Tomb Raider DLC: Crystal rules out "removing content to make money"

Crystal Dynamics won't commit to Tomb Raider DLC packs, insisting that it's 100 per cent focused on polishing off the game itself, but if they happen, expect them to extend the experience in an unusual and meaningful manner.

"Obviously it's not something I can get into detail about right now," global brand director Karl Stewart commented in a fan Q&A. "We will look into DLC and we've done DLC in the past, but it all boils down to experience.

"We need to make sure it fits. We also need to make sure we have time to build it, and we're focused on the core experience right now. As far as exclusives, again, there is no real comment on that because you never know what's around the corner.

"We try and keep as agnostic as possible, but I can't even say if there will be a repeat of the Xbox exclusive for Underworld. If we do DLC, what's the story? How does it fit within the game? That comes first.

"We will build our game from start to finish and we want people to experience that 100 percent. When you pick up a copy of our game we want you to feel like you started and finished something. The story ended."

If Crystal does wind up making DLC for Tomb Raider - and if Square Enix has any say in the matter, we suspect it will - the DLC could head off in some unexpected directions. Fingers crossed for a sex scene, Karl?

"If there is a piece of DLC, it may continue on a different trail from something that was hinted at in the game, or it might take something out of left field," Stewart went on. "DLC will give you a different experience, however, it's certainly not something that has been removed from the game in order to make more money.

"That is completely against what we're all about. Especially in regards to Tomb Raider it's more important than ever that we do DLC right. The end of the game has to feel definitive. You don't see a movie in a theater only for the big finale to be reserved for the DVD. That doesn't happen."

For more on Tomb Raider, check our 12 for 2012 Q&A. Square has yet to announce a release date, but we suspect it'll be after May.