We’re two weeks away from E3 . This means that we’re right on schedule for the pre-E3 “let’s show you everything we’re already planning to show you at E3” media dump. This morning Xbox got started by releasing a new trailer and an image of the box art for the upcoming Rise of the Tomb Raider., the sequel to the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot.
Released via Xbox Wire, the new trailer opens with images of historical explorers like Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindburg. A voice over by our protagonist Lara Croft tells us about the drive these explorers had and how they were willing to risk death to make great discoveries. Then we see Lara risking her own life climbing an icy mountain and nearly getting knocked off it in a slight avalanche. She eventually finds the entrance to a man made a cave (a tomb if you will) and begins to explore it. The trailer ends offering a “World Premier” at the Xbox E3 media Briefing on June 15.
As we’ve now seen two trailers for the game, the first at E3 last year, hopefully, the World Premier promised is actual game play, something we have yet to see from this new title.
The Rise announcement was a major coup for Xbox last year at E3 as it was presented as an Xbox exclusive. It now appears that the exclusivity is only for a limited time, so it is possible the game may come to PS4 and/or PC, although no announcement to that effect has been made.
The first game in the rebooted Tomb Raider franchise was a critical and financial success, though not without controversy. At the end of the first month of the game’s release it had sold 3.4 million units, yet somehow had missed predicted sales targets. The game has since gone on to become the most successful game in the history of the franchise.
The game came under fire prior to release for a scene in the game where Lara is nearly sexually assaulted. While the assault does not occur Square Enix received quite a bit of negative press for the scene.
There is no official release date for the game yet, beyond this holiday season. We will likely get a date at the Xbox briefing. Check out the full trailer below.