Tomb Raider: Catalyst Announced for 2027 and Tomb Raider 1 ‘Reimagining’ Announced for 2026 | The Game Awards 2025
The next-gen, Unreal Engine 5-built Tomb Raider that developer Crystal Dynamics announced three years ago now has an official name and release window. Lara Croft’s new adventure for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S is titled Tomb Raider: Catalyst, and it will be released in 2027 and published by Amazon Game Studios.
The first trailer was showcased at the 2025 Game Awards. In it, we see the legendary adventurer (voiced by Alex Wilton Regan, who has appeared in Cyberpunk 2077, Mass Effect 3, and Dragon Age: Inquisition) wield her signature dual pistols as well as a new gadget: a wrist-mounted grappling hook of sorts that looks like it’ll be used in both traversal and combat.
Crystal Dynamics also gave us our first description of Catalyst’s story, saying it’s “set in the wake of a mythical cataclysm that has unleashed ancient secrets and awakened the mysterious forces that guard them. When the most notorious treasure hunters from around the world descend on the region, Lara races to uncover the truth buried beneath the fractured landscape and stop those who would use its power for their own gain. As the ancient world collides with the present, Lara must decide who to trust among rivals and allies to prevent a catastrophe and protect a secret that could reshape the future.”
But Catalyst wasn’t the only Tomb Raider-related announcement at this year’s Game Awards. Catalyst’s first trailer was immediately followed by a surprise announcement of Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, a “reimagining” of the original 1996 classic. It is due out for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S sometime in 2026, as that’s when the franchise celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Crystal Dynamics and Amazon shied away from calling it a remake, seemingly to allow for story and gameplay changes. The reimagining is also being built in Unreal Engine 5, and it’s being led by developer Flying Wild Hog (Shadow Warrior) in partnership with Crystal Dynamics and Amazon. The trailer shows off more platforming than Catalyst’s trailer did, perhaps suggesting a more platforming-heavy focus for the reimagining and maybe a larger emphasis on action for the new game. We’ll need to see more of each game to know for sure. But one thing is definitely certain: the T-rex will look a heck of a lot better this time around, as you can already see in the trailer.
“This innovative new chapter with Tomb Raider: Catalyst, and the thoughtful reinvention of the series’ roots with Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, perfectly exemplifies our commitment to supporting developers with bold creative visions,” said Christoph Hartmann, VP of Amazon Game Studios. “We’re focused on delivering rich, story-driven experiences that resonate with both longtime fans and newcomers, strengthening our dedication to high-quality gaming experiences.”
Be sure to check out everything announced at The Game Awards 2025 for more, as well as the winners list in full.
Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s executive editor of previews and host of both IGN’s weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He’s a North Jersey guy, so it’s “Taylor ham,” not “pork roll.” Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.
