Square Enix announces two new Tomb Raider sequels

Not only did Square Enix announce a sequel to 2013's Tomb Raider, Rise of the Tomb Raider, during the Microsoft E3 presentation, but during the post-show on Spike, they also announced another sequel, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris. The announcement trailer for Rise of the Tomb Raider shows Lara with a therapist, talking over her frustrations and anxieties over what happened in the previous game. It might be an interesting framing device if that's how Rise of the Tomb Raider is structured, but it works well enough for the trailer. Supposedly, the name Rise of Tomb Raider implies there will be a lot more focus on tombs and exploring in the sequel than the first game. Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, however, is a follow-up to Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, which I reviewed when it came out in 2010. It's an isometric puzzle platformers with twin-stick shooter controls, and with up to four player co-op now instead of just two, I can only imagine how complex and intricate the puzzles will be. Rise of the Tomb Raider is scheduled for holiday 2015 for, presumably, the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, while Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris has no date announced yet, but has been confirmed for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.

The first Thief reboot trailer

Square Enix unveiled the first trailer for the recently re-announced Thief game. Previously slated as Thief 4 back when it was first announced back in 2009, it's now positioned as a reboot, taking Garret back into the industrial metropolis known simply as the City to take anything and everything. For those unaware of the lineage of the Thief series, there are sure to be comparison to last year’s Dishonored, which the trailer doesn’t try to sidestep. Thief is due to hit PC, PlayStation 4, and other next generation platforms sometime in 2014.

Finding a good home for THQ's games

Look, there’s a reason I would be a terrible analyst. THQ is done. After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy at the end of last year in an attempt to sell the company to Clearlake Capital Group for $60 million, the judge governing over the filing sided instead with a group of creditors and US trustees. They objected to the sale, claiming the 30-day window was not long enough to provide other companies a chance to offer a bid. The result means THQ will be auctioned off piece by piece next week on January 22. Whether that means by franchise, studio, or both is unknown.

New Trailer for Tomb Raider, Coming 2012

GTTV unveiled a new CGI trailer last night on Spike TV for the Square Enix published and Crystal Dynamics developed Tomb Raider. In this reboot of the Tomb Raider franchise, a young Lara Croft is the sole-survivor of a ship wrecked on a lost island, where she must survive the torture of isolation with no means of communication. Tomb Raider is schedule for a fall 2012 release for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.