An Exciting New Era of Tomb Raider Awaits: Amazon’s Investments in Gaming Really Look Promising
December 12, 2025
Amazon has put a lot of stake into the Tomb Raider franchise over the last few years, across both the video game and film industry. Now, we’re finally starting to see that massive investment bear fruit. At The Game Awards, Amazon Game Studios and Crystal Dynamics announced not just one new Tomb Raider game, but two, with both expected to release by 2027.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is a full-on remake of the original 1996 game that started it all. This will be the first of the two games to get into players’ hands, slated for release in 2026 — not bad at all for the series’ 30th anniversary.
Tomb Raider: Catalyst, meanwhile, will be a whole new adventure for Lara Croft, following her journey through Northern India. The shared assets and technology between the two games is probably the reason why Catalyst is able to release so soon after, currently slated for a 2027 release.Crystal Dynamics Has Been Blessed With a Lot of Support From Amazon
The increase in production value of the two new Tomb Raider games is immediately apparent. The visuals, in particular, are beyond stunning. The models, the environments, the cinematics, and the lighting — the presentation for this new era of Tomb Raider is fully there. Unreal Engine 5 looks like it is being used to its fullest potential.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis may just be a remake, but it is not being treated lightly. Crystal Dynamics is building the game from the ground up, modernizing the experience completely. Legacy of Atlantis’ first trailer fully gives the impression that it’ll be absolutely breathtaking. The same can be expected out of Tomb Raider: Catalyst.
This all wouldn’t be possible without Amazon and Crystal Dynamics’ partnership. Scot Amos, the head of studio at Crystal Dynamics, has publicly stated that their "collaboration with Amazon Game Studios has been truly transformative for these ambitious projects." Working with Amazon has "provided resources, expertise, and creative freedom" that has allowed Crystal Dynamics to fully realize their vision for both games "without compromise." That much is clear to see with what they have shown already.
How Tomb Raider Could Set a New Industry Standard
Back in 2022, Amazon Games and Crystal Dynamics announced that they would be working together on a new multiplatform Tomb Raider title. Crystal Dynamics would be doing the bulk of the development work and Amazon Games would be encharged with publishing, as well as any additional support. That support has most likely come through financially, but it’s probable that Amazon has helped Crystal Dynamics meet their ambitions in a multitude of ways.
From the get-go, the relationship between Amazon and Crystal Dynamics was supposed to redefine what publishing and development collaborations could look like. Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Tomb Raider: Catalyst are quite the way to set a new standard in the industry. Extra financial backing can make a big difference, but full confidence in a development team’s vision is also what it takes to realize such ambitious projects.
Related Read
While this relationship between Amazon Game Studios and Crystal Dynamics might seem a bit one-sided, Amazon has everything to gain with Tomb Raider’s success on the video game side. First of all, Prime Video is awaiting a live-action Tomb Raider series in the coming years. Good publicity for the franchise before then can only help.
Perhaps more importantly, though, Amazon has needed to validate its existence in the gaming sphere. Amazon Game Studios’ biggest games to date are now mostly abandoned MMOs. The new Tomb Raider games are a way for Amazon to build trust among development studios and grow their influence in the industry. Amazon already has an easy sell to get more people to get an Amazon Games iD, leveraging the free exclusive bonus Mediterranean Wetsuit Outfit in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis as a powerful hook. You can sign up for that here, by the way.
There's no doubt that Tomb Raider is good for Amazon’s PR. Hopefully the games feel as complete as they look, because the collaborative effort put into making Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Tomb Raider: Catalyst may be something that more companies should consider. Making more quality games can only be good for the industry, even if it brings up costs a bit more.
