Tomb Raider: Underworld sales hit 1.5m

By Ellie Gibson Published 9 January, 2009

Eidos disappointed, blames economy.

Eidos has estimated that 1.5 million copies of Tomb Raider: Underworld have been sold worldwide.

An impressive figure, but one that's lower than the company expected - and financial forecasts have been amended as a result.

"On a global basis our sell through to 31st December, which we estimate at approximately 1.5 million units, is below our internal forecasts, primarily due to a lower start in North America," Eidos said in a statement.

"In a difficult North American economy we have seen retailers restricting inventory levels and triple-A products being price discounted above our expectation."

Now Eidos reckons its full year revenues will be somewhere between GBP 160 million and GBP 180 million - around GBP 20 million less than previously thought.

Still, the firm is optimistic that Batman: Arkham Asylum will boost profits when it's released later this year for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (78) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • HuggyAtHome #1 3 years ago

    Will that mean that the price of the promised DLC will be higher to recoup the lost revenue from retail sales? Hope not. Great game with a rubbish ending - so looking forward to more please.

  • TurboBailey #2 3 years ago

    Since when has 1.5 MILLION sales been shit??

  • des #3 3 years ago

    Ah,better luck next time Lara.

  • DFawkes #4 3 years ago

    Yeah, I'd be pissed and making up shit excuses if I sold 1.5m copies of a game too. Except I wouldn't.
    Edited by 1 at 09/01/09 @ 09:35

  • Farzlepot #5 3 years ago

    Has anybody noticed on Xbox LIVE that one of the most popular downloads is a set of wetsuits for Lara?

  • The_vorlon_man #6 3 years ago

    Poor for a cross platform release. Perhaps they should not have made the demo 360 exclsuive afterall?

    BTW, Uncharted sold more than this on the PS3!


  • UncleLou #7 3 years ago

    Since when has 1.5 MILLION sales been shit??

    It's not too impressive for a game that's out on 6 (?) platforms, I guess.

  • ZuluHero #8 3 years ago

    Has anybody noticed on Xbox LIVE that one of the most popular downloads is a set of wetsuits for Lara?

    WHAT?!? There's a wetsuit set for lara?

    /Runs off home to buy it

  • woodnotes #9 3 years ago

    Better than LittleBigPlanet, then.

  • thenastypasty #10 3 years ago

    i think they should have released this at a different time of the year with a packed xmas release list there are going to be games that dont sell as well as hoped, i picked this up the other day for less than £20 so it makes you think how many of the 1.5m sales have been discounted.

  • Beano #11 3 years ago

    Shame... TRU was rather good though. Hopefully Qidos will not ditch Lara's next adventure due to low sales...

  • Beano #12 3 years ago

    @thenastypasty: Agreed. Next time the should use a few extra months to polish the game and release it in Q1 or early Q2.

  • Thunderbolt #13 3 years ago

    I was pleasantly surprised with this game, it was a lot more fun to play that previous Tomb Raider games - I'm looking at you TR3.

    And was gorgeous to look at. I think it should have sold better than it did.

    (Ahem , err.. I'm one of those people who downloaded the wetsuits for Lara and spent most of the game with her in the most skimpiest outfits.)

  • JaysonG #14 3 years ago

    I'm still waiting for Amazon to send me my copy.

  • Widge #15 3 years ago

    Which I thought was a bit shit then.

  • Beano #16 3 years ago

    No

  • Rodney #17 3 years ago

    Im getting a little frustrated hearing about these games in the UK, that did not sell so well, being availlable for sub-20 pounds. Even if a game is shit and does sell well, its still $100RRP. Everywehere!

  • woodnotes #18 3 years ago

    It's all about Uncharted. Only, Uncharted 2 doesn't look anything like Tomb Raider.

  • El-Dev #19 3 years ago

    If Drake from Uncharted had been a woman it probably would have sold less than 1m.

  • Steroyd #20 3 years ago

    I guess they overspent bribing websites eh?

    If Drake from Uncharted had been a woman it probably would have sold less than 1m.

    Don't you mean "an extra 1 million".
    Edited by 1 at 09/01/09 @ 10:09

  • mingster #21 3 years ago

    Is this really an AAA title?

  • jonsaan #22 3 years ago

    The latest Tomb raider game had that same lazy air about it that some of the past TR games have suffered from.

    Anniversary was great. Legend was good too.

    Latest one was very tight on unlockables, no Croft Mansion and not much replayability. Must try harder Eidos. Then, perhaps you will sell more.

    Oh, and while you are at it. TROPHY SUPPORT!

