Lara Croft launching without online mode

By Tom Bramwell Published 9 August, 2010

PC/PSN versions and XBLA MP patch in Sept.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light will launch for Xbox Live Arcade without its online component, which will follow in a patch at the same time as the PC and PlayStation Network versions in September.

Square Enix also said that it will release five downloadable content packs for the game between October and December, expanding the range of puzzles and even playable characters.

The Guardian of Light is due out on 18th August for XBLA in a one-month timed exclusive deal and will launch with two-player offline co-operative play only.

Then on 28th September Square Enix will deliver the PC and PSN versions, including two-player online play. The XBLA version will be patched on the same day, also receiving leaderboards and voice chat.

Of the five DLC packs, the first three are expansions offering "new puzzle, exploration and combat experiences in the game and new areas to explore", while the last two introduce a pair of "well-known videogame characters" in playable form.

Global brand director Karl Stewart told Joystiq that the decision to release the XBLA version in offline-only form was based on delivering quality.

"If we had launched with online co-op, we wouldn't feel comfortable that it was the best possible experience for the player," he said.

Check out our Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light hands-on preview elsewhere on Eurogamer to find out what Larry's up to in her first isometric downloadable adventure, or read our recent Crystal Dynamics interview for more on Lara's history, sex in games and hints about the next full Tomb Raider.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light will cost 1200 Microsoft Points (£10.20 / €14.40) on XBLA and $14.99 on both PlayStation Network and PC (Steam).

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About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000. Follow him on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (33) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • NimbusTLD #1 2 years ago

    ... this.... baffles me. This Summer of Arcade is a near-complete failure IMO. Oh, cherished memories of 2008!

  • beastmaster #2 2 years ago

    That's not a good start is it? 5 packs too. How much are those going to be each?

  • hardtech #3 2 years ago

    No sale

  • lucky_jim #4 2 years ago

    Wtf?

  • Markitron #5 2 years ago

    Weren't they touting that as a major feature? It appears it wouldnt have been ready for release this month and are just rushing it out to be in summer of arcade. Reassuring sign..............

  • ZuluHero #6 2 years ago

    It does seem a bit mad, but i'll probably end up getting it anyway, as its still abit of a quiet period for games and September/October has an insane release schedule.

    Besides, I already have points on my live account and i'll mostly be playing co-op offline anyway.

  • TheNinkyNonk #7 2 years ago

    Summer of Fail

  • siro #8 2 years ago

    @NimbusTLD: 2009 was the best though, wasn't it?

    I bought 4 out of the 5 by now, not being interested in the Turtles remake.
    From the current lineup, I will get Limbo at some point and only maybe Lara Croft. Rest are no-go.

  • BAM! #9 2 years ago

    So Summer of Arcade includes unfinished games now? LOL

  • muscleblade #10 2 years ago

    I think Limbo has saved the summer of arcade from being a failure so far. Lets see what this weeks game can offer. 2008 and 2009 was definently better no matter what though as those had great games every week. The turtles in time remake wasnt very good tbh but still a fan favourite no doubt.

  • Lee_Morris #11 2 years ago

    F U square-eniq. Why does DLC now mean adding stuff A FEW WEEKS after release. I know games aren't finished the week before they're released but still this type of stuff stinks of contect syphoned off from the main development to ring a few more pounds out of the faitful.

    This type of practice is crazy in the age of free iPhone app updates. Recently I got a time attact mode in Flick Kick Football and the graphics in Real Racing were upgraded for iPhone 4s. Just a few examples but there are muliple ones like this every week and they are all FREE.
    Edited by Lee_Morris at 09/08/10 @ 13:04

  • butler` #12 2 years ago

    The game looks interesting, if a little strange for the franchise.

    But 5 DLC packs already lined up for an unreleased ARCADE game that costs £10 already?

    It just doesn't sit nicely with me.

  • 3william56 #13 2 years ago

    In Soviet Russia, Lara Croft ****s you.

    (Nice of the 360 crowd to beta test this for the rest of us. And pay for the priviledge)

  • icematt12 #14 2 years ago

    My instinct is that this is a bit of spin, where they want co-op available on all formats at the same time or something. Maybe a member of eurogamer would keep an eye on when updates are released and the changes in HDD space used as a result.

