The Leak That Couldn’t Wait
Just hours before The Game Awards kicks off tonight, the internet has exploded with leaked screenshots and cover art for what appears to be Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, a full remake of the 1996 original game. IGN confirmed the leak, showing cover artwork and stills from what looks like a new trailer featuring Lara Croft in action with her iconic dual pistols. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Crystal Dynamics and Amazon Games had carefully teased a Tomb Raider announcement for tonight’s ceremony at 4:30 PM PT, but someone somewhere couldn’t keep the secret.
The leaked images show a Lara Croft design that perfectly matches the unified timeline concept Crystal Dynamics has been developing since 2022. She’s rocking the classic teal tank top and brown shorts, dual pistols firmly holstered, with a face that blends the sharper features of the Survivor trilogy with the confidence of classic Lara. The environments in the leaked screenshots appear to be reimagined versions of locations from the original game, rendered in what’s presumably Unreal Engine 5 with vastly improved lighting and detail compared to 1996’s blocky polygons.
What Is Legacy of Atlantis
Based on the leaked materials and surrounding context, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis appears to be a ground-up remake of the 1996 Tomb Raider that launched the franchise. The original game followed Lara’s hunt for the Scion of Atlantis as she battled conniving businesswoman Jacqueline Natla and her henchmen across Peru, Greece, and Egypt. The subtitle “Legacy of Atlantis” directly references that core story while suggesting this isn’t just a simple remaster like the Tomb Raider I-III Remastered collection that launched last year.
This would be Crystal Dynamics’ second attempt at reimagining the original game, following 2007’s Tomb Raider: Anniversary which rebuilt the 1996 adventure for Xbox 360 and PS3 hardware. However, Anniversary is now 18 years old itself, and technology has advanced dramatically since then. A 2025 remake using Unreal Engine 5 could showcase ray-traced lighting bouncing off ancient temple walls, photorealistic water physics as Lara swims through underground grottos, and combat that feels weighty and impactful rather than the stiff shooting of earlier games.
What makes Legacy of Atlantis potentially different from Anniversary is the unified timeline approach. Rather than existing in isolation, this remake would reportedly establish a canonical version of Lara Croft that brings together elements from the Core Design classics (1996-2003), the Legend trilogy (2006-2008), and the Survivor reboot (2013-2018). That’s an ambitious storytelling challenge that could either be brilliant or a confusing mess depending on execution.
The Dual Pistols Are Back
One detail that has longtime fans absolutely thrilled is the clear presence of Lara’s dual pistols in the leaked screenshots. The Survivor trilogy controversially excluded them for most of its runtime, with Lara only briefly wielding two pistols in the 2013 game’s ending before they disappeared entirely in subsequent entries. Crystal Dynamics replaced them with the bow as Lara’s signature weapon, which worked thematically for that younger, less experienced version of the character but left older fans disappointed.
The dual pistols aren’t just weapons, they’re part of Lara Croft’s visual identity. When you picture classic Lara, you see her in that teal tank top with pistols drawn, ready to take on whatever ancient evil emerges from forgotten tombs. Marketing materials for the unified timeline Lara have consistently shown her with those pistols, and now the leaked screenshots confirm they’re not just for promotional art. Players will actually use them in gameplay, returning Lara to the gun-slinging action that defined her for over a decade.
The leaked cover art shows Lara in a pose that mirrors imagery from recent Game Awards teasers, adding credibility to the leak’s authenticity. She’s holding both pistols, looking over her shoulder with confidence, surrounded by ancient architecture that suggests the Atlantean locations from the original game. It’s a composition that feels deliberately designed to evoke nostalgia while promising something fresh and modern.
Crystal Dynamics Has Been Through Hell
This announcement comes at a particularly difficult time for Crystal Dynamics. The studio has faced three separate rounds of layoffs throughout 2025, including 30 people last month, an unknown number in August following Xbox’s cancellation of Perfect Dark (which Crystal Dynamics had been assisting on), and 17 earlier in the year. That’s on top of 10 layoffs in 2023. The studio that once employed hundreds of developers has been steadily shrinking while trying to deliver what’s supposed to be their most ambitious Tomb Raider game yet.
The development of the next mainline Tomb Raider, codenamed Black Diamond, has reportedly been turbulent. Leaks from earlier this year suggested the game underwent a major graphical overhaul in 2023 and faced internal challenges that contributed to delays and restructuring. Crystal Dynamics is simultaneously working on this unified timeline game and potentially this Legacy of Atlantis remake, stretching already thin resources even further. Whether they can deliver on the enormous expectations both projects carry remains an open question.
Amazon Games publishing the next mainline entry represents a significant partnership that presumably provides funding and support. The tech giant is simultaneously developing a live-action Tomb Raider series for Prime Video starring Sophie Turner from Game of Thrones. That multimedia push mirrors what Disney does with Marvel properties, suggesting Amazon wants Tomb Raider to become a genuine entertainment empire. Tonight’s announcement, whether it includes just Legacy of Atlantis or both that and Black Diamond, kicks off that larger campaign.
Why Remake the Original Again
The obvious question is why Crystal Dynamics would remake the 1996 game a second time when Anniversary already exists. The answer likely involves multiple factors. First, Anniversary launched 18 years ago on PS2, Xbox 360, and PSP. An entire generation of gamers has grown up since then who never experienced that version. Second, technology has evolved dramatically, with Unreal Engine 5 enabling visual fidelity that simply wasn’t possible in 2007. Third, the unified timeline concept requires establishing a definitive version of Lara’s origin story that serves as the foundation for everything that follows.
