‘How Do We Help Her Evolve?’: Crystal Dynamics on Reimagining Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft for a New Era

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If you’re surprised by how much time has passed, you might not be shocked to learn that Tomb Raider will be celebrating its 30th anniversary next year.

To celebrate the series’ milestone, Crystal Dynamics is completely rebuilding the original Tomb Raider game for PlayStation 1, now called Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis.

This remake is the first of two new Tomb Raider games planned, with ‘Tomb Raider: Catalyst’ scheduled for release in 2027.

The new game follows Lara Croft as she travels to Northern India. It’s a direct sequel to the 2008 game, Tomb Raider: Underworld, picking up the story nearly 20 years later.

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The series is essentially returning to its roots, bringing back the original games’ charismatic and confident main character.

According to Crystal Dynamics head Scot Amos, Lara Croft’s ability to adapt and stay current is a key reason for her lasting popularity.

As part of a group Q&A session late last week, he said:

We’ve been incredibly fortunate to revisit this character and explore how to develop her over time. We’ve considered who she is now, who she could become, and how to keep her relevant and appealing to players as their tastes and expectations for games change.

We’ve really enjoyed the opportunity to reimagine Lara Croft for a new generation, while staying true to the qualities that have made her such a beloved character.

Starting with the 2013 Tomb Raider game, the developers presented a more realistic and intense version of Lara Croft.

Although Lara Croft grew more skilled throughout Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the stories still portrayed her as a newcomer, as they were set long before the events of the original game.

This new take on the Atlantis character presents her as confident and daring, performing acrobatic feats on cliffs and even battling dinosaurs from the air.

Game director Will Kerslake emphasizes that although the same character appears in both new games, she’s at different points in her life. Catalyst is set far in the future, long after the events of the original game, which itself takes place after the Survivor trilogy.

The developer is excited to show how the character changes over time, but certain core traits are essential to every version of Lara.

He explained:

Our art director and lead character artists have been developing Lara Croft for many games, so they consistently focus on preserving her essential characteristics. They also update her appearance to reflect current technology and ensure she fits the specific time period and story of each new game.

I really did enjoy the Survivor trilogy, but honestly, I’ve been craving a classic Tomb Raider experience for ages. So, I think Crystal Dynamics is spot-on with their decision to go back to that style!

We’re looking forward to seeing Lara Croft’s strong personality back in Legacy of Atlantis, and it will be fascinating to watch how her character develops in Catalyst.

The character will be voiced by the talented Alix Wilton Reagan, a veteran voice actress with a strong history of excellent performances, making her a perfect fit for the role in both games.

It’s going to be an exciting couple of years for Tomb Raider fans.

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2025-12-15 18:07