Last week at Gamescom, the team gave a hands‑off demo of Tomb Ranger: Legacy of Atlantis that made it clear the upcoming title is far more than a straightforward remaster of the 1996 classic. Instead, it is a full‑scale reimagining of Lara Croft’s inaugural adventure, rebuilt from the ground up.
The development baton has been passed to the Polish studio Flying Wild Hog, which has injected a fresh set of ideas into the long‑standing Tomb Ranger formula. For example, the familiar first‑aid kits have been removed. In their place, Lara now gathers ingredients scattered throughout the world to brew restorative potions and cook meals that temporarily boost her stats. A brand‑new skill tree has also been introduced; during the demo we saw players spend skill points to extend the effective range of Lara’s signature dual pistols, adding a tactical layer that never existed in the original.
Following the demonstration, 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 nostalgic tank‑control scheme will not make a comeback 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 emphasizes that, despite the geographic split, everyone involved refers to themselves as a single unit: “Team Atlantis.” He explained, “We’re very good at tearing down the invisible walls that can appear between studios during a project.
Early conversations made it obvious that both teams share a very similar philosophy about game creation. We were brutally honest about what each side needed and how we wanted to approach the work, and the collaboration just clicked.” He went on to note, “Crystal brings a deep heritage of Tomb Ranger titles, but sometimes you need fresh perspectives. Bringing in a new studio forces you to look at the material through a different lens, which can lead to truly unique outcomes. That partnership has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this project.” Flying Wild Hog isn’t the only external relationship Crystal Dynamics is juggling for Legacy of Atlantis.
The tech and retail behemoth Amazon is acting as publisher for both this game and the forthcoming Tomb Ranger: Catalyst, and is also developing a television series based on the franchise starring Sophie Turner. Siqueira said his studio works "pretty closely" with Amazon across all fronts, adding, "We share a commitment to the franchise and to the character that goes beyond the studio walls. We have an internal franchise team at Crystal Dynamics—people who have been shaping the series for over two decades. They are involved in every project, ensuring a seamless collaboration across the board." He laughed, “If I start talking about the other projects, someone might throw me off the stage,” hinting at the breadth of Amazon’s involvement.
To ground the remake in its roots, the development team revisited both the 1996 original and the 2007 remake, Tomb Ranger: Anniversary. This exercise highlighted how memory can distort perception. "We all have a mental picture of what the game looked like, and when we actually play it we notice the differences," Siqueira said.
"That helped us pinpoint the essential moments and locations that must stay exactly as they are, while also identifying the areas where we could safely color outside the lines." Beyond the new crafting system and weapon upgrades, one hallmark of the original has been deliberately omitted: tank controls. Siqueira explained that the control scheme was modernized to suit contemporary players. "The original games are still available—you can play Tomb Ranger 1 Remastered if you want the classic feel. If you’re nostalgic for tank controls, I respect that enthusiasm, but honestly, after trying them many times, they’re just too cumbersome for today’s audience," he said.
Tomaszewski echoed the sentiment, noting, "When I first played the original after twenty years, I thought it was brilliant, but then I realized how clunky it feels now. It’s a reminder that what was once innovative can become a barrier as player expectations evolve." Legacy of Atlantis was announced alongside Tomb Ranger: Catalyst, a sequel set years after the events of 2008’s Tomb Ranger: Underworld. When asked about synergy between the two titles, Siqueira confirmed there is “definite collaboration,” but stressed that each project stands on its own. "We’re developing both games together, yet it’s crucial that Legacy of Atlantis remains a faithful reinterpretation of the 1996 adventure.
Lara’s narrative arc will stay consistent with the Survivor era—covering Tomb Ranger (2013), Rise of the Tomb Ranger, and Shadow of the Tomb Ranger—so the character you see here is the same Lara that will appear in all our future projects." In summary, the partnership between Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog illustrates how bringing an outside perspective can revitalize a beloved classic, adding modern gameplay loops like crafting and skill trees while preserving the core identity of the original. At the same time, the collaboration with Amazon shows how multimedia franchises can expand across games, streaming, and television, all while maintaining a cohesive vision for Lara Croft’s legacy. Disclosure: Alex Forbes‑Calvin has previously collaborated with Crystal Dynamics on the book *Chronicles of the Tomb Ranger*.