Tomb Raider Remake Will Be Easier To Cater For "Modern Player Tastes"

"Crystal Dynamics announced Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis last week at The Game Awards, calling it a reimagining of the original 1996 Tomb Raider. While the studio wants to stay faithful to the original, it has also said it plans to tone down the brutal difficulty of the nearly 30-year-old PlayStation 1 game. Speaking in a press conference, as reported by GamesRadar, Crystal Dynamics developer Will Kerslake was asked about adapting the original PS1 game specifically when it comes to difficulty."

"Like many games of its era, the 1996 game was known to have its punishingly difficult sections, including insta-kill death traps that were often near-impossible to avoid without the benefit of hindsight. "Part of reimagining a game right is adjusting that game evolving for modern player tastes," Kerslake said, and though he doesn't explicitly mention difficulty it seems safe to say that Legacy of Atlantis will have far fewer insta-kills. That doesn't mean the game will be a walk in the park, however."

""It is core to the Tomb Raider experience that there are puzzles in combat and traversal and death-defying action," Kerslake continued, assuring fans that the classic Tomb Raider DNA will still be present in Legacy of Atlantis. "You'll see big rolling balls, and you know, the things that you expect in a Tomb Raider game are going to be there in spades." Legacy of Atlantis is due out in 2026, marking the 30th anniversary of the PS1 title. As the original Tomb Raider is now 30 years old, Crystal Dynamics in collaboration with Flying Wild Hog are approaching the game as more of a "reimagining" than a direct remake. Lara Croft will be voiced by a newcomer to the series, Alix Wilton Regan, who will also play Lara in the brand-new title Tomb Raider: Catalyst."

Crystal Dynamics announced Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis as a reimagining of the 1996 Tomb Raider, targeting a 2026 release. The studio intends to remain faithful to core Tomb Raider elements while toning down the original's brutal PlayStation-era difficulty and insta-kill traps. Developers emphasize preserving puzzles, combat, traversal, and death-defying action that define the series, including classic set pieces like rolling balls. The project is a collaboration with Flying Wild Hog and is framed as a reimagining rather than a straight remake. Lara Croft will be voiced by newcomer Alix Wilton Regan, with Camilla Luddington posting a farewell.

Read at GameSpot