Livingstone: Tomb Raider reaction "quite extreme"

The recent controversy surrounding Tomb Raider's E3 trailer was "quite extreme" and "blown out of proportion", according to Eidos life president Ian Livingstone.

Tomb Raider executive producer Ron Rosenberg recently described a moment in the game's latest trailer as attempted rape, adding that the vulnerabilities of heroine Lara Croft would make gamers want to "protect" her.

Rosenberg's comments were a "live interview that went slightly wrong. Quotes were misinterpreted and blown out of proportion," Livingstone told an audience at the Game Horizon conference in Newcastle this afternoon, reported by Edge.

While the issue of rape is covered in other mediums, video games are different, Livingstone explained.

"I think about my responsibility as a developer - films can deal with these themes, but it's different in games when the user controls the action.

"We should be celebrating what's great about the game," Livingstone added. "I guarantee fans will be delighted with the new Tomb Raider."

Livingstone's message echoes that of Darrell Gallagher, boss of Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics. "Sexual assault of any kind is categorically not a theme that we cover in this game," Gallagher previously said, in response to Rosenberg's comments.