Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis’s Use of Generative AI Explained by Crystal Dynamics

Crystal Dynamics, the studio behind the upcoming Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, has faced some debate regarding its use of AI. Jeff Adams, the game’s experience director, recently explained that they used AI tools early in development to speed up the process of finding the best solutions for various design challenges. Essentially, the AI helped the team work more efficiently.

He showed how generative AI helped the team quickly create images of objects for the game, allowing them to easily decide if the designs were working. Once approved, these AI-generated designs would then be refined using the studio’s usual process: creating concept art, fully building the object, and polishing it. He emphasized that all the final assets in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis were ultimately made by human artists.

Adams explained how they’re using AI early in development. If the team has an idea for something but isn’t sure if it’s worth the effort to build, they can use AI to quickly create a visual representation. If the visualization looks promising, they’ll then develop it fully using their standard process – with artists creating and refining everything. Adams emphasized that ensuring high quality is crucial, saying their fans deserve the best possible experience, and providing tools for the team to achieve this is key.

When Game Informer tried to learn more about how this would be implemented, a public relations representative from Crystal Dynamics intervened and ended the discussion. Adams explained that their main goal is simply to create excellent games as efficiently as possible.

When the Steam page for the new Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis game launched, it was revealed that developers Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog used generative AI during its creation. The game’s store page included a statement explaining they used AI tools for initial design work and quick prototyping. Crystal Dynamics later clarified that they use AI to help their teams brainstorm and develop ideas faster.

Crystal Dynamics uses AI tools to speed up development and help teams explore ideas more quickly, but they emphasize that all final content in their games is created by people. They want to give their developers the freedom and resources they need to make the best possible gaming experiences for players worldwide.

The new Tomb Raider game, Legacy of Atlantis, is coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on February 10, 2027. You can watch the latest gameplay trailer now!

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2026-06-12 17:43