After several years in which Lara Croft has barely made an appearance beyond remasters and re-releases, the Tomb Raider franchise is preparing for a triumphant return . The Game Awards 2025 has been chosen as the stage to show the world what awaits one of the most iconic sagas in video game history, with a new main title in development and, possibly, a tribute in the form of a remake.
This move comes at a pivotal moment, with Crystal Dynamics working on the brand's next big project and Amazon involved not only in publishing the game but also in the transmedia expansion of the license. Everything points to the creation of a "Tomb Raider Universe" that will connect video games, a live-action series, and other formats , with the goal of relaunching Lara Croft as a global icon for a new generation.
The big announcement at The Game Awards 2025
The confirmation that we'll see the new Tomb Raider game at The Game Awards 2025 didn't come via a classic trailer, but rather through a curious promotional stunt within Fortnite: the official voting map for the awards hinted that Lara Croft would return during the ceremony. Shortly after, Geoff Keighley, the event's host and organizer, and the official TGA and Tomb Raider accounts confirmed the news on X.
The shared messages promise a glimpse into "the future of one of the most iconic video game franchises ," emphasizing that it's an unmissable event for Lara Croft fans. In Spain, the broadcast can be followed in the early hours of December 12th, around 1:30 AM, a familiar time for those accustomed to staying up late for major industry events.
The only thing that's completely certain at the moment is the presence of the saga on stage. Neither prices, nor platforms, nor dates have been specified , and the studio is maintaining a tight-lipped silence on the details. Even so, leaks and rumors over the last few months have painted a fairly consistent picture of what might be shown.
A new Tomb Raider with an open world and a trip to India
The main news the community is waiting to see is the first trailer for the next big Tomb Raider game , the project first announced in 2022 and currently being developed with Unreal Engine 5. Since then, beyond occasional statements and the odd hint, Crystal Dynamics has kept its cards extremely close to its chest.
Various leaks, including one shared by the well-known V Scooper, agree that this new installment will feature an open-world approach . The main setting will be northern India, a nod to locations visited in previous episodes, but now reinterpreted with a much larger map, combining dense jungles, rugged deserts, cliffs, snow-capped mountains, and ancient ruins exposed after a major natural disaster.
Lara Croft would appear at the peak of her career as an archaeologist and adventurer , a far cry from the more vulnerable beginnings shown in the 2013 reboot. The plot would revolve around the search for mythical weapons associated with Emperor Ashoka, relics with the power of conquest that attract various rival groups. Among them would be a mysterious Raiders' Society, an organization inspired by Lara herself, but with potentially opposing goals and questionable methods.
Beyond the map and story, one of the most talked-about leaks points to an ally and team recruitment system . This mechanic would allow players to add characters to Lara's cause, using them strategically in certain missions or challenges, something that could significantly alter the classic solo gameplay of the series. There's also talk of a greater emphasis on non-lethal combat , offering alternatives for resolving encounters without always resorting to brute force, in line with current trends in action and stealth game design.
Despite all these unofficial details, the studio has yet to specify how this new gameplay approach will fit with the essence of the franchise. The big question is whether we can maintain the feeling of tense exploration, perilous tombs, and challenging puzzles within a modern open world, without diluting the pace and identity that defined Tomb Raider.
The possible remake of the original 1996 Tomb Raider
Alongside the new main game, the fan community has been discussing another possibility for weeks: a completely new remake of the first Tomb Raider , the 1996 classic that catapulted Lara Croft to worldwide fame. The idea has gained traction, especially following posts from specialized accounts like Society of Raiders, which claim that this project could be unveiled during the event itself.
The idea is intriguing, as it wouldn't be the first time that foundational adventure has been revisited . Over the years, Tomb Raider Anniversary , a modern reinterpretation of the original, and the recent Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft, which visually updates the classic trilogy, have already been released. If another remake is confirmed, it would mark the fourth major reinterpretation of the same era for the heroine, something that generates both excitement and a degree of weariness among some fans.
Among gamers, comments like " it doesn't make much sense to wait seven years only to end up with another remake of the first game" are common, overshadowing the true generational shift for the series. Even so, there are those who would welcome a complete remake that leverages Unreal Engine 5 to recreate iconic environments with global illumination, advanced physics, and modern animations, while retaining the sense of contained exploration, trap-filled dungeons, and challenging puzzles that defined the original experience.
