This comes courtesy of @RaidersSociety, which previously leaked the game’s existence days before its announcement at TGA 2025. It’s also classifying this news as a rumor since it can’t name sources, so keep that in mind.

While it may seem disappointing, it makes sense considering Grand Theft Auto 6 launches on November 19th. Legacy of Atlantis could launch before that, but it has to contend with other heavy hitters. Marvel’s Wolverine on September 15th, Fable in the Fall, Halo: Campaign Evolved allegedly releasing this Summer – and that’s before accounting for Gears of War: E-Day, the next Call of Duty, and so on.

Some breathing room wouldn’t be too bad, even if Tomb Raider: Catalyst, which takes place years after Underworld, is scheduled for the same year. Since the game wants to be a “love letter by fans, for fans,” some additional time for polish wouldn’t be too bad.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Catalyst will be available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

While noting that the Kingdom Come: Deliverance studio could be working on their own take on the acclaimed fantasy universe, Crystal Dynamics is allegedly the developer of this particular project. This is according to “those close to the game’s development,” but the studio and the Embracer Group declined to comment.

Apparently meant to compete with Hogwarts Legacy, the project is allegedly being developed with $100 million in funding from Abu Dhabi Investment Office. It’s reportedly a “bit away” as of now (same as last September), even though development has seemingly been ongoing for a while.

Of course, Crystal Dynamics has other projects in the works, such as Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Tomb Raider: Catalyst. The former is launching this year and offers a retelling of the series’ first title on Unreal Engine 5. The latter, out next year, takes place years after the events of Tomb Raider: Underworld, and promises to be the franchise’s biggest adventure yet.

Is it possible that the studio ramps up production on The Lord of the Rings RPG after Legacy of Atlantis or perhaps after Catalyst is out? Time will tell, but it would be interesting to see how it tackles Tolkien’s work.

The news follows at least three different instances of layoffs over the course of last year, which could be worrying news for Tomb Raider fans, since there are two major projects in the franchise currently in development at the studio. However, it remains optimistic about its chances and is seemingly going full steam ahead towards its release schedule.

“We know that news like this can cause concern amongst our community. Crystal Dynamics remains fully committed to the future development of our already announced Tomb Raider titles…Today, however, our priority is supporting our colleagues who are moving on,” it said on LinkedIn.

The two games in question are Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, a remake of the 1996 classic, and Tomb Raider: Catalyst, a brand-new adventure slated to be quite welcoming to franchise newbies while having enough to keep its veterans engaged. They’re highly anticipated, and rightly so, especially since the last entry, Shadows of the Tomb Raider, was in 2018.

It’s been quite a troubled time for the studio recently, but here’s to hoping that it can shake off those troubles and give us a new Tomb Raider experience that brings back the glory days of the franchise. Catalyst is out next year, but Legacy of Atlantis will launch in 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Amos explained that this comes down to the fact that Tomb Raider: Catalyst will focus on Lara Croft at the furthest point in her adventuring career. This also means that all other Tomb Raider games make up parts of her history. “For longtime fans, it’s one of those moments where this is the furthest point in [Lara Croft’s] career,” he said. “This is really where she is right now. Everything else is her history.”

As for new players, Amos noted that Tomb Raider: Catalyst has been designed so as to make sure that players can jump right into it, and that “there’s no homework required”. He has described the upcoming game as having a “complete adventure top to bottom,” which makes understanding the story and characters easy even if you might not be aware of the backstory of protagonist Lara Croft.

“We’ve designed Catalyst so that players can jump in right now and pick up with her adventures as is, like I say, there’s no homework required,” Amos explained. “You can jump right into Catalyst and feel this [is a] complete adventure top to bottom, and understand the story and the characters without having to know any of that pre-history.”

He went on to reiterate that Tomb Raider: Catalyst is going to be the biggest game in the franchise that Crystal Dynamics has made so far. “So we’re super excited about bringing this experience to everyone.”

