New Tomb Raider due Xmas 2011

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 30 June, 2010

Crystal Dynamics hard at work.

Eurogamer has learned that Crystal Dynamics is hard at work on the next main game in the Tomb Raider series that should be released during the Christmas period 2011.

US developer Crystal Dynamics is currently exclusively working on the Tomb Raider franchise, a source told us.

Although our source was unable to confirm rumours that the game's subtitle will be Downfall, we do know that it will be released for multiple platforms including PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

Earlier this week a number of artworks popped up on ex-CD artist Joel Boucquemont's site.

Those listed under Tomb Raider show a devastated and deserted cityscape and some dark environments.

Our source said "some" of the artworks featured on the site relate to the next Tomb Raider game.

In July last year, a leaked document was linked to the development of a brand new Tomb Raider game.

It detailed a "reboot" that would explore the origins of a "young and inexperienced Lara Croft" who investigates tombs in an island off the coast of Japan. We've been told the document did indeed relate to the new Tomb Raider game in question.

Crystal Dynamics has two teams: one small gang working on the downloadable spin-off Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, due out later this year, and everybody else concentrating on the pillar Tomb Raider instalments.

According to our source, Crystal Dynamics has now wrapped up work on Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light and turned its attention to the next game in the series.

A spokesperson for Square Enix told us the company has no comment to make on the matter.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (37) 1 year ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • cianchristopher #1 2 years ago

    It's hardly hot property anymore. Does it even sell well in these Call of Duty days?

  • ZuluHero #2 2 years ago

    It is to me. I will buy any Tomb Raider game without fail and at full price too on release day. And they stay in my collection too, never traded a Tomb Raider in my life.

    The CoD series has always left me cold, but they are very different games and experiences, i understand there is a market for both. I am pleased by this news.

  • Deckard1 #3 2 years ago

    JUST SHOW US HER BOOBS!!!! THATS ALLWE WANT!!

  • Gearskin #4 2 years ago

    Ditch this! Go back to Nosgoth and bring back Kain for some vampiric pwnage!

  • alcides #5 2 years ago

    It detailed a "reboot" that would explore the origins of a "young and inexperienced Lara Croft" who investigates tombs in an island off the coast of Japan.

    THAT's the furthest away you get from chocobos and sailor outfits when your parent company is SquareEnix, admittedly.

  • Jonathan_Fakenham #6 2 years ago

    Pretty great stuff they did in the Lara's Shadow DLC. Hope they bring the new game up to that level.

  • FladgeMangle #7 2 years ago

    I was hoping for a re-boot of the Soul Reaver franchise at some point during this gen. Not much chance of that now is there?

    Oh well. Tomb Raider, yeah. OK.

  • alcides #8 2 years ago

    Crystal Dynamics has two teams: one small gang working on the downloadable spin-off Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, due out later this year, and everybody else concentrating on the pillar Tomb Raider instalments.

    Ooo! Tomb Raider: Lara Croft and Tomb Raider: Lara versus Croft, yeah that'll work!
    I'm enjoying this.

  • stepneg #9 2 years ago

    I would still like to see a remake of Tomb Raider 2 and 3 like they did with anniversary, even better a collectors set with all three remakes.

  • alimokrane #10 2 years ago

    This is great news! A tomb raider game is always a DAY ONE for me. Nice to see they are taking their time with this. I have to say Eidos/SquareEnix will have some big hitting next year: Deus Ex Human Revolution, Thief 4 and now a new Tomb Raider!

    If only they would revive the Legacy of Kain & Soul Revear series again and why not the Fear Effect series too along the way? not to mention, where is the New Hitman?
    Edited by 1 at 30/06/10 @ 13:27

  • Zebula77 #11 2 years ago

    Hope they take a long, hard look at the Uncharted games and then focus on exploration, puzzles and platforming. The action in Tomb Raider games has always been the weak point.

    I just want vast, unpopulated areas filled with secrets to explore. That would make me very happy, indeed. :)

  • CaptainQuint #12 2 years ago

    They need to hope and prey Naughty Dog ain't got nothing planned for the same release slot, know what I mean?