  • MoFo #23 3 years ago

    I guess the point is that modern games require larger development teams to get that "next gen" look. Hence they cost more to make requiring substantial sales to recoup those costs. I read that GTA 4 cost $100m to make. I've no idea how much of each sale goes in to recouping that cost but I'd wager they'd need to sell around 2-5 million copies before they start making a profit. Of course that's a complete guess but shows why the Eidos guys are concerned.
    Edited by 1 at 09/01/09 @ 10:16

  • Pinewood_Groves #24 3 years ago

    Well, they shouldn't have released a substandard game, especially in a time when we're flooded with quality titles.

  • El-Dev #25 3 years ago

    Steroyd, I meant TRU would have sold less than 1m.

  • nickthegun #26 3 years ago

    "Has anybody noticed on Xbox LIVE that one of the most popular downloads is a set of wetsuits for Lara?"

    Ways to recoup 20 million:

    Release DLC costume of nipple tassles and a thong.
    Release DLC costume of a playboy bunny outfit

    Charge 3 quid a shot.


  • Der_tolle_Emil #27 3 years ago

    I would have bought it if I hadn't played the demo. A lot of people think the game is quite good (and I still intend to buy it when it's cheaper) but the demo felt like the same game again including the same annoying camera. This put me off a bit because otherwise I would have gotten it on release because I really enjoyed Legend and Anniversary but the demo was very underwhelming.

  • spadge #28 3 years ago

    I'm not sure what the budget was for the game, but a lot of AAA next-gen games require 3-4m sales to justify the investment.

    This business model is pretty broken for the majority of titles, to be honest.

    BTW 1.5m sales does not equal 1.5m x £40 income... got to remove retail margin (25-35%), distribution margin, cost of goods, platform license, marketing costs, publishing costs and finally development costs (likely to be large). Greed has nothing to do with it, this is a very difficult and costly business. Having seen their share price drop 25% on the news is hardly suggesting they are being greedy.
    Edited by 1 at 09/01/09 @ 10:27

  • BillyBrush #29 3 years ago

    3 - 4m sales is big profit..

    they lie about break evens which are prob 400k units or 1m if they've spent as much money and effort on it as a Half Life 2

  • TurboBailey #30 3 years ago

    Holy Crap - Its on Every format going. I only thought is was on PC / PS3 /XBOX

    [link url=http://www.play.com/Search.aspx?searchtype=all products&searchstring=tomb+raider+underworld&page=search&pa= search&go.x=0&go.y=0
    ]http://ww w.play.com/Search.aspx?searchty...[/link]

  • schnide #31 3 years ago

    Hey Eidos, maybe if you'd fixed those camera bugs and dodgy combat then the review scores might have been a little higher, and so would your sales figures?

    But you did still put a lot of effort it, and if I hadn't missed the £20 price point sales then you'd have had an extra buy from me.

  • Monkey_Puncher #32 3 years ago

    They should have released it in April or sometime where it wouldn't have got lost amongst the other big releases. Silly people!

  • muscleblade #33 3 years ago

    They should blame it on the competition imo. Too many good games coming out. I can afford every game, but why buy games i never have the time to play. I bought Dead Space, Fable 2,Gears 2, L4D, Naruto 2, POP and dont have time to play more games at the moment. When im finished with those, games like SFIV, FEAR2 and RE5 is out.

  • spadge #34 3 years ago

    BillyBrush, total nonsense 400k-1m as break even. On what basis do you work that out? (I'm in the industry and have been in it for 20yrs). The profit from each game sale is a few quid, not £40 a time. The cost of developing the game has got to be in the region of $10-20m (purely a guess based on many AAA titles) and as such I'd imagine recoup to be well over 1m units - they won't see much in the way of profits at all (if any). It isn't just about the dev costs, it's about publishing (mktg, cost of goods, licenses etc) too.

    Had it been a huge success and very profitable, they'd crow about it from the roof-tops, not see 25% wiped off the share value because of disappointing sales.

    Nice to see everyone enjoying one of the last remaining UK (and European) publishers on their arse.




  • beckyh #35 3 years ago

    Late quarter releases are for big titles only where it can be assured of huge sales. Sorry to Eidos, but Tomb Raider can no longer be considered a top title amongst the pre-Christmas rush, as much as they like to believe it. Games like Tomb Raider which are not considered big releases just get swallowed up amongst the better and more demanded titles.

    This is not to say Tomb Raider is a rubbish game, it was actually quite good. The problem is that their marketing department and publisher failed them. To push for a big time release at Christmas was the worst possible time. Lesser titles like this would gain more attention by releasing in the first quarter - January, February or March when releases are scarce and people are itching to buy new games.

  • Benno #36 3 years ago

    1.5 million sales is really good isn't it?

  • Farzlepot #37 3 years ago

    "Don't you mean "an extra 1 million"."

