The next chapter of Lara Croft’s story is officially taking shape. The first teaser trailer for Tomb Raider: Catalyst has arrived, offering an early next-gen look at Crystal Dynamics’ long-awaited return to the series’ modern timeline. Fans were also treated to another big announcement. It’s Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, a reimagining of the original 1996 classic. Watch the Catalyst teaser above and the Legacy of Atlantis announcement trailer below, and read what we know so far.
A new chapter of Tomb Raider set after Underworld
Rather than restarting Lara all over again, Tomb Raider: Catalyst moves the timeline forward. This is a more experienced and tried-and-true Lara Croft, operating years after the events of Tomb Raider: Underworld, with the reboot trilogy firmly positioned as her origin story. The teaser focuses on that experience, showing Lara acting confidently while being drawn to North India after ancient ruins are unearthed and a mysterious catastrophe that captivates rival treasure hunters from around the world.
Noah Hughes, studio creative director at Crystal Dynamics, said in a statement about the studio’s approach: “As someone who has worked on the Tomb Raider series for more than 20 years, we are honored to carry on and expand on its incredible legacy. Tomb Raider is an adventure-filled experience that entertains, inspires and empowers audiences, and that mission will continue to guide every new chapter we build.”
Catalyst is set “after a mythical cataclysm that unleashes ancient secrets and awakens a mysterious protective force,” and follows Lara as “the most notorious treasure hunters from around the world come to the region.” Lara must race to uncover truths buried beneath a broken landscape and decide “who to trust among rivals and alliances to prevent catastrophe and protect secrets that could reshape the future.”
“Tomb Raider: Catalyst” | Crystal Dynamics
A vast new world with Unreal Engine 5
Built with Unreal Engine 5, Catalyst ranks as the largest Tomb Raider world to date. According to Hughes, the game offers “a vertically rich platforming playground with layers of hidden discovery layered in a seamless wilderness” spanning “from towering mountains and vast deserts to dense jungles and mystical ruins shrouded in mythology.”
Teasers hint at expansive environments filled with secrets, lost tombs, and intricate puzzles, along with more fluid movement and combat. Lara is once again armed with her signature dual pistols, and new tools, including a wrist-mounted grappling device, appear designed to support both exploration and action. The world is built to test “both wits and skill,” with Lara relying on acrobatic talent, problem-solving, and customized adventure technology.
Two paths to the gaming side of the Tomb Raider series
Tomb Raider: Catalyst will arrive alongside Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, a new reimagining of Lara Croft’s original 1996 debut, scheduled for release in 2026 to coincide with the series’ 30th anniversary. Developed in partnership with Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog, Legacy of Atlantis reimagines the foundations of the series while updating the gameplay, visuals, and storytelling for modern platforms.
Players step into Lara’s boots once again as she explores long-forgotten locations, navigates treacherous terrain, solves dangerous contraptions, and confronts deadly predators as she searches for scattered shards of Scion, an ancient artifact of great power. Like Catalyst, the reimagining is built with Unreal Engine 5 and is designed to honor the spirit and feel of the original while introducing new surprises.
Both games feature Lara Croft, voiced by Alix Wilton Regan, and Hughes said that in both titles players will experience a “confident, multi-dimensional, dual-wielding, limit-pushing legend.”
Tomb Raider: Catalyst is currently scheduled for release in 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam, with Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis coming in 2026. Taken together, this twin announcement signals a confident two-way future for the series. It honors Lara Croft’s origins while firmly moving her story forward.
Don’t forget that live-action series
While the gaming side of the series has a lot of potential, Lara Croft’s live-action future is also taking shape. Prime Video has a Tomb Raider series in development, with Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner set to play the role of Lara Croft. It was also recently reported that Alien and Avatar star Sigourney Weaver is in talks to star in the series.
Produced by Amazon MGM Studios, the series will include Phoebe Waller-Bridge as writer and executive producer, Chad Hodge as executive producer and co-showrunner, and Jonathan Van Taleken (Shogun, Dope Thief) as director and executive producer. Production is scheduled to begin on January 19, 2026.