There’s also the practical consideration that remaking existing games is less risky than creating entirely new stories. The 1996 Tomb Raider’s level design, puzzles, and narrative structure are already proven. Crystal Dynamics can focus resources on modernizing the experience rather than designing everything from scratch. For a studio that’s faced significant layoffs and resource constraints, a remake represents a safer bet than a completely original adventure.
The subtitle choice of Legacy of Atlantis rather than just Tomb Raider Remake suggests Crystal Dynamics wants to distance this from simple nostalgia bait. This isn’t Tomb Raider I-III Remastered with a graphics toggle. This is a complete reimagining that respects the original while bringing it forward into 2025 with modern gameplay sensibilities, expanded narrative elements, and the technical prowess of current-generation hardware.
What to Expect Tonight
Despite the leak spoiling the surprise, tonight’s Game Awards reveal will still matter enormously for Tomb Raider fans. The leaked screenshots show static images, but a full trailer with cinematic sequences and gameplay footage will provide far more context about what Legacy of Atlantis actually is. Expect to see Lara navigating reimagined versions of iconic locations like the Peruvian caves, Greek temples, and Atlantean ruins that defined the original adventure.
There’s also potential for a double announcement. Multiple insiders including Shinobi602 have hinted that Crystal Dynamics might reveal both Legacy of Atlantis and information about the mainline unified timeline game codenamed Black Diamond. That would be a massive statement of intent, showing that Tomb Raider isn’t just one game but an entire franchise renaissance happening simultaneously on multiple fronts. Whether Crystal Dynamics has the resources to deliver both projects remains a concern, but the ambition would be undeniable.
Release timing is another crucial question mark. The mainline game has been rumored for a May 2026 window, which would put it directly against Grand Theft Auto 6. A remake like Legacy of Atlantis could potentially launch sooner as a warmup act, getting players excited about Lara Croft again before the bigger unified timeline adventure arrives. Alternatively, both could launch in 2026, giving fans multiple Tomb Raider experiences after seven years of waiting since Shadow of the Tomb Raider wrapped up in 2018.
FAQs
What is Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis?
Based on leaked screenshots and cover art, Legacy of Atlantis appears to be a full remake of the 1996 original Tomb Raider game. It features the unified timeline version of Lara Croft with her iconic dual pistols and reimagines the hunt for the Scion of Atlantis using modern technology.
Is this different from Tomb Raider: Anniversary?
Yes. Anniversary launched in 2007 for PS2 and Xbox 360 as a reimagining of the original game. Legacy of Atlantis would be a ground-up remake built using Unreal Engine 5 with current-generation visuals and the unified timeline Lara design that merges elements from all eras of the franchise.
When will Legacy of Atlantis be announced officially?
The Game Awards 2025 airs tonight at 4:30 PM Pacific Time, 7:30 PM Eastern Time, or 12:30 AM GMT on December 12. Crystal Dynamics and Geoff Keighley have confirmed a Tomb Raider announcement will happen during the show.
What is the unified timeline?
The unified timeline is Crystal Dynamics’ plan to merge story elements and character traits from all three Tomb Raider eras: the Core Design classics (1996-2003), the Legend trilogy (2006-2008), and the Survivor reboot (2013-2018) into one definitive version of Lara Croft.
Will Lara have her dual pistols in this game?
Yes. The leaked screenshots clearly show Lara wielding her iconic dual pistols, marking their return after being largely absent from the Survivor trilogy which focused on the bow as her primary weapon.
Is Crystal Dynamics announcing multiple Tomb Raider games?
Possibly. Insider Shinobi602 has hinted at multiple Tomb Raider announcements at The Game Awards, suggesting Legacy of Atlantis might be revealed alongside information about the mainline unified timeline game codenamed Black Diamond.
Who is publishing the next Tomb Raider?
Amazon Games is publishing the next mainline Tomb Raider entry. Crystal Dynamics has full development control as they bought back the Tomb Raider rights from Square Enix. It’s unclear if Amazon is also involved with Legacy of Atlantis or if that’s a separate Crystal Dynamics project.
Why did Crystal Dynamics face so many layoffs?
The studio has faced three waves of layoffs in 2025 totaling dozens of developers. Contributing factors include Xbox cancelling Perfect Dark which Crystal Dynamics was assisting on, general industry downturn affecting game development studios, and challenges during the development of the next Tomb Raider.
Conclusion
The Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis leak represents both excitement and frustration for fans who’ve waited seven years for Lara Croft’s return. Excitement because the leaked materials look genuinely impressive, showcasing a modern take on the franchise’s origins with the unified timeline Lara design fans have been clamoring for. Frustration because leaks rob these announcements of their intended impact, turning what should be a triumphant Game Awards moment into something we’ve already half-seen on Reddit hours earlier. Regardless of how you feel about the leak itself, one thing is clear: Tomb Raider is officially back tonight at 4:30 PM PT, and whether it’s just Legacy of Atlantis or a double announcement including the mainline game, Crystal Dynamics finally has a chance to prove they can deliver on years of promises. After the turbulent development, multiple layoffs, and endless speculation, showing actual gameplay and providing concrete release information will matter more than any amount of concept art or teaser images. Lara Croft has raided tombs across the globe for nearly 30 years, surviving franchise reboots, publisher changes, and shifts in gaming trends. Tonight we find out if she can survive one more reinvention and reclaim her throne as gaming’s premiere action-adventure icon. Set those reminders, avoid additional spoilers if you can, and prepare to see the future of Tomb Raider whether you wanted it leaked or not.