According to KitGuru.net, Crystal Dynamics will officially reveal the next Tomb Raider game at The Game Awards this year. Host Geoff Keighley confirmed on social media that a first look at “the future of” the iconic franchise is planned for the show. The game has been in development for a few years and will reportedly take more inspiration from the classic Tomb Raider titles. This announcement follows multiple rounds of layoffs at Crystal Dynamics earlier this year. Amazon Games, which also recently downsized its gaming division, remains signed on as the publisher for this new entry.
A Classic Return
So, they’re saying this new game will take more cues from the classics. That’s interesting, because the last trilogy—the “Survivor” series starting in 2013—was a pretty radical reboot. It was grittier, more focused on a young Lara’s origin story, and heavily cinematic. A shift back suggests maybe fan feedback has been heard. People have been asking for a more confident, puzzle-solving, globe-trotting Lara for a while now. But here’s the thing: “taking inspiration” is a pretty vague promise. Does it mean a return to tank controls and grid-based levels? Almost certainly not. It probably means a greater emphasis on isolation, intricate tombs, and acrobatics over sheer combat. We’ll have to see what the trailer actually shows.
The Strange Timing
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. The timing of this reveal is, frankly, a bit odd. Crystal Dynamics has had layoffs. Their publisher, Amazon Games, just had a massive downsizing. The gaming industry has been in a brutal cost-cutting mode for over a year. So announcing a big, presumably expensive AAA project from a studio and publisher under such strain feels… contradictory. Is this a show of confidence? Or is it a necessary move to reassure fans and investors that the project is still alive and on track, despite the turmoil behind the scenes? I think it’s probably a bit of both. They need the hype train to start, but you have to wonder about the morale of the teams actually building it.
What to Expect
Don’t expect a deep dive. This is The Game Awards, so it’ll be a slick, minute-long CGI teaser or a very brief in-engine trailer at most. The goal is just to say, “Yes, it exists, and it looks cool.” The real details will come months later. The key thing to watch for is the tone. Does it feel adventurous and mysterious, or dark and survival-focused? The tease from Keighley is deliberately mysterious. Basically, they’re banking on pure franchise excitement to carry the day. And for a name like Tomb Raider, that might just work. People love Lara Croft. But the pressure is now officially on. After this reveal, the long, scrutinized wait for actual gameplay begins.
