Rise of the Tomb Raider now available at the Windows 10 Store and Steam

Previously a Xbox One exclusive, Rise of the Tomb Raider follows the series' famed heroine, Lara Croft, on a quest to unlock the secrets of immortality. The latest game in the series is a single-player only affair, featuring cutting edge graphics and explosive third-person combat.

While Rise of the Tomb Raider sits among the most gorgeous games on Xbox One, PC gamers with high-end rigs can really push the visuals into an entirely new dimension, as detailed in the tech trailer above.

After uncovering an ancient mystery, Lara must explore the most treacherous and remote regions of Siberia to find the secret of immortality before a ruthless organization known as Trinity. Lara must use her wits and survival skills, form new alliances, and ultimately embrace her destiny as the Tomb Raider. Experience high-octane action moments, conquer beautifully hostile environments, engage in brutal guerilla combat, and explore awe-inspiring deadly tombs in the evolution of survival action. In "Rise of the Tomb Raider," Lara becomes more than a survivor as she embarks on her first Tomb Raiding expedition.

If you're purchasing the game from the Windows 10 Store, it'll come with Xbox achievements and include all the social features found in the Windows 10 Xbox app. Rise of the Tomb Raider is also available on Steam for those who prefer Valve's more mature PC game distribution service.

Speaking of which, there are a few issues you should be aware of should you plan to download the game from the Windows 10 Store. Since this is likely by far the biggest single download available in the store, Microsoft has yet to update the UI to reflect such large data transfers, as noted by the following:

  • Windows 10 download progress bar does not accurately display progress.
  • Due to a UI issue download progress may not be accurately displayed (despite downloading without issue).
  • When pausing and resuming the download, it may appear that the download has reset (appears to start from 0). However, actual download progress has not been affected.

Whether you're downloading from Steam or the Windows 10 Store, here are the minimum system requirements:

  • OS: Windows 7 (64-bit)
  • Processor: Intel Core i3-2100 or AMD Phenom II X4 945
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 650 2GB or AMD HD7770 2GB
  • RAM: 6 (Six) GB
  • Hard Disk Space: 35 GB (base game)
  • Requires DX11

Here are the recommended system requirements:

  • OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
  • Processor: Intel Core i7-3770, 3.40GHz or AMD FX-8350, 4.0Ghz
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon R9 290x
  • RAM: 8 (Eight) GB
  • Hard Disk Space: 35 GB (base game)
  • Requires DX11

If you're a Windows 10 user purchasing from the Windows 10 Store, note that Microsoft requires you to have installed the November update (Version 1511). You can learn how to check if you're fully up to date here.

Rise of the Tomb Raider marks the Windows 10 Store's first foray into triple-A PC gaming. We know that Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, Fable Legends, Killer Instinct and various other Xbox One titles are heading to Windows 10 via the store. It'll be interesting to see how far Microsoft go to compete with Steam over the coming months.

Jez Corden
Co-Managing Editor

Jez Corden is a Managing Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by tea. Follow on Twitter @JezCorden and listen to his XB2 Podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!