In celebration of Tomb Raider's 25th anniversary, creator of the reboot trilogy, Crystal Dynamics, plans to unleash a host of surprises throughout this year. Such an announcement followed on the heels of yet another piece of exciting news - Netflix and Legendary Entertainment are partnering to produce a Tomb Raider animated series.
Tomb Raider debuted in 1996 as an action-adventure game on Sega Saturn, then soon thereafter took the world by storm on PlayStation. Players were enamored with the level design and gameplay, which allowed for the exploration of Egypt, Peru, Greece, and even Atlantis. But most were especially taken by the titular tomb raider, the adventurous Lara Croft. In the two and a half decades since, Lara's become a pop culture icon who's beloved the world over, thanks to her globe-trotting adventures in games, film, and comics. If any action hero is deserving of a yearlong celebration, it's her.
In a post on the Tomb Raider Twitter account, Crystal Dynamics outlined its plans for the 25th anniversary. Starting in February, and lasting throughout 2021, community celebrations will include cosplay and fan art highlights, interviews, livestreams, and other extras that remain under wraps for now. In addition, each month will have its own theme based on previous Tomb Raider titles, beginning with the 1996 classic. Franchise game director, Will Kerslake, also teased what's ahead for the brand's future. According to Kerslake, Crystal "envisions the future of Tomb Raider unfolding after [its] established adventures." He noted that whatever comes next will unify the timelines of the classic entries and Crystal's reboot trilogy. With such a monumental task ahead, the development crew needs time to iron everything out. Thus, a new game announcement is not set to emerge in the near future.
All of the above sounds like a great way to honor Lara Croft's legacy. Due to COVID, there were probably several other ideas in the works that simply aren't possible at this time. But it seems Crystal Dynamics still plans to give Tomb Raider the yearlong celebration and dedication it deserves.
While there are no new games in the near future, the reboot trilogy represents a good starting off point for those interested in exploring the brand further. In fact, the trilogy's last installment - Shadow of the Tomb Raider - is available now as PlayStation Plus freebie. Subscribers who've yet to add the title to their libraries should do so before it exits the service on Monday, February 1.
Source: Tomb Raider