Lara Croft’s very first adventure is getting a full remake, and according to Crystal Dynamics, the legacy of the original developers at Core Design is being honored while modern gameplay expectations are fully embraced.

One of the biggest surprises at The Game Awards was the reveal of Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis. While fans already knew that Crystal Dynamics was working on a new Tomb Raider title, the announcement of a remake of the beloved first entry in the action-adventure series came as an unexpected bonus. The timing is no coincidence, as the game is set to launch in 2026, marking the franchise’s 30th anniversary and giving players a chance to relive the old-school magic with modern production values.

The project also allows Crystal Dynamics additional breathing room to continue work on the next mainline installment, currently planned for release in 2027. Development is being handled in collaboration with Flying Wild Hog, the studio behind titles such as Hard Reset, Shadow Warrior, Trek to Yomi, and Evil West.

Following the announcement, Italian outlet Multiplayer spoke with two key members of the Crystal Dynamics team: game director Will Kerslake and studio head Scot Amos. Amos explained that the goal is to respect the original DNA established by Core Design, but reinterpret it through the lens of modern players. Kerslake added that the realities of 1996 and 2026 are worlds apart, and the remake reflects that gap.

The developers want Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis to evoke the same emotions players felt during their first playthrough of the original game, while ensuring the experience feels contemporary. To achieve this, Lara’s confident personality and most of the classic puzzles have been preserved, but both combat and exploration systems have been completely rebuilt from the ground up.

This approach firmly separates the project from a simple remaster. According to Kerslake, leaving those systems untouched would have made the game feel dated. That said, the brutal traps that defined the original Tomb Raider experience, including massive and deadly rolling boulders, are still very much intact.

The team also confirmed that the Lara Croft seen in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and the upcoming Tomb Raider: Catalyst is the same character, portrayed at different stages of her life and career. While Legacy of Atlantis looks back to her origins, Catalyst—rumored to take place in India—will showcase Lara at the height of her abilities. In both games, Lara will be voiced by British actress Alix Wilton Regan.

Source: WCCFTech, Multiplayer