Shifting Priorities:

According to the internal email exchange, reported by the Verge, Microsoft recognized a “yield miss” for the Xbox Series X/S consoles, but attributed the console scarcity during the initial launch period to factors beyond hardware production issues. The company strategically reduced compute units on the consoles to improve production yield, while simultaneously holding back chips for its cloud gaming services. This decision underscores Microsoft’s focus on investing in the cloud and gaming content over console volumes.

Cloud Gaming Investment:

Less than a year after the launch of Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft upgraded its Xbox Cloud Gaming servers with custom Xbox Series X hardware. This upgrade aimed to enhance frame rates and load times for an improved gaming experience. Microsoft’s investments in its cloud infrastructure for Xbox Cloud Gaming demonstrate its belief that cloud-based gaming, combined with compelling content, is crucial to realizing its full potential in the gaming industry.

Windows 11 in the Cloud:

Microsoft’s future plans involve streaming the entire Windows 11 operating system from the cloud. Presentation documents from the ongoing hearings between the Federal Trade Commission and Microsoft shed light on the company’s long-term goal. By leveraging cloud technology, Microsoft aims to enable users to load Windows 11 seamlessly, further expanding the accessibility and availability of its software suite. This move aligns with the company’s strategy of using the power of the cloud to offer improved AI-powered services and a personalized digital experience.

Implications and Challenges:

While Microsoft’s focus on cloud and streaming services holds significant potential, it does come with challenges. The company’s ongoing acquisition of Activision Blizzard is being closely scrutinized by regulators due to concerns about reduced competition in the gaming market. Microsoft’s determination to grow its cloud-based services, including Xbox Game Pass, has attracted antitrust advocates’ attention. However, Microsoft remains confident in its ability to leverage its console strength, developer engagement, gaming community, and content catalogue to differentiate itself from competitors like Amazon Luna and Google Stadia.

Conclusion:

Microsoft’s decision to prioritize cloud and streaming services over Xbox Series X/S console sales reflects its long-term ambition to establish a strong presence in the cloud gaming market. By sacrificing immediate sales growth, the company aims to invest in its cloud infrastructure, gaming content, and AI-powered services. Furthermore, Microsoft’s goal of streaming the entire Windows 11 operating system from the cloud signifies its commitment to revolutionizing the user experience and expanding the reach of its software suite. As the industry evolves, Microsoft’s strategic shift positions it at the forefront of the cloud gaming and streaming revolution.

The post Microsoft’s Strategic Shift: Prioritising Cloud Over Console Sales first appeared on Tomb of Ash.

 I am giving away a number of cards signed by Jonell Elliott and/or Murti Schofield, Tomb Raider: The Myth of El Hawa posters and Tomb Raider: The Dark Angel Symphony Posters.

The offer is open to everyone who bought / will buy me a Ko‑fi in 2023. The offer is valid until the stock is gone.

I will aim to include at least one signed item in your envelope.

CLAIM HERE (Ko-fi login required, post visible to supporters only) or Support me on Ko-fi.

The post Signed Tomb Raider cards. Lara’s Birthday Gift to my sponsors. first appeared on Tomb of Ash.

The post Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness Restoration Project first appeared on Tomb of Ash.

I recommend using an older Maya version to open these and then export in a better format. 

DOWNLOAD

Download mirrors are sponsored by our ko-fi donors.

Mirror 1  Mirror 2 

More The Angel of Darkness stuff here.

The post Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness Character Pack first appeared on Tomb of Ash.

Castle Kriegler was located in Germany. The dark alchemyst Pieter Van Eckhardt was imprisoned there. The Krieglers guarded him until the World War II when the allied bombing destroyed the castle, and released Eckhardt, the event that can be seen in the storyboards we published. 

Cappadocia was another area that was planned for the game. It is a region in Turkey. was where the Sleeper was found by the Cabal. It was then transported by a Truck Driver to Strahov in Prague.

Evidently, there were more sleepers left behind in the underground:

Previously we only seen these levels in a form of concept art or early Maya screenshots. Today I received the original Maya files for these levels. 

I recommend using an older Maya version to open these and then export in a better format. 

Hopefully these will be of use for modders and Level Editors.

DOWNLOAD

Download mirrors are sponsored by our ko-fi donors.

Mirror 1  Mirror 2 

Gallery

The post Cappadocia and Castle Kriegler from Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness first appeared on Tomb of Ash.

As you know, I have been working to create an animated short film showing the events between Tomb Raider 4 and The Angel of Darkness. This will finally explain what happened to Lara before the events in Paris. The story is being created by Murti Schofield, the writer for the Angel of Darkness.

Jonell Elliott will be back to voice Lara and it will be done in a similar style to my Lara’s diary video I did with Shelley Blond:

Murti finished the script and it is now with Adayka for drawings and Jonell for voiceover. I am starting working on animation real soon too.

I will be live-streaming some of the work in progress processes on my discord in VIP section so if you’re a Ko‑fi supporter let me know and I’ll add you

A few facts about it. The film should be about 10-13 minutes long.

There are two scripts actually:

-shorter version that we are animating

-longer version that will be released after the film for those looking to read and get more details.

We have a poster for the whole project and a final title!

Tomb Raider: The Myth of El Hawa

Adayka is doing some incredible artwork carefully guided by Murti’s notes and his insight on how he sees stuff!

