PS3 Tomb Raider Goes Stateside

Fighting claims that top UK publisher cannot manage developers, Eidos makes boldest move to date - Heath-Smith departure explained.

News breaking this morning sees the somewhat embarrassing debacle that has consumed Eidos and the Tomb Raider franchise finally unravelled.

Today it becomes clear why Core Founder and Eidos board member Jeremy Heath-Smith walked away from both firms as Eidos announced to The City that from henceforth, Core Design will no longer have any part in developing Tomb Raider games.

The development will be shifted by IP-savvy Eidos to Soul Reaver development studio Crystal Dynamics with immediate effect. Incredibly Core Design, the UK outfit that spawned Lara onto the Sega Saturn all those years ago, will have no further part to play in Lara's increasingly tempestuous drive into the future.

In a surprisingly candid statement released by Eidos today, the Wimbledon publisher said, "On 15 July, the Company announced that Jeremy Heath-Smith was stepping down as its Development Director and as Managing Director of Core Design. Since then, the Board has been conducting a review of the Tomb Raider franchise and the studio operations of Core Design."

Surprisingly, Eidos inks the connection between Heath-Smith's shock walk out and the news today. "In recognition of the Company's need continually to enhance the value and maximise the commercial opportunity of one of its key franchises, for which all intellectual property rights belong to Eidos, the Board has concluded that it will transfer development of the franchise to its Crystal Dynamics studio in the US."

IP-savvy. Understand now? Eidos owns Tomb Raider. Core was just along for the ride. It may surprise you to know that Eidos also owns the Championship Manager brand too...

The statement continues, "The next Tomb Raider game is scheduled to release during the financial year to 30 June 2005. In the light of this decision, the Company will now be evaluating the Core Design studio's on-going direction and contribution as part of the Group's overall development capabilities."

Many would see this as an essential business decision. It is unlikely that Core, having abjectly failed to cope with making the generational leap onto PlayStation 2, will turn around a game that looks certain to be headed to the next round of gaming machines.

As to what this means for the content of the next game remains to be seen, though an updated gameplay mechanic will no doubt be welcomed by fans that felt rightfully disappointed by Angel of Darkness.

Hanzo
International news ninja.