Last week at Gamescom, a hands‑off demo of Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis gave attendees a clear picture: this isn’t merely a polished remaster of the 1996 classic, but a full‑scale reimagining of Lara Croft’s inaugural adventure. The project is being shepherded by Crystal Dynamics, but the heavy lifting on the ground is being done by the Polish studio Flying Wild Hog.
Their involvement has already produced noticeable changes to the series’ core mechanics. For instance, the familiar first‑aid kits have been removed entirely; instead, Lara now gathers ingredients to brew health‑restoring elixirs and prepare meals that boost her stats. A brand‑new skill tree also makes an appearance, as demonstrated by the demo’s use of skill points to extend the range of Lara’s signature dual pistols.
Following the showcase, a round‑table Q&A brought together Crystal Dynamics game director Raul Siqueira and Flying Wild Hog art director Arek Tomaszewski. The two explained how the external development partnership operates, how the studios coordinate with Amazon, and why the controversial tank‑control scheme will stay absent when Legacy of Atlantis launches on February 12. Both studios—Crystal Dynamics in California and Flying Wild Hog in Poland—refer to themselves internally as “Team Atlantis,” emphasizing that everyone works as a single, unified group. “We’re very good at tearing down the invisible walls that can appear between studios during a project,” Siqueira said.
“From the first conversations it was evident that we share the same philosophy on game creation. We’re brutally honest about what we need and how we want to achieve it, and the collaboration just felt natural.” He added that while Crystal Dynamics brings decades of Tomb Raider heritage, fresh perspectives are essential. “Sometimes you need a new set of eyes to look at what you have and help you craft something truly unique.
That external viewpoint has been one of the best parts of this endeavor.” Flying Wild Hog isn’t the only external partner involved. Amazon, the tech and retail behemoth, is publishing both Legacy of Atlantis and the forthcoming Tomb Raider: Catalyst, and is also producing a television series starring Sophie Turner based on the franchise.
Siqueira noted that Crystal Dynamics works “pretty closely” with Amazon across all fronts. “We share a commitment to the franchise and the character that goes beyond the studio walls,” he explained. “Our internal franchise team has been stewarding Tomb Raider for over twenty years, and they’re engaged in every project. The collaboration is strong, though I’d better not start naming other titles or I might get tackled from the stage!” To ensure the new game honored its roots, the development team revisited both the original 1996 title and the 2007 remake, Tomb Raider: Anniversary.
This exercise highlighted how memory can distort recollection. “We all have a mental snapshot of how the game looked, and then we play it and realize it’s different,” Siqueira said.
“That helped us pinpoint the moments and locations that must stay exactly as they are, while also identifying where we could safely color outside the lines.” Team Atlantis has therefore introduced systems such as crafting, weapon upgrades, and the skill tree, but they have also made a deliberate decision to drop the classic tank‑control scheme. “The control layout has been modernized for today’s audience,” Siqueira explained. “The original games are still available—you can play Tomb Raider 1 Remastered if you want the tank feel. I’ve tried it many times, and honestly, it’s tough.” Tomaszewski echoed this sentiment, recalling his own experience revisiting the old controls after two decades: “It was amazing back then, but playing it now feels like, ‘What on earth is happening?’ It’s just too hard for modern players.” When Legacy of Atlantis was first announced, it appeared alongside Tomb Raider: Catalyst, a sequel set years after the events of 2008’s Tomb Raider: Underworld.
When asked about the relationship between the two titles, Siqueira confirmed there is “definite collaboration,” but stressed that Legacy of Atlantis stands as its own distinct project. “We are making both games together, yet we must keep Legacy of Atlantis faithful to its source material. Lara’s journey in this game respects both the titles that came before and those that will follow.
The Lara you see here is the same Lara from the Survivor era—Tomb Raider 2013, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider—and she will continue to be the same character across our future projects.” In summary, the partnership between Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog illustrates how external development can inject fresh ideas while preserving the heart of a beloved series. By removing outdated mechanics like tank controls, adding modern systems such as crafting and skill trees, and maintaining close ties with Amazon for publishing and multimedia expansion, the team aims to deliver a version of Lara’s first adventure that feels both nostalgic and contemporary.
The upcoming release on February 12 promises to showcase how these collaborative efforts have reshaped a classic into a fully realized, next‑generation experience.