Lara keeps Eidos profits waiting

The delayed release of the latest Tomb Raider computer game featuring cyber-babe Lara Croft today forced publisher Eidos to cut its annual pre-tax profit forecast.

Shares in the company slipped 8% despite Eidos saying the delay was not expected to impact the overall estimated sales for the title.

But the UK release of Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, which launched successfully in the US last week, means sales will not contribute to the current financial year.

In a trading update today, Eidos said that up to one million units of the game would ship in Europe in July – the first month of the next financial year.

The long-awaited title was originally due out last November but tweaking of the game has repeatedly delayed its publication.

Eidos said in March it was keen to ensure the game was of sufficient quality to meet expectations.

More than 29 million games from the popular Tomb Raider series have been sold to date.

The release for Playstation2 and PCs is designed to tie in with the launch of Tomb Raider film sequel “The Cradle of Life” which is scheduled for US release by Paramount Pictures on July 25.

The film hits European cinema screens on August 22.

Eidos also confirmed the successful launch of its Italian Job game on June 24 in the US.

The launch date was accelerated to benefit from the May 30 release of a remake of the original 1960s film, which starred Michael Caine. The game will be published on Playstation2, Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo GameCube.

In March Eidos announced its return to profit after three years in the red thanks to bumper sales of its Hitman 2 and Timesplitters 2 titles over the key Christmas period.

The company is due to publish preliminary results on September 4.

Shares eased 10.75p to 128p.