9:59 pm GMT

    Do you really think Nintendo cares, or anyone else for that matter? The Tomb Raider franchise isn't going to make or break any console. I think i can sleep easy tonight.

  • Soothsayer42

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 9:59 pm GMT

    @moviequest14 I respect your opinion. But you shouldn't mentioned the ratings in the first place. Since you compare them to skyrim. Both AAA games and Nintendo games is a big difference in terms of gameplay. So comparing ratings between them is not a good thing.

  • moviequest14

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 9:13 pm GMT

    @DamageIncM : You do know a fairly large portion of 3ds sales were in the U.S too right? From what I've seen Super Mario 3dLand is selling out (still) at game stores and 3ds's are selling great at least.And I can't count the number of times I've seen people walking around with 3ds's.And before you go bashing the Japanese audience remember that they are the stronghold for Sony too.Sony would probably be sunk if they relied solely on U.S sales.The only company that really could be doing alright if they only sold in U.S is Microsoft because they aren't accepted well in the west anyways.

  • moviequest14

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 9:09 pm GMT

    @Soothsayer42 : Sorry,my mistake.I thought I had gathered before that you spoke English natively.If you are going to take examples for what most critics think of Nintendo games gamespot is the worst to do so...literally almost every single Nintendo game for wii has been rated lowest by gamespot...if you look at metacritic (which combines expert-professional reviews with user-reviews and totals them up for an average score) you will see that Skyward Sword (being a single-platform release instead of multi like skyrim) is actually onlya point or 2 behind at worst.You will also see that there are at least 14 wii titles that have scored 90's or above.If you broaden it to titles that have 80's and higher...(which is still considered by metacritic to be very good) you get almost ONE HUNDRED wii titles with 'great' overall scores and higher.If you look Skyward Sword overall has *one of* the greatest scores of the past year..actually making it into the top 10 highest rated titles of the year.

  • BlueFlameBat

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 9:01 pm GMT

    Despite my earlier post, I am disappointed that this title will not be making it to Wii-U, and this seems weird coming from a company that was all too happy porting Tomb Raider Legend to the XBox 360 and then to the PS3 in a trilogy pack. I wonder what Crystal Dynamic's excuse will be if this shows up on PlayStation Vita.
    If the ideas in the link I'm showing are any indication, this Tomb Raider game could be awesome on Wii-U.
    http://www.tombraiderforums.com/showthread.php?t=182207

  • theKSMM

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 7:14 pm GMT

    I'm looking forward to this game. As usual, Nintendo's best bet is to have a Mario platformer ready to go alongside the Wii U when it launches.

  • DamageIncM

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 6:42 pm GMT

    "Lara won't be seeing U" XD

    Who the heck cares about Nintendo anyway?...
    I know, only Japanese people... with their mass-purchasing of the N3DS...

    The Nintendo-console ended after the Cube-thingy.
    Relaunched and sort of failed as a product (not in sales) with the Wii.
    I was actually one looking forward to the coming of the "Nintendo Revolution", but it had to become... the Wii...

    Not that I care anymore today, I'm very happy with the PS3.
    And Tomb Raider I'll always get for the PC.
    I'll give this 'Tomb Raider' a chance to gain back a little of the "tomb raider"-title that 'Uncharted' swept away from under the pretty feet of Lara Croft.
    This coming from an old 'Tomb Raider'-fan ever since the first game.

  • moviequest14

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 4:46 pm GMT

    @pszone : I know Uncharted is 'owned' by Sony but I was just using it because you wouldn't expect it to come to wii-u either (because of that very reason).I didn't say that Nintendo needs to work hard to be able to make sure the wii-u launches well but that relies on MUCH more than 1 Tomb Raider title.Also 1.They never said that they wouldn't release a Tomb Raider title AT ALL..they just wouldn't haphazardly port the current one. 2. That is quite ambitious of you to say that Nintendo is 'already behind' the 720...not only do we know little-to-any solid evidence about the 720 but the tiny bit we do know says that the 720 will only be 20% more powerful than the wii-u (a pretty small difference and certainly not enough to cause titles NOT to release on wii-u)...we don't know a lot about wii-u,we know even less about 720...720 definitely has a chance of leading the pack..but it is WAY too early to say either way.

