Tomb Raider reboot tops 8.5 million sales worldwide

Square Enix have announced that 2013's Tomb Raider reboot has surpassed 8.5 million units sold worldwide. The multi-format release saw versions of the game head to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC and later PS4 and Xbox One with a remastered Definitive Edition.

Crystal Dynamics' reboot of the famous adventuring series and its iconic hero Lara Croft was well-received upon release, bringing the franchise up to date and making it a competitor for Naughty Dog's Uncharted series.

Crystal Dynamics head David Gallagher said (via DualShockers): "Tomb Raider ignited and expanded the fan base, pushing the series to a new level. The game's incredible sales success reflects the passionate response of players. Our studio is proud of what we accomplished with the game."

The impressive sales figures makes the latest Tomb Raider the best-selling in the series to date. All in all the series has sold over 40 million units since it first began in 1996.

A sequel – Rise of the Tomb Raider – was announced in 2014 for release exclusively on Xbox One. The major coup for Microsoft had positioned it against PS4-exclusive Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, until that game's unfortunate delay in March.

Rise of the Tomb Raider will feature a new crafting system and an improved weather system and a day-night cycle that influences the AI of enemy guards and wild animals. The game is still on course for release in late 2015.