EIDOS PLC TO RETAIN CORE DESIGN STUDIO
Copyright 2003 www.tombraiderchronicles.com

[ November 4th 2003 ]

Eidos Plc has confirmed Core Design Ltd will continue to operate in its current capacity as a leading videogame developer contrary to an article we published Friday 31 September 2003 suggesting the impending downgrading of operations at the Derbyshire-based studio. A statement released by Eidos today concluded that "Core Design is very much part of Eidos' long term plans and will be retained as a development studio." Our article published Friday 31 September 2003 was therefore in error, and we apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.

In a press release earlier this year, Eidos announced it was transferring the development of the Tomb Raider franchise to its Crystal Dynamics studio in the US in a move the company said would enhance the value and maximise the commercial opportunity of one of its key franchises. At the time, Eidos also announced the company would be conducting "a thorough evaluation of Core Design studio's on-going direction and contribution as part of the group's overall development capabilities."

Eidos strengthened its position within the videogames industry in 1996 with the acquisition of CentreGold plc, which included Core Design and US Gold. Since then, Core Design has been responsible for developing the Tomb Raider franchise, based on an original idea by creator Toby Gard, and other key titles including Project Eden, Herdy Gerdy and Thunderhawk, all pinnacle products for their day. Tomb Raider still remains one of the most potent franchises to date, selling over 30 million units across multiple console formats and lending its brand to Paramount Pictures who produced two motion pictures starring Oscar winner Angelina Jolie as British aristocrat Lara Croft.

The next Tomb Raider game is scheduled to release during the financial year to 30 June 2005.