If this project were to move forward, it would remain to be seen how Crystal Dynamics would divide its efforts between the new title and the hypothetical remake , and whether both products would be released close together. It's also unclear whether the goal would be to serve as an entry point for new players just before the release of the major open-world game, or if it would be part of a broader anniversary strategy.
From the “era of silence” to transmedia expansion
Since the release of Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018, the main series has remained in a prolonged slumber . Beyond occasional announcements about the use of Unreal Engine 5 and a few remasters, there has been hardly any substantial news about Lara Croft's future on PC and consoles. This prolonged absence has fueled rumors, leaks, and all sorts of theories within the community.
At the same time, the brand has continued to expand in other directions. In recent months, players have seen the Tomb Raider I-III Remastered and Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered compilations arrive on platforms like the Nintendo Switch , along with Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, an enhanced version of the 2013 reboot. While these editions have allowed new users to discover the series (with mixed technical results, especially on Nintendo's hybrid console), they have also reinforced the perception that a new, original installment was needed.
On the other hand, the idea that the franchise's future lies in a well-coordinated transmedia universe has solidified . The animated series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is heading into its second season, and its conclusion seems to align with plans to expand into other formats. Meanwhile, the live-action series produced by Amazon Prime Video is progressing, albeit with some internal setbacks, toward a more robust production.
Prime Video's live-action series and the "unified narrative universe"
The key to the franchise's transmedia future will be the live-action Tomb Raider series for Amazon Prime Video , produced by Story Kitchen. A recent update on the studio's official website has clarified the project's true ambition: it's not just another adaptation, but the launch of a "unified narrative universe" that will connect directly with upcoming video games.
According to this description, Phoebe Waller-Bridge is leading this new phase as writer and executive producer , which gives an idea of the emphasis Amazon wants to place on narrative and character development. Actress Sophie Turner, known for her role as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones, has been chosen to portray Lara Croft in this live-action version, a casting choice that has generated considerable discussion among fans due to the change in style compared to previous incarnations in film and video games.
The creative team has also been joined by Chad Hodge as co-showrunner and Jonathan Van Tulleken as director and executive producer , strengthening the production structure and clearing up, in part, the doubts that arose in 2025, when it was rumored that the series might have been put on hold after Jennifer Salke left the Amazon Studios leadership.
Story Kitchen itself describes the plan as a “large-scale reinvention of the Lara Croft universe ,” in which the Prime Video series and the new video games will share continuity and feed into each other. This interconnectedness could translate into characters, storylines, and background elements jumping from one medium to the other, something that will be closely followed in Europe and Spain thanks to Prime Video's widespread availability in the region and the strong fan community.
Crystal Dynamics, Amazon, and the industry context
The return of Tomb Raider comes at a complex time for the industry. Crystal Dynamics has been working on Lara's next big title for years , but at the same time has gone through a difficult period, marked by internal restructuring and layoffs, some related to projects it was involved in, such as The Initiative's canceled Perfect Dark.
Despite this climate of uncertainty, the collaboration with Amazon as distributor and the acquisition of the intellectual property by Embracer Group in 2022 have allowed the franchise to be repositioned at the heart of the group's strategy . The series has already surpassed 100 million copies sold worldwide and remains one of the most recognizable brands in the medium, with a legacy that includes comics, novels, film adaptations, and a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
In this context, The Game Awards 2025 serves as a global showcase to relaunch the brand in front of millions of viewers , including European and Spanish gamers, where the series has always boasted a large and active community. The gala will not only celebrate the year's releases but also chart the course for a franchise that, after nearly three decades, is attempting to reinvent itself without losing its identity.
With all these elements on the table, the general feeling is that Tomb Raider is on the cusp of a major new era: a mainline game that could feature an open world, a possible remake of the 1996 classic, a live-action series connected to the video games, and an ambitious shared universe . It remains to be seen how all these pieces will fit together, but what happens in the early hours of December 12th at The Game Awards 2025 will be a good indicator of just how ready Lara Croft is to reclaim her throne in the entertainment industry.
