Something interesting just happened on Steam that has Tomb Raider fans connecting the dots. The 2013 Tomb Raider reboot has been quietly renamed to Tomb Raider: Game of the Year Edition on Valve’s storefront, despite that specific edition having never been officially available on PC through Steam before. The timing is suspicious, coming just three days before The Game Awards 2025, where a major Tomb Raider announcement has already been confirmed.
The change was first spotted by users on Twitter and quickly spread to gaming forums like Reddit’s GamingLeaksAndRumours community. The leading theory is that Crystal Dynamics and publisher Amazon Games are renaming the 2013 game to avoid confusion when they announce the next Tomb Raider title, which might also simply be called Tomb Raider without any subtitle.
What Changed on Steam
According to SteamDB records, the app information for Tomb Raider was last updated on December 8, 2025. The base game that launched in March 2013 now carries the Game of the Year Edition branding across the Steam storefront. For PC players who owned the standard edition, nothing about the actual game content has changed, just the title displayed in their library and on the store page.
What makes this noteworthy is that Tomb Raider: Game of the Year Edition was previously available only on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and through the Microsoft Store on PC. Steam users could purchase all the DLC separately but never had access to a bundled GOTY edition specifically. The Definitive Edition, which featured enhanced graphics and was released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in January 2014, also came to Windows in April 2024, but that’s a separate product.
The Game Awards Connection
Geoff Keighley, host of The Game Awards, confirmed on December 8, 2025 that Lara Croft returns at the show scheduled for December 11. The official Tomb Raider Twitter account chimed in, calling it a moment fans cannot miss. This will mark the first major announcement about Lara’s future since Crystal Dynamics revealed in April 2022 that they were working on a new Tomb Raider game using Unreal Engine 5.
Multiple gaming outlets have reported on rumors suggesting the announcement could be a remake of the original 1996 Tomb Raider rather than just news about the previously announced next-generation sequel. If Crystal Dynamics is indeed planning to release a game simply titled Tomb Raider as a fresh start or remake, having another product with that exact name on Steam would create confusion for customers and search algorithms alike.
Previous Franchise Rebranding Precedent
This wouldn’t be the first time publishers have renamed older games to avoid conflicts. When God of War was rebooted in 2018, the previous games kept their numbered or subtitled designations. Similarly, when Doom returned in 2016, the classic 1993 Doom remained clearly identifiable. Publishers learned from situations like the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot, which caused endless confusion by sharing the exact same name as the 1996 original for years.
What We Know About the Next Tomb Raider
Crystal Dynamics has been working on a new Tomb Raider game since at least 2022, when they announced a partnership with Amazon Games to publish the title. The studio confirmed it would be a single-player, multiplatform adventure that continues Lara Croft’s story. Scot Amos, head of Crystal Dynamics, described it as building the biggest and best Tomb Raider game yet, suggesting significant ambition for the project.
The development has faced some turbulence. Crystal Dynamics underwent layoffs in November 2025, though the studio stated in a LinkedIn post that these painful choices were made to optimize the continued development of their flagship Tomb Raider game. Despite the restructuring, the project appears to be moving forward toward the Game Awards reveal.
Could It Actually Be a Remake
Recent rumors claim that Crystal Dynamics is preparing to announce a full remake of the 1996 Tomb Raider built on Unreal Engine 5. This would be separate from the new sequel that Amazon is publishing, potentially representing two distinct Tomb Raider projects in simultaneous development. The remake rumor gained traction after appearing on multiple gaming news sites in early December 2025.
Supporting this theory is the fact that Aspyr has been successfully remastering classic Tomb Raider games. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered launched in February 2024, and Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered is scheduled for February 14, 2025. These remasters preserve the original gameplay while adding graphical enhancements and quality-of-life improvements. A full remake of the first game would go further, rebuilding it from scratch with modern gameplay mechanics.