    Actually I think Tomb Raider is the exception rather than the rule, possibly because of her far-reaching assets I don't know. But a lot of games have been released in the past where the protagonist is female, and despite a lot of them being superb most of them didn't sell well. Remember Urban Chaos, or NOLF? Perhaps they weren't marketed properly, or perhaps young, male gamers couldn't stand to play as a woman... we'll never know...

  • muscleblade #38 3 years ago

    @beckyh

    Q1 2009 is not going to be scarce, but i agree with you that they should have released it in a different period.
    I would have bought TR:U and Mirrors edge if they where relased in a quiet period no doubth. Seems like the quite periods are starting to extinct though.

  • UncleLou #39 3 years ago

    Tomb Raider = Playstation.


    What?

  • redneon Verified Programmer, SUMO Digital #40 3 years ago

    @SgtFrog:

    Sorry, dude, but if anything...

    Tomb Raider = Saturn.

  • drumbaby #41 3 years ago

    The reviews have been mixed, I own a PS3, so can't play the demo...so I'm not buying, simple.

  • nick_f Verified Senior Producer, Microsoft #42 3 years ago

    For reference, Tomb Raider Legend was released in Q1 2006 and sold 2.6 million copies in a similar timeframe.

    [link url=http://www.gamesind ustry.biz/articles/sci-on-track-for-profitability-as-tomb-ra ider-sells-26m
    ]http://ww w.gamesindustry.biz/articles/sc...[/link]

    I wouldn't blame the low sales on anything other than the credit crunch and the vast amount of competition, personally. Plently of other quality games have struggled in the market this holiday (Mirror's Edge, LBP).

    I think Crystal Dynamics delivered the best Tomb Raider game yet, and it is a shame 1.5 million sales is considered a disappointment.

  • spitfire1945 #43 3 years ago

    That deserves well to Eidos for what they said about review's scores not to be under 8 or else!

    Game isn't an AAA title and scores of 8 or above are not fair... 7 is more like it!

    F*** you Eidos!

  • schnide #44 3 years ago

    spadge, do you work for Team 17 (or used to)?

  • makeamazing #45 3 years ago

    The reason why 1.5 million is considered a disappointment is that Eidos have been in financial trouble for a while, and so they were hoping this was going to help them get out of the mire. So yes in terms of sales 1.5 million is pretty good, but for a company in dire straights, then not as much as they had hoped/wanted.

  • Widge #46 3 years ago

    What has Eidos been doing outside of Tomb Raider recently?

  • spadge #47 3 years ago

    schnide, yeah (still there)

  • BTBAM #48 3 years ago

    You were always my favourite of the team 17 worms.

  • Widge #49 3 years ago

    I liked Project X.... well the first level anyway as the other ones were BASTARD HARD. Great soundtrack. I forgot who did it, Richard someone. Did a stonking soundtrack to Diggers on the CD32 too.

  • muscleblade #50 3 years ago

    The problems for me is the huge amount of new games coming almost every month. I want to play all the above average games but on the 360 alone there is at least 3-5 new game relases almost every month not counting the xbla releases every week. No way i have the time to play half of the games and i play a lot more than the average gamer.
    Edited by 1 at 09/01/09 @ 12:11

  • Fleisch #51 3 years ago

    I blame the price, I'd buy it for £20-£25 but just cant justify £35+ for it.

  • Schiraman #52 3 years ago

    Having played the demo, I blame the fact that the game just wasn't very good.

    Although IMO Tomb Raider has never been anything special in terms of gameplay, except perhaps when the first game came out way back when. Let's be honest, the only reason it gets anything like the attention it does is because of Lara's norks.

  • eddiep #53 3 years ago

    farticus: Have you played Uncharted ? The Indiana Jones feeling is there. In spades.

  • Thunderbolt #54 3 years ago

    Uncharted is a PS3 exclusive which is a shame as it sounds rather good. Everyone else will just have to play with Lara instead

  • Widge #55 3 years ago

    fnar

  • michaelius #56 3 years ago

    Sorry, dude, but if anything...

    Tomb Raider = Saturn.

    Sorry dude but Tomb Raider = pc :)

  • sickpuppysoftware #57 3 years ago

    My reasons for not purchasing: Too many other games around, too similar to previous installments to pay full whack for, still haven't finished anniversary, a demo showing any new features would be nice (PS3).

  • schnide #58 3 years ago

    @spage

    "bewarealienspadgehasdroppedone"

    ..or similar - a cheat for Alien Breed. That's how I know. Have that!

  • muscleblade #59 3 years ago

    "I blame the price, I'd buy it for £20-£25 but just cant justify £35+ for it.

    Games are way to cheap imo. Nes games did cost more back in the day you know. Fewer games with higher prices is the way to go. One new high quality game each month for each of the current gen consoles that costs twice as much should do the trick.

