Lara Croft might finally be getting the open world upgrade fans have demanded for decades. A fresh leak from reliable insider V Scooper suggests Tomb Raider: Catalyst isn’t just the biggest entry in the series – it’s set to introduce a fully seamless open world spanning India’s diverse landscapes, marking a massive evolution for the 30-year franchise.
The Open World Theory Gains Steam
The buzz started when V Scooper, known for accurate movie and game leaks, posted a screenshot from Catalyst’s Game Awards 2025 reveal trailer. The image shows Lara Croft standing amid dramatically varied terrain: snow-capped mountains in the distance, lush jungle nearby, and arid desert stretching toward the horizon. The leaker’s caption was blunt: “This shot alone already suggests Tomb Raider Catalyst is fully open world.”
What makes this more than wild speculation is V Scooper’s track record. Back in May 2024, they correctly predicted Catalyst would be set in North India with motorbike traversal and parachute mechanics. The trailer’s Northern India setting confirmed that much, and now the leaker doubles down, claiming all these biomes exist on a “single continuous map, not isolated regions.”
Crystal Dynamics’ Biggest Promise Yet
Studio head Scot Amos called Catalyst “the largest Tomb Raider that we’ve made to date” in a post-reveal interview. While that could mean bigger levels or more tombs, an open world would undeniably make it the most ambitious entry by far. The trailer emphasized Lara’s grappling hook for both combat and traversal, which fits perfectly with freeform exploration across massive terrain.
Previous Tomb Raider games flirted with openness but always through contained hub areas. The Survivor trilogy had large zones you could fast travel between, but nothing seamless. Catalyst appears poised to shatter that formula, letting players roam between extreme environments without artificial boundaries – potentially revolutionizing how we play as Lara Croft.
Two Tomb Raider Games, One Massive Year
Catalyst arrives as the second punch of Crystal Dynamics’ ambitious one-two combo. First comes Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis in 2026, a full reimagining of the original 1996 game built in Unreal Engine 5. Developed with Flying Wild Hog (Shadow Warrior series), Legacy of Atlantis celebrates the franchise’s 30th anniversary by modernizing Lara’s debut adventure with contemporary platforming and visuals.
| Game Title | Release Year | Type | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy of Atlantis | 2026 | Remake/Reimagining | Original 1996 story, Unreal Engine 5, platforming focus |
| Catalyst | 2027 | New Entry | North India setting, potentially open world, grappling hook combat |
The one-two punch makes perfect sense strategically. Legacy of Atlantis refreshes Lara’s origin for modern players while Catalyst launches her into uncharted territory – literally. Both games arrive under Amazon Game Studios publishing, which has given Crystal Dynamics unprecedented resources after years of studio uncertainty.
India: The Perfect Open World Canvas
North India’s geography screams open world potential. The trailer showed Lara navigating Himalayan foothills, dense jungle river valleys, and Rajasthan’s golden deserts – all within driving distance in real life. A seamless map spanning these extremes would showcase Unreal Engine 5’s full potential while giving Lara her most diverse playground ever.
Traversal tools hinted at in leaks align perfectly with this vision. V Scooper’s motorbike prediction would excel across desert flats and mountain roads, while parachuting makes sense for the region’s extreme elevation changes. The grappling hook already shown could handle vertical jungle exploration, creating multiple paths through every area.
Story Stakes Match the Scale
Catalyst’s narrative justifies the massive scope. A “mystical cataclysm” has unleashed ancient secrets across North India, drawing treasure hunters from around the world. Lara must race to uncover the truth before rivals exploit the power, with global catastrophe hanging in the balance. The story picks up after Tomb Raider: Underworld in the classic timeline, folding in the Survivor trilogy as her origin.
This setup screams open world structure: multiple factions competing across the map, dynamic events triggered by the cataclysm, and Lara piecing together the mystery through exploration rather than linear progression. If Crystal Dynamics pulls this off, Catalyst could redefine what Tomb Raider means in the open world era.
Development Drama Behind the Scenes
Catalyst arrives amid turbulence at Crystal Dynamics. The studio endured three layoff rounds in 2025, but a November LinkedIn post reassured fans that Tomb Raider remained safe: “we’ve made these painful choices as a way to optimize the continued development of our flagship Tomb Raider game.” Amazon’s backing appears to have stabilized the project, with studio head Scot Amos praising their “resources, expertise, and creative freedom.”
FAQs
Is Tomb Raider Catalyst actually open world?
Not officially confirmed, but leaker V Scooper claims the reveal trailer proves a seamless map spanning India’s mountains, jungles, and deserts. Crystal Dynamics called it their “largest Tomb Raider to date,” which supports the theory.
When does Tomb Raider Catalyst release?
2027 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. It follows Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis (2026 remake of the original game), giving fans two Lara Croft adventures in two years.
What’s the story of Tomb Raider Catalyst?
Set in North India after a mystical cataclysm unleashes ancient secrets. Lara races rival treasure hunters to uncover the truth and prevent global catastrophe, continuing from Tomb Raider: Underworld in the classic timeline.
Who is developing Tomb Raider Catalyst?
Crystal Dynamics leads development using Unreal Engine 5, published by Amazon Game Studios. Legacy of Atlantis partners with Flying Wild Hog, suggesting Catalyst gets Crystal’s full focus.
Will Catalyst connect the classic and Survivor timelines?
Yes. Game director Will Kerslake confirmed Catalyst follows Underworld, with the Survivor trilogy (2013-2018) serving as Lara’s origin within the unified timeline.
What platforms will Tomb Raider Catalyst be on?
Confirmed for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. No word on Nintendo Switch 2 or last-gen consoles.
Can we trust these open world leaks?
V Scooper accurately predicted the India setting 18 months early. Their latest claims align with official statements about scale and the diverse environments shown in the trailer.
Conclusion
If the leaks hold true, Tomb Raider: Catalyst could be the series’ biggest reinvention since the Survivor trilogy. A seamless open world across India’s extremes would give Lara Croft her most ambitious adventure ever, blending classic tomb raiding with modern exploration freedom. Coming after Legacy of Atlantis refreshes her origin, these two games position 2026-2027 as a renaissance for the franchise. Whether V Scooper’s vision materializes or not, Lara Croft raiding North India’s ancient secrets promises to deliver the epic scale her 30-year legacy deserves.