Lara Croft is Back with Two New Tomb Raider Games
Tomb Raider fans on PC finally have something big to look forward to. After years of silence, Crystal Dynamics has revealed not one but two major Tomb Raider projects. There is a full remake of the original 1996 classic called Tomb Raider Legacy of Atlantis and a brand new entry in the series titled Tomb Raider Catalyst.
Both games are confirmed for PC and are built to take advantage of modern hardware and engines. For anyone who grew up with the original polygonal Lara or discovered her through the modern reboots this is a chance to see the franchise brought up to current PC standards.
Legacy of Atlantis: A Modern Remake of the 1996 Classic
Tomb Raider Legacy of Atlantis is a complete re imagining of the first Tomb Raider game released almost 30 years ago. Rather than a simple remaster this project aims to rebuild Lara Croft’s original adventure with updated graphics gameplay and some new surprises.
The developers describe it as a stunning re imagining that keeps the spirit of the original intact while modernizing everything else. On PC that likely means high resolution textures improved lighting effects smoother animations and better controls that feel closer to modern action adventure games.
Narratively the remake is framed almost like a recollection of Lara’s early adventures. That setup gives Crystal Dynamics room to add previously unseen events new locations or fresh twists on classic set pieces. Long time fans can expect to revisit iconic moments from the original game while newer players get a more accessible entry that does not feel locked in the mid 90s.
This is actually the second time the original Tomb Raider has been remade. Tomb Raider Anniversary retold Lara’s first outing back in 2007. But that was nearly two decades ago and the expectations for a PC action game have changed massively since then. With modern engines and hardware a new remake can deliver far higher fidelity environments and much more responsive controls especially important for precision platforming and combat.
Legacy of Atlantis is already listed on Steam and is slated for release in 2026. PC players can wishlist it now to track updates and system requirements as they are announced.
Tomb Raider Catalyst: A New Adventure Built in Unreal Engine 5
The bigger long term news for PC gamers is Tomb Raider Catalyst an all new entry in the series. This game is being built in Unreal Engine 5 which is a strong sign that Crystal Dynamics is targeting cutting edge visuals and large detailed environments that can really push modern GPUs and CPUs.
Catalyst is set in northern India after a mythical cataclysm has shaken the region. Ancient secrets have been uncovered and mysterious guardian forces have awakened. As you would expect rival treasure hunters and opportunists from around the world are racing in to claim the power hidden beneath the fractured landscape.
Lara finds herself in the middle of this chaos trying to uncover the truth while deciding who she can trust among her allies and enemies. The stakes are high. The mystery she is chasing could reshape the future if the wrong people gain control of it.
From a PC perspective a few things stand out:
- Unreal Engine 5 should mean advanced lighting and reflections large scale environments and detailed character models especially on higher end GPUs.
- Unified Lara design brings together the look of classic and modern Lara into one character model which will likely be shown off with high resolution assets and animations on PC.
- Next gen focus and a long development cycle suggest Catalyst will be built for contemporary hardware not last gen limitations which is promising for PC performance and visual settings.
Catalyst has been in the works for a while. Crystal Dynamics first confirmed a new Tomb Raider built in Unreal Engine 5 back in 2022 but the studio has been mostly silent since. During that time it has also gone through several rounds of layoffs under Embracer which makes this reveal feel like a fresh start and a chance to focus on delivering a strong flagship title.
The wait will be longer for this one though. Tomb Raider Catalyst is planned for release sometime in 2027 so expect more detailed gameplay reveals and PC specific info like graphics options and performance targets closer to launch.
What This Means for PC Gamers
For PC players these announcements add two major titles to the future library. Legacy of Atlantis offers a modern way to experience one of the most important games in PC action adventure history with current generation visuals and smoother gameplay. It should be great for benchmarking mid range and high end builds once minimum and recommended specs are revealed.
Catalyst is the bigger technical leap. With Unreal Engine 5 at its core PC gamers can likely expect demanding visual features and a good range of settings to scale from mainstream hardware up to top tier rigs. If Crystal Dynamics delivers solid optimization Catalyst could become a popular showcase title for new GPUs and CPUs when it lands in 2027.
For now the best move for interested PC gamers is simple. Wishlist Legacy of Atlantis on Steam follow news about Catalyst and keep an eye on future trailers that show off how both games run and look on PC. Lara Croft’s next era is clearly being built with modern hardware in mind and that is good news for anyone who loves exploring tombs at high frame rates and high resolutions.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/tomb-raider-comes-to-the-game-awards-with-not-just-one-but-two-new-games-a-re-imagining-and-an-all-new-adventure/