Game director Will Kerslake had previously spoken about Tomb Raider: Catalyst, and how it will take place after the events of 2008 title Tomb Raider: Underworld. In an interview, Kerslake also noted that the reboot trilogy from the 2010s would serve as the origin story for Lara Croft in the new Unified Timeline.

“From a timeline perspective, Tomb Raider: Catalyst is set years after the events of Tomb Raider: Underworld, with the reboot trilogy serving as her origin story, so we’re seeing a more experienced Lara Croft,” he explained.

Kerslake had also spoken about new players coming to Tomb Raider: Catalyst not having to worry about the franchise’s baggage in its 3-decades-long history. “What’s important to know is that this is a new chapter in Tomb Raider,” he said. “So whether you followed Lara from the start, or this is your first Tomb Raider game, Tomb Raider: Catalyst is designed to stand on its own as an adventure that can be enjoyed by everyone.”

Tomb Raider: Catalyst is being developed for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and is slated for release in 2027. In the meantime, a remake of the first game in the series has also been in development. Titled Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, it is coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2026.

Amos described Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis as being a great way to celebrate the upcoming 30th anniversary of the franchise, since the first game came out all the way back in 1996. He also noted that the game will still honor the design decisions that were made by the original’s development team—Core Design. To achieve this, the game is being developed through Unreal Engine 5, and will feature improvements to fix the things that were criticized in the original.

“Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is a love letter by fans, all of us, for fans,” he said. “Looking at the opportunity we had with this, we knew the 30th anniversary was coming up and wanted to do something special to both celebrate that moment, but still pay an honor to all of Core Design’s original DNA and intent from this amazing title that launched the franchise. That is literally the debut title that’s set up for what we’re doing now, 30 years later, as part of Tomb Raider.”

“So being able to have the entire game built from scratch in Unreal 5 is why we call this a reimagining. We’ve taken all of those things that were critical from that first game, and then said, what can we do to push it through a modern-day gamer’s lens and say, this is how we can take areas that might have been a background image in the old game, now completely realized in full 3D.”

As part of these modernisation efforts, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis will also feature modern controls and gameplay, while still including some of the more iconic moments from the original, like “when you got to fight a T.Rex in the original game.” These moments have been “reimagined today for an epic action adventure moment that can create a new core memory for players who’ve never gotten to experience it as that first time”. As for long-time fans, Legacy of Atlantis will also be a way to “experience it as a first time again”.

As for whether it will be a faithful remake or a reimagining, Kerslake noted that it will honor the legacy of the original while modernising some aspects. The visuals are a major part of this, he noted, since Unreal Engine 5.30 represents 30 years’ worth of improvements being made in the graphics department. “30 years of technology have happened since 1996, so that’s not an easy thing to do, but ultimately our goal there is to make it feel like it felt when you played it the first time, but play like a modern game.” This also means that there will be some parts that will not be changed from the original.

“I mean, you’ve seen in the trailer what we can do now with modern technology to really push the experience of these places,” continued Kerslake. “You have certain memories, whether it was the bridge and falling into the wolf den or the T. rex, where you go like, ‘That’s what I totally remember from that game,’ and how can we create that same memory again for new players?”

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis was announced with a trailer during The Game Awards 2025, and is coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2026. For more details, check out what the co-creator of the original Tomb Raider has to say about the announcement.

In a post, along with offering a pencil sketch of an Allosaurus, Douglas also noted that he would have preferred the series to explore new settings rather than going back to the ones we have already seen. He also alluded to the pressure that the developers of the original Tomb Raider had been under back in the 1990s when making the game with the tight-knit crew of six people.

“She’s back apparently,” wrote Douglas. “Personally I’d prefer exploring new lost worlds than another remake/remaster/reimagining of something we crafted under intense duress in the 90’s. Fingers crossed, eh.”

