Tomb Raider Hopes Are Growing Even Smaller In 2026

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Last year, Amazon announced exciting new additions to the Tomb Raider franchise. Two new games are in development – Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, expected in 2026, and Tomb Raider: Catalyst, slated for 2027. Alongside the games, Amazon also plans to create both animated and live-action TV shows, demonstrating a significant commitment to the series. Unfortunately, some internal issues could potentially disrupt the game development process and disappoint fans.

Currently, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is scheduled to release this year, and early gameplay footage shows Lara Croft rendered in Unreal Engine 5. The game is essentially a reimagining of the original Tomb Raider from 1996, functioning almost as a remake. While some game mechanics will be updated, this title aims to reintroduce the series to a new generation of players with a modern and engaging experience.

Crystal Dynamics Has Another Round Of Layoffs, Making Four In Under A Single Year

The gaming industry has recently faced many layoffs, and Crystal Dynamics, the studio behind Tomb Raider, has been significantly affected. Since being acquired by Embracer Group in 2022, the studio has undergone several rounds of downsizing. In 2023, at least ten developers lost their jobs, and in 2025, there were three separate layoff events. Seventeen more creators were let go in March 2025, followed by another 30 in November of the same year – just eight months later.

In March 2026, Crystal Dynamics laid off another 20 developers – a year after a previous round of cuts – as part of ongoing cost-saving measures. The layoffs affected both developers and staff in central operations. The company stated on LinkedIn that these changes were made to better align teams with the studio’s long-term project goals.

While Crystal Dynamics stated they would help those affected by recent layoffs find new jobs, the timing has raised concerns. Despite their commitment to future Tomb Raider games, the shrinking development teams are part of a troubling trend across the gaming industry. Most major studios have recently undergone significant layoffs, which are slowing down game development.

Restructuring Of The Studio Comes From Downsizing After Being Bought Out

The recent layoffs at Crystal Dynamics likely stem from its acquisition by Embracer Group. Embracer, a Swedish company, has a pattern of acquiring mid-sized game publishers and then reducing their workforce. This situation is further complicated by Crystal Dynamics’ numerous partnerships and projects, particularly those related to the Tomb Raider franchise.

Amazon has been strongly committed to its Tomb Raider projects, including a live-action TV show with Sophie Turner as Lara Croft. This, alongside an animated Tomb Raider series, could have pushed Crystal Dynamics to speed up game development. It’s therefore surprising to see the company lay off skilled developers who could have helped make those upcoming games the best they could be, especially since those games are already scheduled to release close together.

Jumbled Abundance Of Tomb Raider Projects Could Slow Down Drastically Soon

Crystal Dynamics has been juggling a lot of projects recently, including work on the now-cancelled Perfect Dark remake for Xbox. Even though that game is off the table, it still took a significant amount of the studio’s time and resources. Now, with recent layoffs reducing their team size, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for them to develop their games, despite any financial benefits the layoffs might have provided.

Creating two games simultaneously is challenging for any development team, even with dedicated staff for each project. The extent of the changes being made to Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis means calling it a remake doesn’t quite fit – it’s essentially a new game. And that’s before considering the grand scale of Tomb Raider: Catalyst, which will feature a fresh adventure for Lara Croft set in northern India.

Calling layoffs ‘team optimization’ feels contradictory, and it’s worrying that the increased effort at Crystal Dynamics might suffer now that fewer developers are available to handle the difficulties of game production. This could lead to lower quality games or even delays. Ultimately, fans are the ones who lose out, as their excitement for new Tomb Raider games is overshadowed by concerns that a smaller team won’t be able to deliver.

Launching a new game often requires developers to work extremely long hours – a practice that raises ethical concerns and questions about worker rights. The recent layoffs at Crystal Dynamics are disheartening, even with the anticipation of future Tomb Raider games that excites fans of the series.

What are your thoughts on the recent layoffs at Crystal Dynamics, particularly as they affect the Tomb Raider franchise? Share your opinions in the comments or discuss it further in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-03-22 21:23