Tomb Raider: Underworld sells more on PS3 than on 360

Eidos’ Tomb Raider: Underworld, released in the UK last Friday, has sold more on the PS3 than on the Xbox 360, official sales data has revealed.

Sales data from Chart Track shows that 51 per cent of sales of the game, developed by Crystal Dynamics, were for the PS3 version, with 34 per cent for the Xbox 360 version. The rest were made up of sales of the Wii, PC and DS versions.

The PS3 led sales come as something of a surprise given that earlier this month publisher Eidos announced plans for two brand new 360-exclusive chapters providing up to six hours of additional gameplay, the first of which will be available to download before the end of the year.

Tomb Raider: Underworld – Beneath the Ashes, which will be available this Christmas, takes place after the Underworld story has finished and will feature a new environment to explore, additional secrets to unlock and different enemies to fight. Tomb Raider: Underworld – Lara’s Shadow, planned for early 2009, will introduce players to a new playable character.

While the Tomb Raider brand made its name on PlayStation, it has in recent years been very much a multi-platform product. Last year’s original Tomb Raider remake, Anniversary, didn’t come out on the PS3, and neither did Legend (although that came out before the PS3 was released).

Tomb Raider: Underworld went in at a rather disappointing ninth place in this week’s all format chart, selling only 6,700 more copies than last year’s original Tomb Raider remake, Anniversary.

The sales are especially disappointing when you consider the positive critical reception to the game. Tom liked it very much, and gave it an 8/10 in his review, making it a recommended purchase.