In another post, Douglas wrote more positively about both of the Tomb Raider games’ announcements. While he acknowledged the need for “another 90%+ [Tomb Raider]”, since the first one in the franchise is the only one to get over 90 on Metacritic, he also noted that the two titles both look visually stunning.

“There needs to be another 90%+ TR after all this time,” he wrote. “I’m quite looking forward to seeing both new games now. Visually they are stunning, something we only dreamed of 30 years ago. We will have to wait and see if the gameplay and resulting feelings of exploration and adventure are as good.”

Both Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Tomb Raider: Catalyst were both unveiled during The Game Awards 2025 with their own trailers. While Catalyst seems to represent the next big step for the franchise, Legacy of Atlantis is essentially a remake of the 1996 original.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is being developed using Unreal Engine 5, and will seemingly see some changes made to its story to tie it into what has been referred to as the Unified Timeline, which is essentially an effort to re-establish the lore and continuity of the series.

As for Tomb Raider: Catalyst, game director Will Kerslake discussed the title’s story, and how it is set to take place after the events of 2008’s Tomb Raider: Underworld. In an interview, Kerslake also confirmed that the Tomb Raider reboot trilogy is also canon to the Unified Timeline, serving as protagonist Lara Croft’s origin story.

“What’s important to know is that this is a new chapter in Tomb Raider,” he said. “So whether you followed Lara from the start, or this is your first Tomb Raider game, Tomb Raider: Catalyst is designed to stand on its own as an adventure that can be enjoyed by everyone.”

Neither Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis nor Tomb Raider: Catalyst have release dates. Both titles are being developed for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and while the former has a 2026 release window, the latter is slated for 2027.

Rawr! She's back apparently. Personally I'd prefer exploring new lost worlds than another remake/remaster/reimagining of something we crafted under intense duress in the 90's. Fingers crossed, eh.Dinosaurs will always be cool though…

— Paul Douglas (@cnhyv.bsky.social) 2025-12-11T12:07:16.317Z

There needs to be another 90%+ TR after all this time… I'm quite looking forward to seeing both new games now. Visually they are stunning, something we only dreamed of 30 years ago. We will have to wait and see if the gameplay and resulting feelings of exploration and adventure are as good.

— Paul Douglas (@cnhyv.bsky.social) 2025-12-14T19:45:36.761Z

In the interview, Kerslake confirmed that the reboot trilogy will also be somewhat canon to the story of Tomb Raider: Catalyst, serving as the origin story for protagonist Lara Croft. The story proper, however, is set some time after the events of Tomb Raider: Underworld. “From a timeline perspective, Tomb Raider: Catalyst is set years after the events of Tomb Raider: Underworld, with the reboot trilogy serving as her origin story, so we’re seeing a more experienced Lara Croft,” he explained.

As for where exactly Tomb Raider: Catalyst will fall in the timeline, Kerslake wasn’t too clear about this. Chances are high that it will likely end up taking not too long after Tomb Raider: Underworld, since Lara Croft’s age will be a major concern in that regard. Despite this, however, Kerslake has noted that it will be a brand new chapter in the long-running series. This also means that players don’t have to worry about all of the baggage from the older games, and can simply enjoy the newest entry even if they haven’t played the series before.

“What’s important to know is that this is a new chapter in Tomb Raider,” he said. “So whether you followed Lara from the start, or this is your first Tomb Raider game, Tomb Raider: Catalyst is designed to stand on its own as an adventure that can be enjoyed by everyone.”

Tomb Raider: Catalyst was unveiled with a trailer that gave us our first look at the new Lara Croft. The title is slated to take Lara Croft on a brand new adventure that takes place across Northern India. In the wake of a mythical cataclysm, ancient secrets have been unleashed, leading to the awakening of mysterious forces. This has also meant that there are plenty of treasure hunters on the look out to get their hands on the precious artifacts in the region, and among them is Lara Croft.

