At Gamescom last week, a low‑key 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 full‑scale reimagining of Lara Croft’s inaugural adventure. The responsibility for bringing this vision to life has been handed to the Polish development house Flying Wild Hog, working hand‑in‑hand with the series’ longtime steward, Crystal Dynamics. The collaboration has already introduced several notable changes to the familiar formula.
For instance, the iconic first‑aid kits have been replaced with a crafting system that lets Lara mix health‑restoring tinctures and prepare meals that boost her stats using ingredients scattered throughout the world. Additionally, a skill‑tree has been added, and the demo highlighted how players can spend skill points to extend the range of Lara’s signature dual pistols. Following the demo, a round‑table Q&A featured Raul Siqueira, game director at Crystal Dynamics, alongside Flying Wild Hog’s art director Arek Tomaszewski.
The pair shed light on how the external development partnership functions, their working relationship with Amazon, and why the long‑standing tank‑control scheme will not make a comeback when Legacy of Atlantis launches on February 12. Both studios – Crystal Dynamics, based in California, and Flying Wild Hog in Poland – consider themselves a single entity on the project, internally dubbed “Team Atlantis.” Siqueira explained, “We’re very good at tearing down the invisible walls that can appear between studios during a joint effort. From the very first conversations it was evident that both teams shared a common philosophy about game creation.
We were brutally honest about our needs and our methods, and the partnership just clicked.” He added that while Crystal Dynamics brings a deep heritage of Tomb Ranger titles, fresh eyes can be invaluable: “Sometimes you need fresh perspectives. Sometimes you need someone new to look at what you have so you can create something unique. I feel like that collaboration has been one of the best parts of this project.” Flying Wild Hog is not the only external partner involved.
Amazon, the tech and retail conglomerate, is publishing both Legacy of Atlantis and the upcoming Tomb Ranger: Catalyst, and is also producing a television series based on the franchise starring Sophie Turner. Siqueira noted that Crystal Dynamics works "pretty closely" with Amazon across all fronts, emphasizing a shared commitment to the brand that extends beyond the studio walls.
He praised the internal franchise team at Crystal Dynamics, describing them as seasoned veterans who have shepherded the series for more than two decades and now collaborate across every project. When asked about the challenges of re‑creating a beloved classic, Siqueira described the team’s approach: they first replayed the original 1996 game and the 2007 remake, Tomb Ranger: Anniversary, to gauge how memory can distort perception. "We all have that memory of what that game looks like in our brain, and then we play it, and we're like, 'Ah, that's different'," he said.
This exercise helped them pinpoint which moments, locations, and set‑pieces needed to stay untouched, and where they could safely “colour outside the lines.” The new features introduced by Team Atlantis include a robust crafting system, weapon upgrades, and the aforementioned skill tree. However, one hallmark of the original has been deliberately omitted: the infamous tank controls. Siqueira explained that the control scheme has been modernized to suit contemporary players.
"The original games are always available to you: we just released Tomb Ranger 1 Remastered. If you want to go back to tank controls, I applaud your enthusiasm.
I tried it many times, and man, it's hard," he said. Tomaszewski echoed this sentiment, recalling his own experience revisiting the old controls after two decades and finding them “so hard.” Legacy of Atlantis was unveiled 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 that there is definitely collaboration, but stressed that Legacy of Atlantis stands as its own independent project. "We are making the games together, but it is very important for us to distinguish that Tomb Ranger: Legacy of Atlantis is completely its own project and we are making sure that we are staying faithful to the original game," he said. He also clarified that the Lara featured in Legacy of Atlantis aligns with the “Survivor” era of the series—spanning Tomb Ranger (2013), Rise of the Tomb Ranger, and Shadow of the Tomb Ranger—and will continue to represent that incarnation in future installments. In summary, the partnership between Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog illustrates how external development can inject fresh ideas while respecting a franchise’s legacy.
By discarding outdated mechanics like tank controls, adding modern systems such as crafting and skill trees, and maintaining a close relationship with Amazon for publishing and cross‑media expansion, the team aims to deliver a game that feels both nostalgic and forward‑looking. Legacy of Atlantis promises to honor the spirit of Lara Croft’s first adventure while providing a richer, more immersive experience for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.