  • RandomRash #13 2 years ago

    loved the old ones and was wanting a change from my xbox fps games so tried the demo of underworld and was unimpressed so bought a ps3 with uncharted 1 and 2, i hope the next tomb raider can be just as good as i love that exploration, they should work with naughty dog

  • cherryuk #14 2 years ago

    Yes a PROPER Tomb Raider game!

  • alcides #15 2 years ago

    @alimokrane

    They'll all feature in the next itadaki street, not to worry.

  • VicViper #16 2 years ago

    Another one on the soul Reaver band wagon. Having spent a bit of time on that site where they show you all the cut stuff from the series and the soul revaer game they have enough material for a new game anyway and it was a cool world.

  • Deckard1 #17 2 years ago

    hahahahah I love it when spammers pretend they're writing a real comment, but its all in slightly broken english.

    "It's absolutely a great thing to know about this news! I really hope that there will be a much better level for that particular game. Looking forward to it.Sam Reiki "

    Beautiful. I almost want to click on his link. I won't though.

  • M_of_the_sys #18 2 years ago

    @VicViper

    What site is this?

  • Kaminari #19 2 years ago

    As big a fan of TR as I am, Underworld (which wasn't that bad, except for its poor screenplay and its sub-HD gameplay) totally lost it against the newcomer Uncharted. Truth be told, TR is not the action/adventure reference anymore. The new sheriff in town for the time being is Nathan Drake, and poor Lara has a lot to catch up in order to be credible again.

  • sport #20 2 years ago

    Please just sort out the targeting system which was utter wank in Underworld.

  • M_of_the_sys #21 2 years ago

    @Kaminari

    I haven't played Uncharted 2 but from what I played of the first Uncharted, I don't think you can compare the games. Tomb Raider had exploration, Uncharted was just a corridor shooter.

    I didn't think Underworld was a great game but I liked it and, in my opinion, it was better than uncharted.

  • bratmandu #22 2 years ago

    I hope they DON'T take a leaf out of naughty dog's book. Drake looked pretty, but was more of a 3rd person shooter than anything - and too much waffly talking. Tomb raider should be about - tombs. There was something about the atmosphere of the first few games that no other game can replicate - the tomb of tihocan, the t-rex bits and the egypt bits from tr1, the oil rig and sunken ship bits in 2, and the india bits and london bits in 3.

    I would gobble up a remake of 2 and 3 anyday!

  • bratmandu #23 2 years ago

    ps just got underworld on the cheap - haven't touched it yet but i love TRs1-4, didn't play any after that till legend and anniversary.

  • Shinetop #24 2 years ago

    Please just have the balls to turn this ship into a new direction and drop all the gunplay. Focus solely on puzzles and exploration, which can be a puzzle on itself. Keep it focused, keep it awesome. Give us that Indiana Jones feeling we got in 1998.

  • muttler #25 2 years ago

    I think Underworld is really good, and that Legends was decent too. Unfortunately TR games aren't day 1 purchases for me any more, unless some amazing new features are announced I'll wait a few months before purchasing.

    Absolutely agree that I would much rather a return to the Soul Reaver/ Kain franchise!

  • VicViper #26 2 years ago

    @M_of_the_sys

    Found the site again

    [link url=http://ww w.thelostworlds.net/SR1/index.html
    ]http://ww w.thelostworlds.net/SR1/index.h...[/link]

    Good read for anyone into the series

  • SpaceMonkey77 #27 2 years ago

    Enough with this TR IP, and give us a new Soul Star or Urban Chaos game.

    TR is a dying, near dead IP, that never going to be at the 'lofty heights' of its 97' debut. Games and gamers have moved on. I wish Square and Crystal would too. Concentrate on Kane and Lynch, Deus Ex, Hitman etc.

    crystal have so much to learn from Uncharted, about the expectations for this kind of game in the 21st century. Underworld was a bold step, but much more need to be done.

    1.Lose the TR name, and Lara Croft (none of us give a stuff about her, just Eidos and Crystal.

    2.Learn from stable mate Arkham Asylum

  • Xeopuppy #28 2 years ago

    Bring Back Legacy of Kain...

  • Retroid #29 2 years ago

    Jonathan_Fakenham: ""Pretty great stuff they did in the Lara's Shadow DLC. Hope they bring the new game up to that level."