  • Bigfatlardygit

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 3:46 pm GMT

    I was really surprised how much I enjoyed Underworld so I'm pretty excited for this.

  • xgalacticax

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 2:50 pm GMT

    @RIIIIKU Haha I know what you mean and if I did have the option to play a multi-platform game, I usually decide based on the controller or features. I play FPS and online games on the 360 and PC; 3rd person action/ adventure games like Batman and Assassin's Creed on my PS3; and all the usual Nintendo games on the Wii. But there are some instances where the Wii/Wii U might be a better place to play a multi-platform game. Take Resident Evil 4 for instance. I preferred playing it on the Wii with the Wiimote because the aim was a lot more quick and precise than it was on the PS2 and Gamecube. Features like that tip the scales in a certain console's favour in my opinion anyway

  • Cataclysmm

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 1:39 pm GMT

    can't wait.

  • Soothsayer42

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 12:44 pm GMT

    @hippiesanta dude, you know its gonna be like one right?

  • NAWAF005

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 12:25 pm GMT

    @TombRaiderChic
    "Tomb Raider will be an origin story of sorts. It will tell the tale of how Lara Croft came to be the crafty, nimble adventurer at the center of the long-running series."
    Its seems that this one will tell HOW Lara became the badass she is known as. This game looks promising i think we should wait and see the story before making a judgment. Don't you think?

  • Ladiesman17

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 11:40 am GMT

    I never consider Wii as a gaming platform

  • TombRaiderChic

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 11:30 am GMT

    I'm planning to buy the game, but I'm still angry abou thow they have lessened the character to make her less threatening to men. And yes they are threatened by her. The made her shorter, weaker, more prone to injury, more approachabe (WTF!), and someone they would not find threatening. It's obvious that this design comes from a group guys who have the maturity level of junior high. Men who are comfortable with themselve like the traditonal character. A great many women do as well as she serves as an icon as to what women can be rather than how men would like us to be. BIG FAIL BOYS!

  • RIIIIKU

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 11:26 am GMT

    @xgalacticax ...ok ur right about all what u just said...i agree that the Wii is a good console...it has some really good nostalgic and family games and all that....but till me this...if u had a PS and a Wii U...and a game like Tomb Raider came out (lets say that it will come on the wii u too)....which version of the game r u willing to pay money for ?? Wii or PS ??....i have PS3, a Wii, and an old X-Box 360(which i think no longer works)...and do u know which console am gonna buy the game for ??.......go on..guess..........u guessed WRONG....... i will buy it for my PC

  • snxx

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 11:14 am GMT

    @jchristenberry "real gamers" plays on whichever console/computer/gadget they can put their hands on. Each platform has it's strengths and weaknesses. I couldn't play God of War III on Wii, but also I couldn't play Madworld on PS3.

  • senjutsu

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 11:04 am GMT

    That's a game I will have to buy, ^_^. Looking a lot like Uncharted games, which is a good thing.

  • NegdukeUK

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 10:46 am GMT

    Would a port be really that bad, the more games for WiiU the better even if they are ports.

  • xgalacticax

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 10:34 am GMT

    @RIIIIKU
    LOL You should be a comedian because you're funny. I don't think I'll comment anymore because you're probably saying these things for a laugh. Nintendo is trying to get back into a game that Microsoft and Sony are owning? Are you serious?! Sure that would explain why Sony and Microsoft started chasing after the casual market that made the Wii that successful (even though I bet you were one of those that said the Wii wouldn't stand a chance against its competitors this generation). That would also explain why the Wii's total worldwide sales are almost at 90 million units whereas its competitors are sitting at somewhere in the mid-fifties. I bet you after the Wii U comes out, Sony and Microsoft will pursue that tablet functionality. Granted that Vita is already capable of that, you will start to see Sony pushing it harder. I'm not crazy about the tablet but I'm also excited to see what can be done with it. I just don't see how some people call themselves gamers, yet they can't be excited that a new console is coming out....no matter whether it's from Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo.

