Discover Tomb Raider: Catalyst, the next new adventure of Lara Croft

Tomb RaiderJul 2, 20262 min read

Since 1996 and the first Tomb Raider, Lara Croft has been an essential figure in the video game universe. The famous adventurer has stood out through several games over the years, while the universe has also been expanded with the publication of several comics, novels, films, and series. The franchise is a true cultural phenomenon that transcends the years. Still in the hands of Crystal Dynamics, which succeeded Core Design in 2003, it remains very present. The proof, two games will be released in 2027, namely Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, the reinterpretation of the first installment, and Tomb Raider: Catalyst, a new adventure that we present to you today in our columns.

An exciting new adventure to come

Thinking about the Tomb Raider franchise is to delve into memories dating back to 1996, the year the very first game was released on the Sega Saturn. Core Design had managed the feat of imposing a new heroine, namely Lara Croft. She evolved within six games before the franchise passed into the hands of Crystal Dynamics in 2003. It was only three years later, in 2006, that the studio relaunched the series, then published by Eidos Interactive, with Tomb Raider: Legend. The publisher fell under the umbrella of Square Enix in 2010, allowing the development studio to embark on a new reboot with the simply named Tomb Raider in 2013. A true success with its survival orientation, the title was entitled to two sequels. This is not counting the spin-off series, reissues, ports, and other cultural products created to develop the franchise beyond the video game.

2027 will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the saga's history, under the protective wing of Amazon Game Studios in 2022. Thus, in addition to the reimagined version of the first installment, players will be able to discover a brand new adventure powered by the magnificent Unreal Engine 5, the latest current version of Epic Games' engine. As such, Tomb Raider: Catalyst will land on next-generation machines, namely the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, in addition to compatible PCs (via Steam). This will ensure visuals that meet expectations while offering "the largest Tomb Raider world to date".

Crystal Dynamics assures that this new adventure will be accessible to newcomers, in addition to targeting longtime fans. Lara Croft will be put to the test in environments full of secrets. Of course, it will be necessary to explore tombs and solve several puzzles. The experience promises to be faithful while bringing a form of modernity to the whole. On the story side, without saying too much, our heroine will go to northern India to try to discover the truth about the mythical cataclysm that affected the region. She will once again have to prevent a disaster that seems inevitable while making sure to choose wisely whom to trust. Allies of one day may well become the enemies of the next.