    Oh? I've not finished Underworld but I thought the Shadow DLC sounded interesting. Worth getting?

  • cardboardMonster #30 2 years ago

    "A spokesperson for Square Enix told us the company has no comment to make on the matter." Is this even news?

  • Midian #31 2 years ago

    @Retroid - I enjoyed both bits of DLC for Underworld - the first one (Ashes?) had combat-shooty crap bits, but some of the puzzles were nice (including some clever ones with the grapple) - More of that would be awesome. The other DLC (Lara's Shadow) was great - a lot of back tracking through familiar environments aside the combat was actually very good! (In fact it felt a bit....Soul Reaver-y) So first one - Old Skool Tomb Raiding, second one meaty melee combat instead of piss weak gunplay - if they are on offer, well worth picking up - Real shame they are 360 exclusives though :(

  • SpaceMonkey77 #32 2 years ago

    I can agree with more Soul Reaver, but the problem there is that things have moved forward in the sword action adventure, and Eidos have been caught in hibernation there too. A new Reaver game would need major updating, to be able to match God of War, Bayonetta, Dark Siders etc, who've all since swiped the crown.

    Make me wonder what Eidos were doing, when God of War 2 hit. Perhaps if Rock Steady's service could be used again (via outsourcing), Soul Reaver might have a chance.

  • sega #33 2 years ago

    I thought Tomb Raider went off track as soon as the second game. It's not that later games became unplayable or anything, but I didn't like the way they exchanged tombs for other settings like in buildings, running through cities and up sky scrapers etc. I just liked to explore deeper and deeper into large mysterious caverns.

    Saying that I decided to buy Tomb Raider Anniversary and thought it was absolutely fantastic. Granted it's the same first game I loved with a huge graphical improvement, but it restored my faith in the series. Well, sort of, I haven't bought another Tomb Raider game since because I'm so happy with it, but if they keep to similar settings in a new game it still has potential to be awesome.

  • TadejVig #34 2 years ago

    Legacy of Kain was great, and I would love to see a great big HD remake package for newer systems and consoles.

    As for Tomb Raider, well the last one was enjoyable, I loved the big mechanisms but still... It's kinda... Overused I don't know. I think it's time to leave Lara alone for at least 5 years.

  • Jonathan_Fakenham #35 2 years ago

    @Retroid
    I'd say Shadow's worth getting. The setting, gameplay and puzzles all had a spark that was missing in the main game. It's kind of an epilogue though, so you might want to run through the main gig first.

  • FladgeMangle #36 2 years ago

    SpaceMonkey77. Sorry to disagree with a fellow fan, but I disagree.

    From my recollections, Soul Reaver wasn't really the same sort of game as any of those you mentioned. It was a slower, deeper, exploration based dueler and puzzler. If anything, it was closer to being a ghostly Tomb Raider with swords, a pitiful irony if ever there was one. I say it stands strong and unique to this day, with only the engine that drove it in need of an overhaul.

    It was also helped in no small part by having the awesome Tony Jay as the voice of the Machiavellian Elder God. Sadly he is no longer with us.

  • Netweb #37 2 years ago

    Cof Cof... ^^

  • shawnlee100 #38 1 year ago

    Saying that I decided to buy Tomb Raider Anniversary and thought it was absolutely fantastic. Granted it's the same first game I loved with a huge graphical improvement, but it restored my faith in the series. Well, sort of, I haven't bought another Tomb Raider game since because I'm so happy with it, but if they keep to similar settings in a new game it still has potential to be awesome.
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  • Roberto229 #39 1 year ago

    I really don't know what to think anymore about anything that is fake or leaked. I've never heard of this Downfall before, so I'm glad it is a cancelled game as I can't see it as being remotely TR. Are Eurogamer just making things up as a joke or are they just putting 2 and 2 together and getting 5? testking 640-802 As I said before in another thread, if it isn't coming from Eidos or CD (which means Keir or Jaywalker as well), then I'm just gonna take it as a rumour. The only thing that could possible ring true is the supposed release time of Winter 2011, as that makes sense. Although did MelTR hint at a 2012 E3 testking 350-001 reveal?