Community Speculation and Reactions
Reddit users discussing the Steam rename had mixed feelings. One highly upvoted comment pointed out that the Game of the Year Edition was never actually launched for PC through Steam, noting it was previously exclusive to the Microsoft Store on Windows. Others expressed excitement about any Tomb Raider news after years of waiting since Shadow of the Tomb Raider concluded the reboot trilogy in 2018.
Some skeptics questioned whether this rename really signals anything beyond routine catalog maintenance. However, the timing coinciding with Keighley’s teaser and the confirmed Game Awards appearance makes it difficult to dismiss as pure coincidence. Publishers typically coordinate these sorts of branding changes around major marketing moments rather than doing them randomly.
The Broader Tomb Raider Revival
Beyond video games, the Tomb Raider franchise is experiencing a broader multimedia revival. Amazon Prime Video is developing a live-action Tomb Raider TV series starring Sophie Turner from Game of Thrones as Lara Croft. This represents significant investment in the IP from Amazon, who is simultaneously publishing the next major Tomb Raider game through Amazon Games.
Crystal Dynamics has described their partnership with Amazon as transformative for the franchise. Amazon’s resources and publishing infrastructure give the studio opportunities that traditional game publishers might not provide. The combination of a high-budget TV series, potential game remakes, and a next-generation sequel suggests Embracer Group (Crystal Dynamics’ parent company) sees major value in expanding Tomb Raider across multiple platforms and formats.
FAQs
Why did Steam rename Tomb Raider to Game of the Year Edition?
The official reason hasn’t been announced, but the leading theory is that Crystal Dynamics is preparing to announce a new game that might also be called simply Tomb Raider. Renaming the 2013 version prevents confusion between products when both are available on the Steam storefront.
Was the Game of the Year Edition previously available on Steam?
No, Tomb Raider: Game of the Year Edition was previously only available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and the Microsoft Store on PC. Steam users could buy the base game and DLC separately but never had access to a bundled GOTY edition until this recent change.
What will be announced at The Game Awards 2025?
Geoff Keighley confirmed that Lara Croft returns at The Game Awards on December 11, 2025, with news about the future of the franchise. Rumors suggest it could be a remake of the 1996 original Tomb Raider or significant news about the next-generation sequel being developed with Amazon Games.
Is Crystal Dynamics making a Tomb Raider remake?
Unconfirmed. Recent rumors claim a remake of the 1996 Tomb Raider built on Unreal Engine 5 will be announced at The Game Awards, but Crystal Dynamics has not officially confirmed this. The studio is definitely working on a new Tomb Raider game with Amazon Games that was announced in 2022.
What happened to Crystal Dynamics recently?
Crystal Dynamics underwent layoffs in November 2025 as part of a restructuring. The studio stated these changes were made to optimize development of their flagship Tomb Raider game and shape the studio for future projects. Despite the layoffs, development appears to be continuing.
When does Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered release?
Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered, developed by Aspyr in partnership with Crystal Dynamics, launches on February 14, 2025 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Steam, and Epic Games Store.
Who is publishing the next Tomb Raider game?
Amazon Games is publishing the next major Tomb Raider game in partnership with developer Crystal Dynamics. The agreement was announced in December 2022, with Amazon providing full publishing support while Crystal Dynamics handles development.
Is Tomb Raider coming to other platforms besides Steam?
The next Tomb Raider game has been confirmed as multiplatform. While specific platforms haven’t been officially announced, this typically means PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. The 2013 Tomb Raider is already available across multiple platforms including consoles and various PC storefronts.
Conclusion
A simple name change on Steam has sparked major speculation about Tomb Raider’s immediate future. Whether Crystal Dynamics announces a remake, a sequel, or both at The Game Awards 2025, fans won’t have to wait much longer for answers. The franchise has been relatively quiet on the new game front since 2018, making this upcoming reveal one of the most anticipated moments at the show. After years of remasters keeping the classic games alive, Lara Croft is finally ready to embark on a truly next-generation adventure. December 11 can’t come soon enough for Tomb Raider fans who have been patient long enough.