After disappointing sales of Tomb Raider: Underworld in the US, publisher Eidos is considering revamping the franchise, including its voluptuous lead, to appeal to a wider audience.
This deficit in sales, supposedly to the tune of half a million copies less than expectations, has apparently cost Eidos somewhere in the region of £20 million, leading the company to reconsider how the series should be developed in the future.
The chief financial officer of Eidos, Robert Brent, had this to say on the idea, “We need to look at everything, as we develop the next game. Look at how Batman changed successfully, from the rather sad character of the Michael Keaton era to the noir style of The Dark Knight.”
Of course, the question of whether Tomb Raider can survive another redesign must be raised. After all, Lara had her ample curves reduced in Tomb Raider: Legend, ostensibly to appeal to a wider audience, and Tomb Raider: Underworld saw a shift away from combat with an increased focus on climbing and puzzle solving. Eidos may need to do something drastic if the franchise is to survive.
