Tomb Raider Developers Want To Both Honor And Reimagine The Series On Its 30th Anniversary

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At the 2025 Game Awards, fans of Tomb Raider received a double surprise with announcements for two new Lara Croft games. One is a completely new adventure called Tomb Raider: Catalyst, and the other, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, is a fresh take on the classic game from 1996 that first launched the series. Crystal Dynamics created Legacy of Atlantis to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Tomb Raider, aiming to both capture the nostalgia for longtime players and attract a new generation of fans.

During a recent event, Crystal Dynamics studio head Scot Amos and game director Will Kerslake shared their excitement about working on Legacy of Atlantis, as they are longtime fans of the series. The game is a remake of Lara Croft’s original adventure – a massive worldwide search for an artifact from the lost city of Atlantis – rebuilt with impressive modern graphics using Unreal Engine 5. Amos and Kerslake assured fans that all the iconic moments, locations, and puzzles from the original game will be included, along with a few new surprises.

Legacy of Atlantis Celebrates 30 Years of Tomb Raider

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According to Amos, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is a project created by devoted fans, for other fans. He explained that Legacy of Atlantis – a fresh take on the original game with enjoyable additions like classic outfits, such as the wetsuit from Underworld – was always intended as a celebration of Tomb Raider’s 30th anniversary. The Crystal Dynamics team viewed the game as a chance to honor everything they and the fanbase love about the series.

We were planning for the 30th anniversary and wanted to create a celebration that not only marked the occasion, but also stayed true to the spirit and original vision of the game that started it all.

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Amos and Kerslake wanted to capture the essence of the original Tomb Raider game, especially the memorable moments that made it special. They specifically focused on recreating the thrilling wolf encounter and the tense face-off with the Tyrannosaurus rex – a scene briefly featured in the Legacy of Atlantis trailer. Amos shared that these scenes stuck with him long after playing the game and he’s eager for both veteran and new players to experience them.

In the first game, players battled a T. rex, and we wanted to recapture that excitement in this new version. We asked ourselves how to make that moment even more impactful – something players, whether experiencing it for the first time or as longtime fans, will truly remember.

The Game Is A Re-Imagining, Not A Remake

The marketing for Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, including the trailer shown at the 2025 Game Awards, has consistently described the game as a “re-imagining,” rather than a “remake.” According to Kerslake, this is because while Legacy of Atlantis will include everything from the original game, it also boasts substantial improvements to the graphics, gameplay, and combat, with some additional unannounced features planned.

We’re building on what made the original game so special by updating it with the advanced technology of Unreal Engine 5. We’re committed to preserving the core elements players love – Lara Croft’s strength and resourcefulness, the exciting worldwide adventures, and the clever puzzles. To deliver truly unforgettable moments, we’re taking the game in a new direction, reimagining it with a modern feel and gameplay experience.

The team at Crystal Dynamics has been able to significantly enhance and expand upon the original game thanks to the power of Unreal Engine 5. According to Amos, details that were once simple images are now fully realized in 3D. The recent trailer for Legacy of Atlantis offered a glimpse of the game’s stunning visuals. Kerslake also confirmed that the game will continue the tradition of the original, taking Lara Croft on a worldwide adventure to places like the Peruvian Andes, Greece, and Egypt, ultimately leading to the lost city of Atlantis.

Fans can expect the return of the dangerous traps Lara Croft is famous for facing in ancient tombs and secret places. The trailer already showed one classic trap making a comeback: a huge rolling boulder sequence reminiscent of Indiana Jones. Though details are scarce, the game’s creative director hinted that many other iconic traps and perilous situations will be featured in Legacy of Atlantis. He assured players that the core Tomb Raider experience – including puzzles, combat, challenging movement, and thrilling action – will be present in abundance.

Crystal Dynamics Might Have A Few New Surprises In Store

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The upcoming game, Legacy of Atlantis, aims to be a true remake of the original Tomb Raider, but it will also include some unexpected additions. Fans who watched the first trailer carefully spotted Lara using a grappling hook – a tool she didn’t have in the original game but became well-known in later installments. The development team at Crystal Dynamics plans to share more details about gameplay soon, but Kerslake suggests viewers examine the trailer closely for clues. He says, “If you really look at that trailer, you’ll find a lot of exciting things that are in the game.”

Fans can look forward to two new Tomb Raider games. Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is set to launch in 2026, marking 30 years since the very first Tomb Raider game came out in 1996. It will be followed by Tomb Raider: Catalyst, which sends Lara Croft on a new adventure and mystery in Northern India. The development team at Crystal Dynamics is thrilled to honor the series’ past and build its future with these upcoming titles.

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2025-12-15 18:06