I now have set a new funding goal on Ko‑fi for a 2nd PC that would be used solely for streaming and rendering projects. This will unload my main PC so I could for example continue doing other editing work whilst the second workstation is rendering. I’ve done some research on prices etc.

Thank you all so much for your continued support. This has helped me so much with website costs, software costs and even improvement for my mental health (with new ebike).

I’m off next week for as it’s my birthday on the 27th. I plan to spend it working on the El Hawa project and hopefully stream Tomb Raider: Chronicles on my birthday with Core Design team members. Give me a follow so you don’t miss it if it happens:

Twitch.tv/tomb_of_ash

The post Tomb Raider: The myth of El Hawa (starring Jonell Elliott as Lara Croft) first appeared on Tomb of Ash.

The post Tomb of Ash Wallpapers first appeared on Tomb of Ash.

Pictured Jonnell Elliott – the voice of Lara, Joss Ackland – the voice of Eckhardt, Murti Schofield – the writer of the Angel of Darkness, and Eric Loren – the voice of Kurtis Trent and Jason Isaacs

The post Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness Voice Over Recording Session photos first appeared on Tomb of Ash.

When I started Tomb of Ash it was my goal to ensure that the original Tomb Raider game series by Core Design is not forgotten.
I started this blog after interviewing Andy Sandham for LaraCroft.ru (which translated it into Russian) and realising that I have no place to upload the original, English version of the interview anywhere. I posted it on my personal Tumblr, and later it developed into the page you’re reading this interview from.

I never dreamed that I would manage to publish so much unseen material from the original games. I never thought I’d be able to interview so many heroes of our childhood. I never imagined I’d get early levels and developer files for fans to use for their mods and such. And of course, I never thought I’d be the one to publish Tomb Raider: 10th Anniversary Edition, the game, screenshots of which excited me back in 2006.

It is now my mission to ensure that any assets I received are not only double uploaded onto two separate cloud servers (thanks to those of you who donated me on ko-fi to make it happen) but also archive.org. However, Tomb Raider: 10th Anniversary Edition deserves a bit more than just being preserved online.
As such, I’ve been contacting a few video game museums if they’d be interested at having a physical copy of all the developer assets (and fan-made patches that made them playable) in their collections. I’ve received some positive feedback, so I started working on putting this project together. I asked Gary Larochelle, the designer who created incredible manuals and CD covers for Tomb Raider 2: Golden Mask and Tomb Raider 3: The Lost Artefact, to create a print layout. I spoke to a few duplication centres, and we got a quote for this as well.
And I also realised that I should share this opportunity with other fans like myself who kept the memory of Tomb Raider: 10th Anniversary Edition alive in their creativity.

If you have any fan-art, fanfic, cosplay, video edits, essays/opinions (could be in video or text form), articles, anything really that is about Tomb Raider: 10th Anniversary Edition and would like it to be included in this project then read a note below.

I think it’s important that Tomb Raider: 10th Anniversary Edition, the ambitious game that never was, will receive a release in some form, even if in a very limited run. I also think it’ll be great to include fan works, after all, it is the fans who are actively patching and fixing the game.

I will be ordering at least 50 copies (this is the minimum order) and if you’d like to get one, you’ll be able to do so once the artwork is finalised. This is a not-for-profit project; the money paid will cover the production of the unit, packaging, and shipping. There will be no mark up.

SUBMITTING YOUR WORKS

I’d like to include any fan produced works that are related to Tomb Raider: 10th Anniversary Edition.

This includes (but not limited to) drawings, videos, music, cosplay, TRLE games.

If you’d like to contribute please ensure that:

• You name the file in the following format *Title – Artist name*, for example “T-rex stomps – Janice.jpg”.
• Include thumbnail if you’re sending a video or a TRLE game
• If you want to submit a video that you previously uploaded on Youtube you’ll need to send the actual .mp4 file.
• Use Dropbox, Google Drive or anything else that has no time limit for downloads (DO NOT use wetransfer).
• Send the link via contact form.

THE DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 28th! NO WORKS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTERWARDS.

You can now order your copy of Tomb Raider: 10th Anniversary Edition Unofficial Tribute DVD here.

The post [updated] Calling all artists – contribute to Tomb Raider: Anniversary Edition DVD first appeared on Tomb of Ash.

The shop has closed down quite a while back. To ensure all the creative assets are preserved and accessible to those who missed out on the Dark Angel Symphony we archived all the digital assets in one place for you.

This drop includes:

• FLAC (lossless) and MP3 (lossy) Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered OST
• FLAC (lossless) and MP3 (lossy) Tomb Raider: The Dark Angel Symphony
• Kurtis Trent Journal
• Tomb Raider: The Dark Angel Symphony Sibelius MIDI
• Tomb Raider: The Dark Angel Symphony Sheet music
• Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness Sheet music
• Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness MIDI files
• Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness 5.1 Surround DVD* 
• Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness Master CD (the actual orchestral recording from Abbey Road in 2002).

*The easiest way to see and listen to content on 5.1 DVD is to download VLC, download the “The angel of Darkness 5.1 surround ost” archive (links below) and extract it. Launch VLC, click MEDIA = > Open Folder. Navigate to where you extracted the surround ost archive.

If you like what we do, please consider supporting us on Ko-fi.

DOWNLOAD

Archive.org (slow)

Ko-fi (fast) 

The post Preserving Tomb Raider: The Dark Angel Symphony. OST, sheetmusic, midi and more! first appeared on Tomb of Ash.