Remaking an Icon Takes More Than Technology
Crystal Dynamics just revealed they’re remaking the original Tomb Raider from 1996, calling it Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis. This marks the second time the game has been remade, following 2007’s Tomb Raider: Anniversary. But studio head Scott Amos insists this is fundamentally different from what they attempted 18 years ago. In a new interview with Video Games Chronicle, Amos explained the team’s philosophy: “We want to honor the legacy of the original.”
That statement carries weight coming from a developer that’s been making Tomb Raider games for years. Legacy of Atlantis arrives in 2026 to celebrate the franchise’s 30th anniversary, built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5 by Crystal Dynamics in partnership with Flying Wild Hog, the Polish studio behind Shadow Warrior. The goal isn’t just upgrading graphics or smoothing out controls. It’s about recapturing what made that 1996 debut special while making it feel native to 2026.
Game director Will Kerslake summarized their approach perfectly: “It’s about making it feel like 1996 but play in 2026.” That balance between nostalgia and modernization defines everything about this project. Longtime fans should recognize the spirit of Core Design’s original work. New players should experience a foundational gaming masterpiece without fighting against outdated design choices that haven’t aged well.
Why Remake It Again
Tomb Raider: Anniversary already exists. Released in 2007, it was Crystal Dynamics’ attempt to recreate the original game for PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, and PC. Reviews were positive but not spectacular. The game succeeded as a serviceable remake that updated visuals and controls, but it didn’t revolutionize anything or become a defining entry in the franchise. Most fans acknowledge it exists, played it once, then moved on.
Eighteen years later, Crystal Dynamics believes they can do better. The 30th anniversary provides perfect timing, falling in 2026 when Legacy of Atlantis is scheduled to launch. More importantly, the team has advantages that didn’t exist in 2007. Unreal Engine 5 enables visual fidelity and environmental detail impossible on PS2-era hardware. Modern game design philosophy has evolved dramatically, offering new approaches to puzzle design, exploration, and player agency.
Perhaps most critically, Crystal Dynamics now understands what fans actually want from Lara Croft. The 2013 reboot trilogy explored a younger, more vulnerable origin story. Legacy of Atlantis and its companion game Catalyst represent the “Unified Lara” design – a blend of classic confident adventurer and modern emotional depth. They’re no longer trying to reinvent the character. They’re celebrating who she’s always been while making her relevant to contemporary audiences.
A Love Letter From Fans For Fans
Scott Amos described Legacy of Atlantis as “a love letter by fans, all of us, for fans.” That’s not typical marketing speak. The development team includes longtime Tomb Raider veterans Crystal Dynamics calls “Crystallites” – developers who worked on previous entries and understand the franchise’s DNA at a fundamental level. But it also includes completely fresh perspectives from Flying Wild Hog, a studio that never touched Tomb Raider before this project.
Amos explained the collaborative dynamic: “We have kind of an interesting crossbreed of some old blood and some very new blood. Flying Wild Hog had never worked on a Tomb Raider game, so there’s a lot of new blood there, whereas we have a lot of Crystallites who’ve come from our past. Blending together, we have a lot of experience in history, but we also have a lot of new faces and new attitudes that are helping really push into that next generation of what Tomb Raider is going to be.”
This mix matters because pure nostalgia creates museum pieces, not living games. The Crystallites provide institutional knowledge about what makes Tomb Raider work. Flying Wild Hog brings external perspective unclouded by “this is how we’ve always done it” thinking. Together they can preserve the original’s spirit while modernizing aspects that need updating without fear of fan backlash.
What Honors the Original
- Core Design’s original DNA and intent preserved throughout
- Same foundational story and locations from the 1996 game
- Iconic moments recreated with modern technology
- Single-player only experience with no unnecessary multiplayer additions
- Unified Lara design that blends classic and modern aesthetics
- Confident adventurer personality rather than origin story vulnerability
Reimagining Not Remaking
Crystal Dynamics deliberately calls Legacy of Atlantis a “reimagining” rather than a straight remake. The distinction matters. A remake recreates something as faithfully as possible with updated technology. A reimagining takes the foundation and builds something that captures the essence while evolving the execution.
Will Kerslake clarified: “For our passionate longtime fans it’s a chance to re-experience the original Tomb Raider adventure with a new perspective. But for new players, it’s an opportunity to experience a foundational gaming masterpiece with modernized gameplay while maintaining its original spirit.” That new perspective includes expanded storytelling, environmental details impossible in 1996, and what the developers are calling “cool surprises” that weren’t in the original.
The team isn’t changing the core story or removing iconic sequences fans remember. You’ll still explore the same exotic locations, solve deadly contraptions, face dinosaurs and other predators, and hunt for pieces of the Scion artifact. But the journey between those moments, the environmental storytelling, the depth of the tombs – all of that gets enhanced through modern design philosophy and Unreal Engine 5 capabilities.
The Unified Timeline Strategy
Legacy of Atlantis doesn’t exist in isolation. Crystal Dynamics announced two Tomb Raider games simultaneously: Legacy of Atlantis for 2026 and Tomb Raider: Catalyst for 2027. Both games feature the same Lara Croft at different points in her career, and both connect to create a unified timeline that finally reconciles the classic games with the modern reboot trilogy.
Legacy of Atlantis represents Lara’s first major adventure – still experienced but not yet at the peak of her abilities. Catalyst shows her “at the top of her game,” dealing with a mythical cataclysm in Northern India as a fully confident professional. Kerslake confirmed: “There are two adventures here, but they’re two adventures of the same character at two distinct periods in her life.”
