During Gamescom last week, a hands‑on showcase of 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 to the Polish development house Flying Wild Hog, which has introduced a host of fresh mechanics to the long‑standing Tomb Raider formula. First‑aid kits, for instance, have been replaced by a crafting system that lets Lara brew health‑restoring tinctures and prepare meals that grant temporary stat boosts using ingredients scattered throughout the world.
Additionally, a skill‑tree now lets players allocate points to enhance abilities such as the range of Lara’s signature dual pistols, giving the gameplay a more RPG‑like depth. In a post‑demo round‑table Q&A, Raul Siqueira, game director at Crystal Dynamics, and Flying Wild Hog’s art director Arek Tomaszewski explained how the external development partnership operates, how the studios coordinate with publisher Amazon, and why the notorious tank‑control scheme will not be resurrected when Legacy of Atlantis launches on February 12. Both Crystal Dynamics, based in California, and Flying Wild Hog, based in Poland, consider themselves a single entity for this project, internally dubbed “Team Atlantis.” “We’re surprisingly good at tearing down the invisible walls that can appear between studios during a joint effort,” Siqueira said. “From the moment we started talking, it was evident that both teams share a common philosophy about how games should be built.
We were brutally honest about our needs and our preferred methods, and everything just fell into place naturally.” He added, “Crystal brings decades of Tomb Raider heritage, but sometimes you need a fresh pair of eyes. Bringing in an external perspective can spark ideas that wouldn’t emerge otherwise, and that collaboration has become one of the most rewarding aspects of this project.” Flying Wild Hog is not the only external relationship Crystal Dynamics is juggling for Legacy of Atlantis. Amazon, the e‑commerce and media conglomerate, is acting as publisher for both this game and the upcoming Tomb Rae r: Catalyst, while also producing a television series based on the franchise starring Sophie Turner.
Siqueira noted that the studio works “pretty closely” with Amazon across all fronts, emphasizing a shared dedication to the brand that extends beyond the walls of any single studio. “We have an internal franchise team that’s been stewarding the series for more than twenty years,” he explained.
“They’re involved in every project, ensuring a cohesive vision. The collaboration with Amazon is strong, but if I start naming other titles, I might get pelted with questions from the audience!” To ground their redesign, the team revisited both the original 1996 game and the 2007 remake, Tomb Raider: Anniversary. This exercise highlighted how memory can distort expectations. “We all carry a mental image of how the game looked and played,” Siqueira said.
“When we actually sat down with the old files, we could pinpoint the moments and locations that must stay untouched, and identify the areas where we could safely color outside the lines.” Among the new features, crafting and weapon upgrades stand out, but one hallmark of the original has been deliberately omitted: the infamous tank controls. “The control scheme has been modernized for today’s audience,” Siqueira clarified. “The original version is still available as Tomb Raider 1 Remastered for anyone who wants to experience the classic feel. I’ve tried the tank controls many times; they’re genuinely tough to master.” Tomaszewski echoed this sentiment, noting that while the old system felt “awesome” in its time, playing it two decades later feels “like, what is happening?” Legacy of Atlantis debuted alongside the announcement of Tomb Raider: Catalyst, a sequel set years after 2008’s Tomb Raider: Underworld.
When asked about the synergy between the two titles, Siqueira confirmed there is “definite collaboration,” but stressed that each project remains distinct. “Legacy of Atlantis is its own beast, faithful to the source material.
Lara’s journey in this game aligns with 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 incarnation across all future projects.” The conversation concluded with a disclosure: Alex Forbes‑Calvin, the author of this article, has previously collaborated with Crystal Dynamics on the book Chronicles of the Tomb Raider. The interview underscored how external development, open communication, and a willingness to blend nostalgia with innovation can breathe new life into a beloved classic while respecting its legacy.