Trending 
Lara Croft is set to return to the spotlight nearly three decades after her debut, with two new Tomb Raider games confirmed by American studio Crystal Dynamics, including a remake of the original title and a brand-new instalment in the long-running franchise.
The iconic adventurer will reappear on PlayStation, Xbox and PC next year in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, a reimagining of the first game released in 1996.
This will be followed in 2027 by Tomb Raider: Catalyst, an entirely new entry in a series that has sold more than 100 million copies worldwide.
Crystal Dynamics chief Scot Amos described the remake as a tribute to the franchise’s loyal fanbase, calling it “a love letter by fans, for fans” designed to celebrate the series’ 30th anniversary.
He said the project was intended to honour what made the original special while bringing it up to date for a modern audience.
The remake is being built from the ground up using the Unreal Engine 5, with developers aiming to preserve the feel of the original while updating the gameplay to meet contemporary expectations.
Project director Will Kerslake said the goal was for players to relive the sense of discovery they felt the first time around, but with the smoothness and depth of a modern game. The title is being co-developed with Polish studio Flying Wild Hog.
When it launched in the mid-1990s, the original Tomb Raider stood out for its cutting-edge graphics and its trailblazing female lead, quickly turning Lara Croft into one of gaming’s most recognisable figures and an early symbol of the industry’s global appeal.
Crystal Dynamics took over development of the series in the mid-2000s after publisher Eidos ended its partnership with British studio Core Design following a run of underwhelming releases.
The company previously released a remake of the original game in 2006 before rebooting the franchise in 2013 with a trilogy that explored a younger version of Lara.
British actress Alix Wilton Regan will once again provide the voice for Lara Croft in the upcoming titles. The character has also been given a visual refresh, with Catalyst portraying a more seasoned and confident heroine at the height of her abilities, according to Kerslake.
The new instalment, developed by Crystal Dynamics’ lead team, is set in India and has been described by Amos as the most ambitious Tomb Raider game the studio has produced to date.
Crystal Dynamics, which is owned by Sweden’s Embracer Group, is working in partnership with Amazon Games on the upcoming releases.
Beyond gaming, the franchise is also expanding on screen, with a Tomb Raider television series in development for Amazon’s Prime Video platform.
The project will be written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, with Sophie Turner cast in the role of Lara Croft, marking the character’s latest reinvention following the films that starred Angelina Jolie in the early 2000s.
