The iconic raider of tombs returns not in a nostalgic cameo, but in two full-scale projects that aim to redefine her future and rewrite her past. Both titles sit under Crystal Dynamics’ renewed vision for the series, and both put one striking change front and centre: a new voice and a subtly reworked identity for gaming’s most famous adventurer.
A new Lara Croft, a new voice
The most immediate shift isn’t Lara’s outfit, gear, or setting. It’s her face and, even more, the way she sounds and talks. Crystal Dynamics has confirmed that British actor Alix Wilton Regan will voice Lara Croft in both upcoming games.
Alix Wilton Regan, known for roles in Dragon Age: Inquisition, Cyberpunk 2077 and Mass Effect 3, becomes the new voice of Lara Croft across Crystal Dynamics’ unified timeline.
Her casting signals a fresh incarnation of Lara: more assertive, more layered, less the wide-eyed survivor and more the seasoned operator. The studio wants a version of Lara who can bridge the earlier classic adventures and the gritty reboot trilogy into one coherent continuity.
This is not just a recast, it’s a tonal pivot. The new Lara is older, with sharper features and a more mature presence. Crystal Dynamics describes her as charismatic, confident and formidable, a heroine who has already survived the worst and is now working on a bigger canvas than just staying alive.
Tomb Raider: Catalyst – a vast new chapter in India
The first major project, Tomb Raider: Catalyst, is pitched as the most ambitious game Crystal Dynamics has produced for the series in recent years. Development began in 2022 as part of a partnership with Amazon Games, and the studio is treating it as a key pillar of a long-term franchise plan.
The story sends Lara to northern India, chasing the echoes of a forgotten cataclysm that has left dangerous secrets buried and strange forces stirring.
Catalyst is set several years after Tomb Raider: Underworld, with the reboot trilogy serving as Lara’s origin story, and is designed as a standalone adventure that works for newcomers and long-time fans alike.
In this new journey, Lara is no rookie. She is a veteran adventurer navigating rival treasure hunters, fractured ruins and powers rooted in mythology. Themes of trust, betrayal and the fate of humanity sit at the centre of the narrative. Details remain vague, but the tone leans toward high-stakes mystery rather than simple monster-of-the-week spectacle.
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Unreal Engine 5 and the largest Tomb Raider world yet
Catalyst runs on Unreal Engine 5 and aims to deliver the largest open environment ever seen in the franchise. Crystal Dynamics talks about freeform exploration, substantial tombs and a heavier focus on enigmatic traversal and puzzle-solving, rather than just linear shooting galleries.
Key promises include:
- Wide open regions in northern India with distinct biomes and secrets
- Massive tomb complexes built around layered environmental puzzles
- Custom technologies and gear specific to this version of Lara
- Story threads that connect to earlier games without requiring prior knowledge
The game is being framed as an ideal entry point for new players but without discarding the legacy that older fans care about. That balancing act will be critical for a series that now spans almost three decades.
Tomb Raider: Catalyst promises the biggest world the franchise has seen, blending classic tomb raiding with modern open-world structure.
There is a catch: patience is required. Catalyst is scheduled for release in 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam, which means a long marketing runway and plenty of time for expectations to rise.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis – 1996 reborn, not just remade
While Catalyst pushes the series forward, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis looks back to where everything started in 1996. This project is not a simple remaster of the original game, nor a straightforward remake like 2007’s Anniversary. Crystal Dynamics, together with Polish studio Flying Wild Hog, is treating it as a modern reimagining.
Launching in 2026 for the 30th anniversary of Tomb Raider, Legacy of Atlantis is built in Unreal Engine 5, with redesigned puzzles, new areas and reworked iconic moments.
The structure remains familiar: Lara sets out to recover fragments of the Scion, a mysterious artefact that pulls her into a hunt across forgotten places and deadly ruins. Fans can expect prehistoric threats, hidden chambers, lethal traps and intricate puzzles.
The ambition is not nostalgia alone. The developers want returning players, who know the original game almost by heart, to feel surprised again. That means reinterpreting encounters and layouts rather than simply upgrading textures.
Reinventing a classic for a new generation
One of the clearest examples is the T-rex fight, an iconic moment from the first Tomb Raider. In Legacy of Atlantis, this scene is being rebuilt as a full set-piece, with expanded mechanics and cinematic framing, aiming to feel fresh while still recognisable.
Legacy of Atlantis aims to deliver the awe of the 1996 original while reshaping key moments so that veterans feel off balance again.
Crystal Dynamics also stresses that this is a chance to realise ideas that were simply not possible on 90s hardware. Level geometry, enemy AI, physics-based traps and environmental storytelling can now match the original creative vision instead of working around technical limits.
The timing is deliberate: the game is slated for 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam, lining up with Tomb Raider’s 30th birthday. For newer players, Legacy of Atlantis should serve as an accessible gateway into the franchise’s origins, without subjecting them to tank controls or low-res camera struggles.
Two games, one unified Lara
Crystal Dynamics is quietly building a single, continuous timeline that threads together the classic era, the Survivor reboot trilogy, and these new projects. The studio has talked about the reboot games as Lara’s formative years and Catalyst as a later chapter, with Legacy of Atlantis revisiting earlier adventures through a modern lens.
| Game | Planned release | Platform | Key focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis | 2026 | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam | Modern reimagining of the 1996 original, puzzle-driven, Scion artefact |
| Tomb Raider: Catalyst | 2027 | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam | Large open regions in India, new mythological threats, experienced Lara |
Alix Wilton Regan voicing Lara across both titles helps tie this together. The aim is for players to feel continuity in her personality, decisions and emotional arc, no matter which era of her life they’re playing.
What this means for long-time fans and newcomers
For long-time fans, this dual strategy offers two kinds of appeal: a sprawling new adventure that moves the story forward, and a return to formative memories reworked with modern tech. There is also a subtle shift away from purely gritty survival drama toward something closer to pulp archaeology and mythic conspiracy, closer to the tone that originally made Lara stand out.
For new players, the structure is gentler than it might look. Legacy of Atlantis acts as an origin touchstone with contemporary mechanics, while Catalyst lets them jump in at a later stage without feeling lost. Crystal Dynamics repeatedly stresses that Catalyst is built to be approachable without prior knowledge.
Some terms and trends worth unpacking
Players will see the phrase “open world” used a lot with Catalyst. In practice, this often means large, interconnected hubs rather than a single endless map. Expect a mix of handcrafted tombs, optional side paths and story-driven routes, rather than a pure sandbox. How the studio balances puzzles with combat in that structure will shape how “Tomb Raider” it feels.
Another key idea is “reimagining” in Legacy of Atlantis. This usually involves three layers: updated controls and camera, redesigned levels that respect the original layout, and added content to flesh out lore or character arcs. Fans should be prepared for the possibility that some beloved shortcuts or exploits disappear, replaced by more deliberate design choices.
Practical angles for players planning ahead
With Legacy of Atlantis scheduled a year before Catalyst, one likely scenario is that Crystal Dynamics uses the reimagining as a narrative and mechanical warm-up. Players who complete Legacy of Atlantis may find references, lore nods or control schemes that ease the jump into Catalyst’s larger structure.
For anyone curious about the series but intimidated by its long history, a simple route could look like this: start with Legacy of Atlantis, then move to Catalyst, and only then dip into earlier titles or remasters if curiosity grows. This flow follows Lara from a cleaner, modern retelling of her first big hunt to her later, more confident years in India’s ruins.
