The next Tomb Raider game will unify the original and reboot timelines
But Crystal Dynamics says the new game won’t be announced in the near future
Crystal Dynamics has provided an update on the future of the Tomb Raider series, although it warned fans not to expect a new game announcement any time soon.
In a video outlining its plans for the franchise’s 25th anniversary this year, the studio revealed that Lara Croft’s next adventure will “unify” the timelines in Core Design’s original Tomb Raider games and its own reboot trilogy.
“We’ve got big ambitions for the future of Tomb Raider,” said Will Kerslake, Tomb Raider franchise game director at Crystal Dynamics. “Our origin trilogy back in 2013 told the story of Lara’s early days when she was forged into a survivor, became a hero and ultimately the Tomb Raider.
“But the classic games featured a seasoned and confident adventurer, travelling the world, unlocking its secrets, often standing alone against cataclysmic forces.
“We envision the future of Tomb Raider unfolding after these established adventures, telling stories that build upon the breadth of both Core Design’s and Crystal Dynamics’ games, working to unify these timelines,” Kerslake said.
“With Tomb Raider’s extensive history, this is not an easy task, and we ask for patience as we go through the development process. We don’t have plans for a major game announcement in the near future.”
Publisher Square Enix announced last October that Tomb Raider Reloaded, a free-to-play action game for mobiles, is scheduled for release in 2021.
Crystal Dynamics intends to celebrate the franchise’s milestone anniversary throughout 2021. It will promote fan art and cosplay alongside various interviews, livestreams and “lots of surprises”, with each month themed on a different game, starting in February with 1996’s original series entry.
In a recently published feature, VGC named Tomb Raider one of eight big game anniversaries that deserve to be honoured in 2021.
On Monday, MGM announced that Misha Green, the creator and director of HBO’s Lovecraft Country, will direct the movie sequel Tomb Raider 2, which will see Alicia Vikander reprise her role as Lara Croft.
And on Wednesday, Netflix and Legendary revealed that a new Tomb Raider anime series is in the works. It will be set after the events of the game reboot trilogy.
January’s PlayStation Plus games, which are available to claim until February 1, include Rise of the Tomb Raider.
Further reading
List: These 8 big game anniversaries deserve to be honoured in 2021
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