While Tomb Raider: Catalyst doesn’t yet have a release date, the game is confirmed to be coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, with Amazon Game Studios taking on publishing duties. The title is being developed using Unreal Engine 5. Developer Crystal Dynamics has also gone as far as to describe the game’s world as the largest one yet seen in any of the Tomb Raider games. This means that exploration will also be rewarded quite well with plenty of lost tombs featuring intricate puzzles that can be raided. In order to help Lara accomplish her goals, she will have access to plenty of tools, ranging from her classic dual pistols and grappling hook, to newer ones.

For more details about Tomb Raider: Catalyst, check out its announcement teaser trailer. Also check out the other Tomb Raider game unveiled at the event – Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis.

In an era of some very successful remakes of contemporary classics, Legacy of Atlantis is more than just a fresh coat of paint on Lara’s debut adventure. Yes, the Unreal Engine 5-powered graphics give all of the environments showcased in the trailer a layer of realism and immersion that is sure to elevate its gameplay loop. But equally important is the fact that this one is slated to tie into the Unified Timeline, a new canon for the franchise aimed at establishing continuity over the many titles it has among its ranks.

While details are scarce about potential changes to the game’s story and exploration at this time, this is a title that could capitalize on the nostalgia of it all to draw in the franchise’s fans. Although the announcement trailer didn’t come with a concrete release date, Legacy of Atlantis is coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S sometime in 2026.

Tomb Raider: Catalyst is coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC with Amazon Game Studios serving as publisher. While its gameplay has yet to be showcased, the trailer does see Croft desperately navigating a collapsing tomb, wall-bouncing and clinging to massive terrain shifts. She quickly emerges to overlook an ancient city and it sure does lend credence to rumors that this could be an open-world title.

Stay tuned for more details on the Unreal Engine 5 title and announcements from The Game Awards. Thus far, we’ve seen a new Divinity, Control Resonant, Leon in Resident Evil Requiem and much more.

“Today we’ve made the difficult but necessary decision to reorganize Crystal Dynamics’ studios and teams,” wrote the studio in its announcement. “As a result, we’ve parted ways with just under 30 team members across various departments and projects as we restructure the company and business for our next generation.”

The company has made it clear, however, that it is not stopping work on its next Tomb Raider game. In the announcement of these lay-offs, Crystal Dynamics noted that the restructuring will also help its sustainability for future projects.

“To our players – as the realities of the industry continue to evolve, we’ve made these painful choices as a way to optimize the continued development of our flagship Tomb Raider game, as well as shaping the rest of the studio to make new games for the future.”

Interestingly, Crystal Dynamics and its Tomb Raider project was recently mentioned in the reports about Amazon undergoing massive lay-offs affecting more than 14,000 of its employees. As part of these lay-offs, the tech giant had announced that it would be shutting down games like New World: Aeternum and would focus more on “casual and AI-focused games”. At the time, however, it had also noted that work on the Tomb Raider project would be continuing.

This is far from the first time Crystal Dynamics has been in the headlines because of lay-offs this year. The studio had also gone through lay-offs back in August where it let go of an undisclosed number of its employees. The studio said at the time that these lay-offs would not affect the development of its Tomb Raider project.

Later reports indicated that these lay-offs came about due to a deal falling through that would have ended up with Crystal Dynamics working on the Perfect Dark reboot, which was cancelled earlier this year. The deal, according to the report, involved Embracer Group buying the Perfect Dark IP from Microsoft and then selling it to Take-Two Interactive, who would then finance the development of the Perfect Dark game.

Crystal Dynamics had also gone through a round of lay-offs all the way back in March, where 17 of its employees had been affected. Much like this time around, the studio had said that the lay-offs were “necessary to better align our current business needs and the studio’s future success. It is not a reflection of the dedication or ability of those affected.”

While 2025 has certainly been quite a rough year for Crystal Dynamics, the company hasn’t yet revealed any details about its upcoming Tomb Raider project.