Microsoft is still publishing the game, lets not forget.

Strange Indeed. IMHO this the first and the last time that Square Enix allow a timed exclusivity for XB1. This deal was probably made early in the gen and SE probably thought that the XB1 would have way better sales. Or maybe they are not happy at all about MS marketing of ROTR

The Xbox version, and what does that have to do with anything?

I think SE didn't want Tomb Raider to compete with Uncharted 4, so they thought that a timed exclusive with X1 is a better option. SE really didn't expect Sony to delay their biggest exclusive. 

As in, "right now". SE seems to have abandoned the game for some time, at least the X1 version. Not at their E3 conference (I think? does anyone remember?) and not listed for Gamescom either. Sure, it can easily be because "MS shows it instead" but that didn't stop SE from "sharing" Hitman, WOFF and FFVIIR at E3, as well as announcing a PS4 exclusive at their own conference.

In all likelihood it's just a matter of this deal being solely about the money with no actual "relationship" involved. That's happening between SE and Sony instead, they are holding hands. Or at least it started happening sometime last year (2nd half). So, Square got the money, and they don't care about keeping MS more or less happy, it's irrelevant to them. Sony, on the other hand, aren't irrelevant to them.

I guess what i'm trying to say is that there's nothing wrong, there simply isn't nothing "right" either. There's just nothing, basically.

What a mess this game has become, MS stirred the pot and managed to spill the broth all over their own toes...
1.) Tomb Raider is XBox exclusive
2.) Well, holiday 2015 exclusive, you got us there
3.) At least we avoid Uncharted
4.) Dammit, Uncharted is delayed
5.) But it will be a pillar of our lineup in November
6.) Dammit, Fallout 4 is released on the same day
7.) Well, let's just spill all the beans and definitely confirm the game for PS4 for all those doubters

Definitely the worst executed moneyhat in the history of momeyhattery. And the worst part is that it will hurt the franchise a lot (and I really love the franchise and love the reboot as well).

I also think that a year delay is not dictated by MS. I think the deal was to release both PC and PS4 versions in the spring together, but then Uncharted got delayed and now Square Enix made the call to make as much distance between two games as possible.

I don't mind waiting, three, six months or a year is the same thing, as long as I know that the game is coming.

They don't just pay for the game's timed exclusivity.  They do what a publisher does.  

As if the wording wasnt obvious enough. 

Exclusive Holiday 2015. 

welcome to reality. 

By that definition, we could have expected a PS4 release in Jan 2016. 

I hope Microsoft does a hostile takeover on SE and dismantle all their workforce and kill their franchises. That'd be a great way to tell them to f-off to them and Sony just for messing with them.