Last week at Gamescom, a hands‑on showcase of Tomb Ranger: Legacy of Atlantis made it clear that this title is far more than a straightforward remaster of the 1996 classic; it is a thorough reimagining of Lara Croft’s inaugural adventure. The responsibility for bringing this vision to life has been handed over to the Polish studio Flying Wild Hog, which has introduced several fresh mechanics that reshape the familiar Tomb Ranger formula.
For instance, the traditional first‑aid kits have been removed entirely. In their place, Lara now gathers ingredients scattered throughout the world to brew health‑restoring potions and prepare meals that grant temporary stat boosts.
A brand‑new skill tree also appears, allowing players to allocate points to enhance abilities such as the range of Lara’s iconic dual pistols, as demonstrated in the demo. Following the demo, a round‑table Q&A featured Raul Siqueira, game director at Crystal Dynamics, and Arek Tomaszewski, art director at Flying Wild Hog.
The two executives shed light on how the external development partnership functions, described their working relationship with Amazon, and clarified why the long‑awaited return of tank controls will not be part of Legacy of Atlantis when it launches on February 12. Legacy of Atlantis is being built jointly by Crystal Dynamics, based in California, and Flying Wild Hog in Poland. Siqueira emphasized that, despite the geographic distance, everyone involved considers themselves part of a single entity known internally as “Team Atlantis.” “We excel at tearing down the invisible walls that can appear between studios during a project,” he explained. “From our first conversations it was obvious that both teams share a very similar philosophy about game development.
We’ve been brutally honest about our needs and our creative direction, and the collaboration just clicked.” He continued, “Crystal Dynamics brings decades of Tomb Ranger heritage, but sometimes you need a fresh pair of eyes. Bringing in an external studio can reveal blind spots and spark ideas that wouldn’t emerge otherwise.
That fresh perspective has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this project.” Flying Wild Hog is not the only outside partner involved in the venture. Amazon, the tech and retail conglomerate, serves as the publisher for both Legacy of Atlantis and the upcoming Tomb Ranger: Catalyst, and it is also producing a television series based on the franchise starring Sophie Turner. Siqueira said his studio works "pretty closely" with Amazon across all fronts.
"We share a deep commitment to the franchise and to Lara herself that goes beyond the walls of our own studios," he said. "At Crystal Dynamics we have an internal franchise team—seasoned veterans who have been shaping Tomb Ranger for more than twenty years. They are involved in every project, ensuring a consistent vision.
The collaboration with Amazon has been smooth and mutually beneficial." He added with a laugh, "If I start talking too much about other projects, someone might tackle me from the stage!" In the early stages of development, the team revisited both the original 1996 game and the 2007 remake, Tomb Ranger: Anniversary, to understand how player memory can differ from actual experience. "We all have a mental picture of how the game looked and felt," Siqueira noted. "When we played it again, we realized some details had shifted in our recollection.
That exercise helped us pinpoint the essential moments and locations that must stay true to the original, while also highlighting areas where we could safely innovate." Among the innovations are the crafting system and weapon upgrades mentioned earlier, but one hallmark of the original has been deliberately omitted: tank controls. When asked about this decision, Siqueira explained that the control scheme was modernized to suit contemporary gamers. "The original control layout was designed for the hardware of its time, and while it has nostalgic charm, it doesn’t translate well to today’s expectations," he said. "We’ve made the game accessible to a broader audience while still offering a remastered version of the classic for purists.
If you want to experience the old tank controls, the original Tomb Ranger 1 Remastered is still available. I’ve tried them myself—honestly, they’re quite challenging after two decades away from that style." Tomaszewski echoed this sentiment, adding, "When I first played the original as a kid I thought the tank controls were brilliant, but revisiting them after twenty years feels almost like learning a new language. It’s a fun curiosity, but not something most players would enjoy today." Legacy of Atlantis was announced alongside Tomb Ranger: Catalyst, a sequel set years after the events of 2008’s Tomb Ranger: Underworld.
When questioned about the synergy between the two titles, Siqueira confirmed there is “definite collaboration,” yet stressed that each project stands on its own. "We’re developing both games in parallel, but it’s crucial that Legacy of Atlantis remains a faithful adaptation of the 1996 adventure," he said.
"The Lara you encounter in Atlantis is the same incarnation that appears in the Survivor era—Tomb Ranger (2013), Rise of the Tomb Ranger, and Shadow of the Tomb Ranger—so continuity is maintained across all future projects." In summary, the partnership between Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog illustrates how external development can inject new ideas while preserving the core identity of a beloved franchise. By embracing modern gameplay conventions, expanding the system with crafting and skill trees, and thoughtfully deciding which legacy elements to retain or discard, the team aims to deliver an experience that honors Lara Croft’s origins while appealing to both longtime fans and newcomers. Disclosure: Alex Forbes‑Calvin previously collaborated with Crystal Dynamics on the book *Chronicles of the Tomb Ranger*.