Tomb Raider Goes Open World: Two New Titles Revealed

Lara Croft is ditching the linear path for an open world. During The Game Awards 2025 on December 11, Crystal Dynamics and Amazon Games unveiled a massive shift for the Tomb Raider franchise: a sprawling, open-world sequel running on Unreal Engine 5, alongside a modernized remake of the 1996 classic that started it all.

This isn't just a sequel announcement; it’s a total strategic overhaul. As the series moves past its 30th anniversary, the developers are betting big on scale and nostalgia simultaneously, steering the IP away from the gritty "Survivor Trilogy" that wrapped in 2018 toward something far more ambitious.

The "Biggest Tomb Raider Yet"

Crystal Dynamics didn't mince words, calling the new mainline entry their "biggest Tomb Raider yet." Built on Unreal Engine 5, the game promises a technical leap designed to support high-fidelity cinematics and complex, physics-based puzzles that wouldn't have been possible on previous hardware.

The real headline, however, is the structural change. Amazon Games confirmed the new entry abandons the strictly linear progression of past decades for an open-world format. Teasers showcased a lush, dangerous setting in northern India, where Lara uncovers ancient Ashoka ruins following a catastrophic natural disaster.

This iteration features a "peak confidence" Lara Croft—a seasoned adventurer rather than the struggling survivor we saw in the 2013-2018 reboot.

Confirmed Details:

Engine: Unreal Engine 5.
Scope: Narrative-driven adventure within an open world.
Development: A 200+ person team with a "high nine figures" budget.
Release Window: Sources cited by The Verge point to a 2026 target.

Reviving the Classic: A Modern Retelling

While the sequel pushes boundaries, the second project looks backward. The studios announced a unified modern take on the original 1996 Tomb Raider. Though the final title isn't set in stone—trailers teased the subtitle "Legacy of Atlantis"—the goal is clear: blending the iconic narrative with contemporary playability.

This isn't a 1:1 remaster. Amazon Games clarified that this remake will graft modern mechanics from the "Survivor" trilogy—think enhanced stealth and fluid traversal—onto the original's dual-pistol action and puzzle-heavy core. The project is eyeing an aggressive timeline, potentially landing in late 2025 or early 2026.

The Business Stakes: Embracer's Big Gamble

This dual-release strategy is the first major execution of Embracer Group’s vision since acquiring the IP. Rather than drip-feeding releases, developing two AAA titles concurrently suggests Embracer is doubling down on Tomb Raider as a financial pillar. With 95 million copies sold historically, the franchise is a heavyweight, but recent restructuring at Embracer puts immense pressure on these titles to perform.

There is also a clear push for synergy. Amazon Games confirmed the new titles will share lore and narrative threads with the upcoming live-action series starring Sophie Turner. It’s a risky play—unified universes can alienate casual fans if the homework load gets too heavy—but it distinguishes this era from the standalone entries of the past.

Industry Context and Reception

The reveal capitalized on The Game Awards' massive reach, with viewership estimates hitting 120 million. During the Tomb Raider segment alone, data suggests over 3 million concurrent viewers tuned in. Sentiment tracking from Brandwatch shows a 75% positive reaction, largely driven by fans eager to see a capable, experienced Lara Croft return.

However, the "open-world" label carries baggage. Discussions on forums like ResetEra highlight a distinct wariness regarding "open-world fatigue." While the visual promise of UE5 is exciting, the challenge for Crystal Dynamics will be proving that a bigger map doesn't just mean more empty space. By positioning Tomb Raider against other narrative blockbusters, the studio is signaling that the era of tight, linear corridor shooters is, for Lara at least, history.