Honestly, it’s been a long wait. The last time we saw Lara Croft in a proper mainline adventure, she was wrapping up her origin story in the jungles of Paititi. That was 2018. Since then? Mostly silence, a few remasters, and a whole lot of "is the franchise dead?" rumors.
It isn't.
If you’ve been scouring the internet for the tomb raider game release date, you’ve probably seen the chaos of the last few weeks. Between the massive reveal at The Game Awards 2025 and the flurry of developer interviews that followed, we finally have a concrete timeline. We aren't just getting one game; we are getting a two-pronged revival that essentially resets the clock for the entire franchise.
The 2026 Milestone: Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis
Crystal Dynamics isn't messing around for the 30th anniversary. They’ve partnered with Flying Wild Hog—the team behind Shadow Warrior—to bring us Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis in 2026.
This isn't a simple "resolution bump" remaster like the ones Aspyr put out recently. It’s a ground-up reimagining of the original 1996 debut. Think of it like what Capcom did with Resident Evil 2. It's built in Unreal Engine 5, which basically means the blocky caves of the 90s are being replaced by hyper-realistic, claustrophobic limestone pits and massive, crumbling ruins.
The most interesting part? It’s officially bridging the timelines. In the trailer, you can see Lara wearing the jade pendant from the "Survivor" trilogy (2013-2018), but she's hunting the Scion of Atlantis just like she did back in the day. It’s a "unified" timeline.
Moving Toward 2027: Tomb Raider: Catalyst
If you want the "next" game—meaning TR12, the one that moves the story forward—you’re looking at Tomb Raider: Catalyst in 2027.
Crystal Dynamics is leading this one solo, with Amazon Games publishing. This is the big one. It’s set in Northern India and features a version of Lara who is "top of her game." No more crying in caves or "I can't do this" moments. This is the dual-pistol-wielding (hopefully), self-assured icon.
Why the gap between games?
Making games in Unreal Engine 5 is hard. It’s expensive. Crystal Dynamics has also had a rough couple of years with layoffs at the studio, which Scot Amos (Studio Head) acknowledged in recent press cycles. They are "optimizing" development, which is corporate-speak for "we need to get this right so we don't go under."
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By staggering the releases—a remake in 2026 and a massive new entry in 2027—they are trying to keep the brand alive without making us wait a full decade for new content.
The Alix Wilton Regan Era
One of the biggest shocks for long-time fans was the recasting. Camilla Luddington is out. Alix Wilton Regan—who you might know as the voice of the Inquisitor in Dragon Age—is the new Lara. She’s voicing her in both the 2026 remake and the 2027 sequel.
It feels like a deliberate move to distance these games from the "young Lara" era. Regan’s voice has a certain grit and authority that fits a more seasoned raider.
What to do while you wait
We are currently in the middle of a Tomb Raider blitz. If the 2026 and 2027 dates feel too far away, here is the roadmap of what is actually playable or watchable right now:
- Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered: This just dropped on February 14, 2025. It covers the "Darker" era of Lara, including The Angel of Darkness. If you want to see how weird the series got before the first reboot, play this.
- The Prime Video Series: Filming just started in January 2026 with Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones) as Lara. Expect this to drop around the same time as the 2027 game to maximize the hype.
- The Legend of Lara Croft (Netflix): If you haven't seen the anime-style show, it fills the gap between the 2018 game and the upcoming titles.
The reality is that the tomb raider game release date for the next big thing is firmly planted in 2026 for the remake and 2027 for the new story. It’s a long road, but for the first time in nearly eight years, we actually have a map.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your hardware: Both Legacy of Atlantis and Catalyst are confirmed for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC only. If you’re still on a PS4, you won't be playing these.
- Play the 4-6 Remasters: If you want to understand the "Unified" lore, pay attention to the dialogue in The Angel of Darkness remaster; rumors suggest Crystal Dynamics is pulling narrative threads from there for the 2027 game.
- Watch the TGA 2025 Trailer again: Look closely at Lara's gear. The blend of the classic backpack with modern climbing axes is the biggest hint we've ever had about how the gameplay mechanics will merge the old "tank" style with modern mobility.