News Desk: Crystal Dynamics Not Bringing Tomb Raider to Wii U

Studio says the game isn’t tailored to the system’s features.

By Kevin Knezevic. Posted 01/28/2013 17:00 5 Comments     ShareThis

Fans holding out hope that Tomb Raider, Crystal Dynamics’ upcoming reboot of the eponymous franchise, would be heading to Wii U might want to look elsewhere for the title, as the studio has confirmed it has no plans to port the game over to Nintendo’s newest home console.

According to Noah Hughes, the creative director at Crystal Dynamics, Tomb Raider is being optimized specifically for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, and Nintendo’s system, with its unique interface and features, would demand more than a simple port to really take advantage of the hardware. As Hughes explains in an interview with True Gaming:

“All three of those are really trying to deliver roughly the same experience but delivered best on each platform, and I think something like the Wii U often asks you to do something unique based on a unique interface. That’s something as a gamer I love but it’s something you don’t want to do half-heartedly as a developer.”

That’s certainly an admirable sentiment, though whether or not it’s the actual reason for this decision is certainly open to speculation. I’m sure Nintendo fans will agree that games should be tailored to their platform, but not every Wii U release needs to use the console’s features to justify its existence; a simple map and some off-TV play would be more than enough for a title like Tomb Raider. In any case, this news only continues the worrying trend of third parties passing over the Wii U with their support. At least we can count on Nintendo itself to release games for its new console.

Source: Nintendo Life

5 Responses to “News Desk: Crystal Dynamics Not Bringing Tomb Raider to Wii U”

  • 33 points
    Matto says...

    I think most of these developers have forgotten that the WiiU has something called a Pro Controller, other this is just another developer excuse for them not to develop for WiiU. Then again, I have zero interest in this Tomb Raider game to begin with, so not much of a loss.

    Though on that note: this “worrying trend” in regards to third parties shouldn’t be so worrying to begin with. Third parties refused to support the Wii, and what did they get out of it? Layoffs and closed studios. THQ was the latest victim, which one is next hmm?

  • 45 points
    Georebel64 says...

    I thought this was the reason why the gamepad has every button a 360 and ps3 controller has, so that developers have no excuses. I could understand why the Wii didn’t have these ports, it didn’t have enough power to run them and the wiimote really didn’t fit the games well. The excuse they give above is a poor one. I own both Xbox 360 and Wii U. If they announced tomorrow that Tomb Raider would be ported to Wii U with just off tv play functionality and some item and map managment on the gamepad I would buy that version, just like I did with Mass Effect 3, Sonic All-Star racing and later on Darksiders 2. They should just give us the real excuse that they think it will not sell well. I guess they dont believe in their game enough to help grow a fan base. Oh well.

  • 1379 points
    xeacons says...

    As far as I’m concerned, they can keep it (other consoles, that is). Not that I don’t love Tomb Raider, but every TR on Nintendo has been an utter disaster (maybe with the exception of Legends).

    I didn’t like the Wiimote puzzles in Anniversary and Underworld was so full of bugs, and the levels only felt half-finished. It was like they put no effort at all into the port. And don’t get me started on the Portable episodes!

  • 15 points
    Lukas Velunta says...

    This sums up pretty much everything I feel about this matter:

    http://www.destructoid.com/developers-what-s-your-issue-with-the-wii-u-gamepad–243371.phtml

    Statements like this (and that other one for Borderlands 2) smell like something else because well, the GamePad is an actual controller too. It’s better to PR “We don’t think Wii U is worth it” than to outright lie.

    • 33 points
      Matto says...

      Developers said the same thing about Wii, and what they got for their troubles was lay-offs and studio closures.

      Divine justice? Or twisited irony after what happened with the Gamecube? HMMM.

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