CRYSTAL DYNAMICS DETAILS APPROACH TO LARA CROFT IN TOMB RAIDER LEGACY OF ATLANTIS

[ 15 June 2026 ]

According to an interview published by Amazon Game Studios featuring developers from Crystal Dynamics, Tomb Raider Legacy of Atlantis aims to retain key elements of Lara Croft's character while updating her for a new game. Experience Director Jeff Adams said that Lara's "'vibe' is the biggest thing we refused to leave behind", adding that "the personality behind the dual pistols is what fans connect with most". Narrative Director John Stafford said that Lara's "intelligence, fearlessness, and thrill-seeking spirit remain completely intact", while her "curiosity and spirit of discovery" was identified as a defining characteristic that the team wanted to preserve.

The developers said the game builds on events from the Survivor trilogy while depicting an older and more experienced Lara. Adams said that "The Survivor trilogy is Lara's past" and that those experiences "shaped who she is, but she's not bound by them". Stafford said the team retained "her physicality, emotional credibility, and sense of earned resilience", while Game Director Raul Siqueira said players should be able to believe "this is the same Lara from the Survivor trilogy but now with many more adventures on her belt". He added that Lara enjoys confronting danger because she has "overcome her struggles and ultimately evolve[d] into the badass adventurer she is today".

Discussing the game's approach to reimagining the character, Stafford said that while Tomb Raider Anniversary was "about retelling a classic through a modern lens", Legacy of Atlantis is "about synthesizing thirty years of Lara into something new". Adams said the team had "reimagined aspects of her internal journey by drawing more directly from her past", including experiences from the 2013 reboot. On the intended portrayal of the character, Adams said: "She can't just be quips and one-liners. She needs to feel like a real human beneath all of that."

Tomb Raider Legacy of Atlantis is scheduled for release in February 2027. The game revisits Lara Croft's original adventure, retaining its core setting and narrative while introducing updated visuals, revised gameplay systems, and additional story content. The project is being developed by Flying Wild Hog in partnership with Crystal Dynamics and is built using Unreal Engine 5.

Tomb Raider Legacy of Atlantis