This dual-game strategy serves multiple purposes. It reintroduces classic Lara to modern audiences through Legacy of Atlantis while simultaneously pushing the character forward with Catalyst’s brand new story. It bridges the gap between fans who grew up with 90s Tomb Raider and players who only know the 2013-2018 reboot trilogy. Most importantly, it establishes a consistent version of Lara Croft moving forward rather than constantly rebooting and reimagining her every few games.
Working With Amazon and Flying Wild Hog
Amazon Game Studios’ involvement adds another layer to this project. The tech giant is publishing both Legacy of Atlantis and Catalyst while also producing a live-action Tomb Raider series. This transmedia approach aims to make Lara Croft relevant across gaming, streaming, and potentially other formats simultaneously.
Will Kerslake addressed concerns about Amazon’s influence on creative decisions: “On the development side, we have partners across all the different disciplines that we work with directly. So as a member of the dev team, it’s been great to have collaborative partners focused on the quality of the game that trust the team to find the answers to those problems.” Translation: Amazon provides resources and support without micromanaging the actual game design.
Flying Wild Hog’s role is more hands-on. Despite being a separate studio, they’re deeply integrated into the broader Tomb Raider development structure. Amos explained: “We actually share technology, we share resources, we share assets, but we have one leadership team, a visionary team over top of that, that makes sure everything is on track, everything is within canon, everything makes sense in the various games and the storytelling.”
Alix Wilton Regan Takes the Torch
Voice actress Alix Wilton Regan replaces Camilla Luddington as Lara Croft for both upcoming games. Luddington defined the character across the Survivor Trilogy from 2013-2018, but the Unified Lara requires a different approach. Regan brings extensive gaming credits including Mass Effect 3, Cyberpunk 2077, Dragon Age: Inquisition, and Amnesia: Rebirth.
Kerslake praised Regan’s understanding of the role: “From the very beginning she got what we were trying to do and bring all the confidence of the character forward, but continue to push on the emotional depth that we need for modern storytelling. She’s been enthusiastic and excited about it the whole time, which has been great.” Crystal Dynamics even brought Regan to The Game Awards for the live reveal, demonstrating confidence in their casting choice.
The recasting signals Crystal Dynamics’ commitment to moving past the Survivor Trilogy’s portrayal. Unified Lara isn’t an uncertain young woman finding herself through trauma. She’s the confident, capable adventurer from the classic games infused with the emotional intelligence and depth that modern audiences expect from protagonists. Regan’s performance needs to balance both aspects, and early reactions suggest she’s capable of pulling it off.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis release?
Legacy of Atlantis is scheduled for 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam. No specific release date has been announced yet beyond the 2026 window, which coincides with the franchise’s 30th anniversary.
How is this different from Tomb Raider: Anniversary?
While Anniversary (2007) was a faithful remake using PS2-era technology, Legacy of Atlantis is described as a reimagining built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5. It includes expanded storytelling, new surprises, and modern game design while honoring the original’s spirit rather than just recreating it.
Is Legacy of Atlantis connected to the 2013 reboot trilogy?
No, Legacy of Atlantis exists in the unified timeline that connects the classic 90s games with the post-Underworld era. It’s separate from the 2013-2018 Survivor Trilogy that featured a younger origin story for Lara.
Who is developing Legacy of Atlantis?
Crystal Dynamics is developing Legacy of Atlantis in partnership with Flying Wild Hog (Shadow Warrior developers), with Amazon Game Studios publishing. The two studios share technology, resources, and assets under unified creative leadership.
Will this be single-player only?
Yes, Crystal Dynamics confirmed Legacy of Atlantis is a single-player only experience with no multiplayer components. This honors the original game’s design and focuses resources entirely on the solo adventure.
What is the Unified Lara design?
Unified Lara blends the confident personality of classic 90s Lara Croft with the modern character design and emotional depth from recent games. It’s Crystal Dynamics’ attempt to create a definitive version of the character that appeals to both longtime fans and newcomers.
Is Camilla Luddington returning as the voice of Lara?
No, Alix Wilton Regan is voicing Lara in both Legacy of Atlantis and Catalyst. Luddington’s version of the character was specific to the Survivor Trilogy, while Regan represents the Unified Lara moving forward.
What makes this a reimagining instead of a remake?
A reimagining captures the essence and spirit of the original while evolving the execution with modern design, expanded storytelling, and new surprises. A remake faithfully recreates the original with updated technology. Legacy of Atlantis aims to feel like 1996 but play like a 2026 game.
Honoring Legacy While Building Future
The decision to remake Tomb Raider again represents both a celebration and a gamble. Crystal Dynamics is banking that 18 years of technological advancement, design evolution, and deeper understanding of what fans want will create an experience that justifies revisiting ground they already covered with Anniversary. The early response suggests they might be right.
By describing it as a love letter from fans for fans, Crystal Dynamics acknowledges the pressure they’re under. Tomb Raider defined action-adventure gaming for a generation. The 1996 original sold over 7 million copies and launched Lara Croft into mainstream pop culture icon status. Remaking that game poorly would damage the franchise more than never touching it at all.
But the team’s approach – honoring Core Design’s DNA, blending veteran Crystallites with fresh Flying Wild Hog perspectives, building in Unreal Engine 5, maintaining single-player focus, and creating the Unified Lara that bridges classic and modern – suggests genuine care about getting this right. Legacy of Atlantis isn’t a cash grab remake capitalizing on nostalgia. It’s an attempt to introduce a foundational gaming masterpiece to a new generation while giving longtime fans a reason to fall in love with Lara all over again.
Whether they succeed won’t be known until 2026. But Crystal Dynamics’ willingness to explain their thinking, commit to honoring the original’s legacy, and take creative risks with a reimagining rather than playing it safe with a straight remake demonstrates respect for both the source material and the audience. That’s the kind of foundation successful remakes are built on. Now they just have to execute.