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Amazon games and Crystal dynamics announced today that they have agreed to create a new multiplatform Tomb Raider game.
Lara Croft returns in a game that uses the latest Unreal Engine 5 technology. Crystal Dynamics is making the game and Amazon Games will provide support and publish the game worldwide.
The as-yet-untitled new Tomb Raider game is a single-player, story-driven adventure that continues
The story of Lara Croft in the Tomb Raider series. The companies said it contains all the elements that have made Tomb Raider one of the most respected franchises in gaming, putting players in control of the confident and multi-dimensional hero Lara Croft in an environment that rewards exploration and creative searching, with mind-blowing puzzles to to solve. and a wide variety of enemies to face and overcome.
The title is the first since then Square Enix sold Crystal Dynamics, Square Enix Montreal and Eidos Montreal to Embracer Group for $300 million in May. For Square Enix, the sale gave the Japanese publisher an exit from major Western triple-A titles it said were financial disappointments so it could focus on technologies, such as blockchain, AI and cloud gaming. It’s clear that Crystal Dynamics and Amazon Games believe there’s a lot of life left in Lara Croft.
“Tomb Raider is one of the most loved [intellectual properties] in entertainment history,” Christoph Hartmann, vice president of Amazon Games, said in a statement. “Amazon Games is committed to bringing players the highest quality games from the best developers, across all different platforms and genres, and we are honored to have the opportunity to work with this legendary developer and franchise. Our team is incredibly excited to partner with the talented and visionary Crystal Dynamics team to bring the next chapter of Lara Croft’s saga to players around the world.”
Crystal Dynamics aims to use Unreal Engine 5 to take storytelling to the next level in the largest and most comprehensive Tomb Raider game to date, according to Amazon. The title is currently in early development and additional details will be announced at a later date.
“Crystal Dynamics has an extraordinary opportunity to redefine following our acquisition by Embracer
which is a publishing relationship for Tomb Raider,” Scot Amos, head of studio at Crystal Dynamics, said in a statement. “Transformative is what we’re looking for, and with Amazon Games we’ve found a team that shares our creative vision, aspirations and values for a Lara Croft universe across the spectrum of possibilities. They are in a unique position to rewrite what publishing and development partnerships are, and we can’t wait to embark on this new path together, starting with building the biggest and best Tomb Raider game to date .”
Crystal Dynamics has developed and published dozens of award-winning titles over the past three years
decades, including globally respected franchises such as Legacy of Kain and Tomb Raider. The grave robber
franchise includes more than 20 video games and has more than 170 million players (NRG survey) around the world. The franchise has sold over 95 million copies since the first entry was released in 1996.
The most recent ‘Survivor Trilogy’, consisting of Tomb Raider (2013), Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015) and Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018), garnered more than 200 Best of awards and nominations.
The agreement with Crystal Dynamics marks a further expansion of Amazon Games’ focus on its triple-A publishing efforts, which also includes Smilegate RPG’s Lost Ark and Bandai Namco Online’s recently announced Blue Protocol.
The upcoming Tomb Raider title marks Amazon Games’ first single-player narrative title, following the success of multiplayer titles New World and Lost Ark.
In addition to its headquarters in San Mateo, California, Crystal Dynamics has two additional studios: Crystal Northwest in Bellevue, Washington, and Crystal Southwest in Austin, Texas.
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