  • ZuluHero #60 3 years ago

    i just hope this doesn't signal the beginning of the end of TR...

    I really loved Underworld. Paid full whack for it day of release, and even the drop in price a week later didn't spoil it for me. Awesome game and awesome to replay (i'm going through for a third time to find the last few secrets and get the last few achievements)

  • Widge #61 3 years ago

    I also wished Uncharted had a meatier puzzle element, a bit like the Soul Reaver or God Of War puzzles. I.e. stuff that I might not be able to figure out in 2 minutes.

  • Schiraman #62 3 years ago

    @farticusmaximus

    The reason *you* like it might be because it "does something quite unique", but its main marketing drive is always based on Lara's looks and not on the gameplay at all. From a gameplay PoV it's a niche title at best. Also, it may be unique, but that doesn't mean it's any good - best in a category of one is not such a great accolade when you think about it... ;)

  • actionfitz #63 3 years ago

    I thoroughly enjoyed Tomb Raider: Underworld.
    nice opening scenes. bit of a shaky end to the act though - bad tombraider combat is bad.
    the following levels where a sheer delight to play though (except when, again, combat reared its ugly bonce).
    On the whole well worth the £25 i shelled out for it hehe.

  • actionfitz #64 3 years ago

    @nickthegun
    09-Jan-09 10:19:58
    "Release DLC costume of a playboy bunny outfit "

    ---

    im rather embarrassed by how likely it is I would buy that...
    >

  • Sean.Aaron #65 3 years ago

    "What has Eidos been doing outside of Tomb Raider recently? "

    They published Backbone's PS2/Wii game Monster Lab -- of course you probably wouldn't know that because Eidos doesn't appear to spend any marketing money on anything other than Tomb Raider...

  • the_mtfr #66 3 years ago

    Greedy bastards.

  • beastmaster #67 3 years ago

    I really enjoyed the latest TR. Hope they still do the DLC on it.

  • HyperShadow #68 3 years ago

    Again, I would've brought it, but the price I have put on it is £20-£25, if I see it at that price and have cleared some of my backlog, I would've brought it.

    Also, Eidos, if you release a game during the Christmas deluge in the hope that the brand name will help it stick out, sorry to disappoint you. There are plenty of opportunities from Januray to October to release games in aswell, and you would probably sell more.

  • mingster #69 3 years ago

    Its 1.5M sales over all formats thats poor.
    Thats prolly 750K on X360 top and about 500K on Ps3.

  • dr_lovejoy #70 3 years ago

    Sorry, dude, but if anything...

    Tomb Raider = Saturn.

    Sorry dude but Tomb Raider = pc :)

    Nope I'm affraid Tomb Raider was released on the Saturn first then on MS-DOS a few months later. So what he said was right and you wrong.

  • jonsaan #71 3 years ago

    Yes but compared to how she sold on the Playstation, TR really does=Playstation

  • drumbaby #72 3 years ago

    Uncharted certainly obviates the need for playing a mediocre TR game for PS3 owners. Roll on Uncharted 2!

  • teddybearzero #73 3 years ago

    "In a difficult North American economy we have seen retailers restricting inventory levels and triple-A products being price discounted above our expectation"

    Funniest Eidos quote ever :)

  • Melan #74 3 years ago

    Dont blame the economi. BLAME THE PIRATES and DRM.

  • bonker #75 3 years ago

    Well that's what you get when you turn what was just about the world's biggest ever AAA franchise into an A-and-a-half franchise by turning out mediocre releases in the middle of its lifetime.

    It's also what you get when you don't realise that your 'AAA' franchise is kinda old-hat now and the competition before Xmas is uber these days and you just don't make it anymore purely cos you used to be 'AAA' ...

    This is a 'problem' that's going to become more prevalent I reckon, expect the same next Xmas too as there's a lorra, lorra money going into games dev at the mo ...

    I'm starting to get the sniff of another 1983/84 gaming crash ...

  • Red-Moose #76 3 years ago

    1.5 Million sales is around €80-100 Million. Out of that, I think they can easily pay the large development costs (although not too large because it's old IP, with the same gameplay), marketing, distribution.

    It made plenty of profit after expenses, but the problem is that it doesn't make *enough* profit, perhaps a few million for the CEO and idos managment for bonuses.

    How much did the original cost? In reality, the extra costs are due to pointless marketing on the side of buses, as if it was a movie, and putting it on every platform, where only a small few will probably me the leaders.
    Edited by 1 at 11/01/09 @ 22:58

  • loop7 #77 3 years ago

    Bought it for £17.99 from Play before xmas but haven't taken it out of the box yet - too busy on Call of Duty and Littlebigplanet, can't really be bothered to start a new game that probably won't be great.

  • metalangel #78 3 years ago

    Disappointed? Have they not played even the demo of their own game?