At Gamescom last week, the demo for Tomb Raider: 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 over to the Polish development house Flying Wild Hog, which has injected a host of new ideas into the familiar Tomb Raider formula.
For instance, the iconic first‑aid kits have been replaced by a crafting system that lets Lara brew health‑restoring tinctures and prepare meals that boost her stats using ingredients scattered throughout the world. In addition, a skill‑tree has been introduced, and the demo highlighted how skill points can be spent to extend the range of Lara’s signature dual pistols. Following the showcase, Crystal Dynamics game director Raul Siqueira and Flying Wild Hog art director Arek Tomaszewski sat down for a round‑table Q&A.
They explained how the external‑development partnership functions, described their working relationship with Amazon, and clarified why fans won’t see the return of the old‑school “tank” control scheme when Legacy of Atlantis launches on February 12. Both the California‑based Crystal Dynamics team and the Polish studio are co‑developing the game, yet Siqueira insists that everyone involved feels like a single unit, internally dubbed “Team Atlantis.” “We’re really good at tearing down the invisible walls that can appear between studios during a project,” he said.
“From the moment we started talking, it was obvious that both teams share the same philosophy about game creation. We’re brutally honest about what we need and how we want to do it, and the collaboration just clicked.” He added, “Crystal brings a deep legacy of Tomb Raider titles and a huge amount of history, but sometimes you need fresh perspectives.
Bringing in a new team to look at what you have can spark something unique. That partnership has been one of the best parts of this project.” Flying Wild Hog isn’t the only external partner involved. Amazon, the tech and retail giant, is publishing both Legacy of Atlantis and the upcoming Tomb Raider: Catalyst, and it 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.
“We share a commitment to the franchise and the character that goes beyond studio walls,” he explained. “We have an internal franchise team at Crystal that’s been stewarding Tomb Raider for more than two decades. They’re involved in every project, and the collaboration across the board is fantastic.” He laughed, adding, “If I start talking about the other projects, some people might tackle me from the stage!” When the development team began, they played through both the original 1996 game and the 2007 remake, Tomb Raider: Anniversary, to understand how memory can distort recollection.
“We all have that mental image of what the game looks like, and then we sit down and play it and realize it’s different,” Siqueira said. “That helped us pinpoint the key moments and locations that must stay exactly the same, and where we could safely color outside the lines.” Team Atlantis has introduced several new mechanics, such as crafting and weapon upgrades, but one hallmark of the original has been deliberately omitted: tank controls.
“The control scheme has been adapted for a modern audience,” Siqueira explained. “The original games are still available—you can play Tomb Raider 1 Remastered if you want the classic feel. If you’re eager to try tank controls again, I respect that enthusiasm, but I’ve tried them many times and they’re just… hard.” Tomaszewski echoed the sentiment, noting, “I remember thinking the tank controls were awesome back then, but after twenty years, playing them feels like, ‘What is happening?
It’s extremely difficult.’" Legacy of Atlantis was announced alongside Tomb Raider: Catalyst, a sequel set years after the events of 2008’s Tomb Raider: Underworld. When asked about the synergy between the two projects, Siqueira confirmed that there is “definitely collaboration,” but emphasized that each title remains its own distinct experience. “We’re making the games together, but it’s crucial to keep Legacy of Atlantis faithful to its source material.
As for Lara’s narrative arc, we want to honor both the games that came before and those that 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 in our future projects.” In summary, the partnership between Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog demonstrates how an external studio can inject fresh ideas while preserving the core spirit of a beloved classic. By discarding outdated control schemes, adding modern systems like crafting and skill trees, and maintaining a collaborative relationship with both Amazon and internal franchise veterans, the team aims to deliver a game that feels both nostalgic and contemporary. Legacy of Atlantis is set to launch on February 12, promising fans a re‑imagined adventure that respects its roots while boldly stepping forward.
Disclosure: Alex Forbes‑Calvin has previously collaborated with Crystal Dynamics on the book *Chronicles of the Tomb Raider*.