  • Hyawatta

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 10:22 am GMT

    Just port it...to the Screen!

    Just add the ability to play it completely on the controller's screen while someone else is watching TV like they did for the New Super Mario Bros Mii demo and like what the Darksiders team did with 2 lines of code and five minutes. Having the ability to play the game fully on the controller's screen should be enough of an enhancement to make the port viable.

  • jchristenberry

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 9:58 am GMT

    I lol'd. I am slightly intrigued by the possibility of the Wii U but then I think back to the Wii. That's when it comes to me... the Wii U is like a renamed roller coaster that killed a bunch of people. Repairing the damage and making the roller coaster go faster doesnt make it a good idea. Its still not for real gamers. But it will sell. You have the dedicated Nintendo fans and children that will make their parents buy it. But this tomb raider news doesnt suprise me at all.

  • 02050muh

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 9:50 am GMT

    YAY!!

  • antoniobandino

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 8:38 am GMT

    Better get used to it; the beginning of a trend. Developers are scared of all the wonky additional tech in the Wii U's hardware/controller and unless they put a bunch of additional dev time into properly utilizing it, they're afraid the game will look lazily ported in lieu of what the Wii U is capable of.

  • RIIIIKU

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 8:36 am GMT

    @Carlos922 actually i knew from the day they showed the Wii U that their is a very slim chance that it will have any success...and i wasnt the only one to think that...Nintendo was once Great....but now its tying to get back in a game that Sony and Microsoft are owning....and if you really think that people would chose to buy a Wii U over something like a Vita for example....then am sorry dude but that is the unintelligent thinking...

    @xgalacticax ....no dude my original comment was Awesome...i was talking about yours

  • billd1818

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 7:51 am GMT

    Can't Wait

  • xgalacticax

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 6:51 am GMT

    @RIIIIKU You mean your original comment is sad? I know right?

  • Carlos922

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 6:47 am GMT

    @RIIIIKU Why is it sad? Just because one game is not coming to Wii U doesn't mean it's failing. Do you realistically expect all upcoming games to be released on the Wii U at launch. That's not really intelligent of you.

  • blacksaibot

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 6:27 am GMT

    That's okay... cuz it's Wii.

  • EasyComeEasyGo

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 6:17 am GMT

    I don't know why all of you gamers are saying that the Wii U would flop. We have not been getting any new details as of late, it is too early to judge on how it will do and we still don't know about the Price and Launch games yet.
    Even though the Wii U may not be getting Tomb Raider at this time but there are other 3rd party games like Grand Theft Auto V and Resident Evil 6.

  • RIIIIKU

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 6:11 am GMT

    @xgalacticax .....dude seriously .....that is just Sad

  • pszone

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 5:53 am GMT

    moviequest14@ look uncharted never be a Will U its Naughty Dog ps3 exclslive and sony propletly. On other hand since xbox fans missing out what uncharted it can do xbox owners will get that experience with Tomb Raider reboot and seen gameplay and does look like uncharted thing thx for SqaureEnix. And Nindendo behind whats not gd thing sometimes. I want to say if i was involed in ninendo i wouldnt get tech behind and ya i would always make sure mario will be at launch dates with new game not a remake mario everytime. Tomb Radier was in ninedno world in the past and know this company thinking the tech or so and next year be the xbox new consle launch and ninendo way behind and they going to be in big trouble. and just face it nindendo need to back there ideas or we will see more fall sales.

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