  • BillyBrush #15 2 years ago

    That's a bit crazy...good luck to them, but launching a game advertised as being co op....without co op is pretty barmy.

  • metalangel #16 2 years ago

    I was skeptical of this, but figured it would be amusing co-op fun.

    But this coming out with online being added later by DLC manages to be bigger FAIL than Test Drive Unlimited 2 adding motorcycles via DLC at some equally indeterminate point in the future.

  • beastmaster #17 2 years ago

    I think this is the first SoA game that's not a 360 exclusive? I secretly think that the co-op already done. The fact that co-op is being released the same day as the other formats come out makes me think that they had do drop it to get the 2 week exclusive.

  • Jay-ITFC #18 2 years ago

    Awful 2010 line-up. Last year we had the awesome Splosion Man, Trials, Shadow Complex, etc.

  • Kikizosan #19 2 years ago

    It's still got local co-op at launch, and that's always better than online co-op anyways (IMHO), so it's a non-issue for me. These things happen.

  • lavalant #20 2 years ago

    It looks mediocre, xbla really doesn't need another twin stick shooter. Now if they'd released the PS1 classic I'd have bought that (not for 1200 points mind)

  • Lexx87 #21 2 years ago

    People saying this summer was a failure haven't played Hydro Thunder which is AWESOME :p

  • TVoJ #22 2 years ago

    Oh Dear! As much as I hate buying XBLA games on Day 1 I think I was gonna get this. But without online co-op play it has now sunk on my list and I will therefore be getting it when it's patched (and cheaper too prob)

  • alcides #23 2 years ago

    This is totally acceptable.... not.

  • erp #24 2 years ago

    I thought they said in an interview aaaaaaaaaaages ago that the game was already finished and they were just waiting for a release window?

    If that's the case then this decision (or at least, the explanation for it) doesn't make any sense at all.

    (Haven't got time to look for the link to the interview, but it was here on EG for sure.)

  • Spook #25 2 years ago

    Nothing wrong with this years' line up, Limbo is Great, Hydro Thunder is Great, Castlevania is good (not played is that much yet, but done the first level, i like what i see) and the other two games to come also look great. As for Tome Raider not having online co-op (and it's only for the first few weeks) i'm not that bothered, it was always going to be a off-line co-op game for myself. Monday Night Fight, now if online wasn't ready on that, then i would be miffed. In the end, i think that the recent Arcade live line up has been really, really good. Monkey Island 2, Deathspank, Puzzle Quest 2, the Summer of Arcade, Comic Jumper at some point soon. Don't understand how people can complain that much, if you don't like it, don't buy it. Myself, i'll be getting all five, just like i did last year! :)

    Edit spelling
    Edited by Spook at 09/08/10 @ 20:15

  • riz23 #26 2 years ago

    I wonder if MS get a partial refund on their exclusivity deal for the game being unfinished? I would want something back if I were them.

  • mkreku #27 2 years ago

    Wasn't Puzzle Quest 2 released recently on XBLA? How come noone mentions that?

  • Derblington #28 2 years ago

    I'll buy it when I can take it online then.

  • Gunzberg #29 2 years ago

    Finish the game first before releasing it then, you dumbasses!

    If you know now that the game will need a patch and 5 (!) DLC packs in order for the player to have all the puzzles, then delay it and do it properly.

    Idiot companies like these deserve 0 sales.

  • TenderChicken #30 2 years ago

    Why oh why oh why do publishers announce they've already started working on DLC before the title is even launched? Could it be any more obvious they're holding back content they could easily have included in the main game? This current trend is disgusting, I wonder if they'll have any of the DLC packs bundled with the game code at launch? Meaning you're effectively paying for an unlock key, ala Bioshock 2.

    Also, releasing it 'exclusively' on 360 a month before PC/PS3 without online co-op is just terrible, chances are most consumers will buy it when it gets patched, rendering MS's period of one month of exclusive rights an absolute waste of money for them.

  • Grievous1976 #31 2 years ago

    Pathetic, I blame Sony! Lol

  • Slipstream #32 2 years ago

    Oh okay, I'll get it in September. After all, online co-op was the primary selling point of this game for me.

  • darkmorgado #33 2 years ago

    It looks mediocre, xbla really doesn't need another twin stick shooter.

    Good thing the new TR isn't a twin-stick shooter then really, isn't it? It's an isometric puzzle game with combat elements.