At Gamescom last week, attendees were treated to a hands‑off showcase of Tomb Ranger: Legacy of Atlantis that made it clear this title is far more than a straightforward remaster of the 1996 classic. Instead, it is a full‑scale re‑imagining of Lara Croft’s inaugural adventure, rebuilt from the ground up. The development mantle has been passed to the Polish studio Flying Wild Hog, which has injected a host of new ideas into the beloved formula. For example, the familiar first‑aid kits have vanished, replaced by a crafting system that lets Lara mix health‑restoring tinctures and create meals that boost her stats from ingredients scattered throughout the world.
A brand‑new skill tree also makes an appearance; the demo highlighted how players can allocate points to extend the range of Lara’s iconic dual pistols, adding a layer of strategic depth previously unseen in the series. 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 offered insight into how the external development partnership functions, described their working relationship with Amazon, and clarified why the notorious “tank controls” will not be resurrected when Legacy of Atlantis launches on February 12. Legacy of Atlantis is a joint effort between Crystal Dynamics, based in California, and Flying Wild Hog in Poland.
Siqueira emphasized that, despite the geographic split, everyone involved considers themselves part of a single entity, internally dubbed “Team Atlantis.” > “We’re quite adept at tearing down the invisible walls that can appear between studios during a project,” he explained. “From the very first conversations it was evident that both teams shared a common philosophy about game development.
We were brutally honest about our needs and our methods, and the collaboration just clicked.” He went on to note the value of an outside perspective: > “Crystal Dynamics brings a deep heritage of Tomb Ranger titles, but sometimes you need fresh eyes. Bringing in a new studio lets you look at the material from a different angle and craft something truly unique. That partnership has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this project.” Flying Wild Hog isn’t the only external partner in the mix. Amazon, the tech and retail behemoth, is publishing both Legacy of Atlantis and the forthcoming Tomb Ranger: Catalyst, while also producing a television series starring Sophie Turner based on the franchise.
Siqueira described the relationship as “pretty close” across all fronts. > “We share a commitment to the franchise and its heroine that goes beyond studio walls,” he said. “Our internal franchise team at Crystal Dynamics consists of veterans who have spent over two decades shaping Lara’s story.
They’re involved in every project, fostering a strong collaborative spirit.” He added with a laugh, “If I start talking about all the other projects we’re juggling, someone might chase me off the stage!” To ground their redesign, the team revisited both the original 1996 game and the 2007 remake, Tomb Ranger: Anniversary. This exercise highlighted how memory can distort perception.
“We all carry a mental image of how the game looked,” Siqueira noted. “When we actually played it, we realized there were differences. That helped us pinpoint the essential moments and locations we needed to preserve, while also identifying where we could safely color outside the lines.” Beyond crafting and weapon upgrades, the team made a deliberate decision to drop one of the series’ most iconic—if polarizing—features: tank controls.
Siqueira explained the rationale: > “The control scheme has been modernized for today’s audience. The original titles are still available; we released Tomb Ranger 1 Remastered for purists. If you want to experience tank controls again, I applaud your enthusiasm, but I’ve tried them many times and they’re genuinely tough to master.” Tomaszewski echoed that sentiment, recalling his own experience revisiting the mechanic after two decades: > “Back then I thought it was brilliant, but playing it now feels like, ‘What on earth is happening?’ It’s just too cumbersome for contemporary players.” When Legacy of Atlantis was first announced, it appeared alongside Tomb Ranger: Catalyst, a sequel set years after 2008’s Tomb Ranger: Underworld. Siqueira confirmed that the two projects are collaborating, yet stressed that Legacy of Atlantis stands as its own distinct experience.
> “We’re developing the games together, but it’s crucial to treat Legacy of Atlantis as a separate venture that remains faithful to the original,” he said. “Regarding Lara’s narrative arc, we respect both the titles that preceded her and those that follow. The Lara you encounter here is the same survivor‑era Lara from the 2013 reboot trilogy, and she will continue to be that version across all future projects.” In summary, the partnership between Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog illustrates how an infusion of fresh talent can revitalize a classic property without sacrificing its core identity.
By embracing modern mechanics, expanding the gameplay loop with crafting and skill trees, and thoughtfully discarding outdated control schemes, the team aims to deliver a Legacy of Atlantis that feels both nostalgic and forward‑looking. The collaboration with Amazon further underscores a multi‑platform strategy that spans games, streaming, and television, ensuring Lara Croft’s adventures reach audiences wherever they choose to engage.
*Disclosure: Alex Forbes‑Calvin previously collaborated with Crystal Dynamics on the book Chronicles of the Tomb Ranger.*