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Tomb Raider: Catalyst Delay to 2028 Confirmed by Amazon Games Boss
Amazon Games has confirmed that Tomb Raider: Catalyst has been delayed to 2028, pushing the next mainline Lara Croft adventure beyond its previously announced 2027 window. The delay clarifies the release plans for two upcoming Tomb Raider games and means Catalyst will follow Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, rather than arriving alongside it.
Amazon’s games chief Jeffrey Gattis said Legacy of Atlantis is scheduled for 12 February 2027, with Catalyst following in 2028, though no more specific date was given. Developed by Crystal Dynamics in Unreal Engine 5 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, Catalyst is set in northern India after a mythical cataclysm; both games feature Alix Wilton Regan as Lara Croft, while Crystal Dynamics has undergone four rounds of redundancies in the past year.
In short
- Tomb Raider: Catalyst is now scheduled for 2028.
- Legacy of Atlantis is due on 12 February 2027.
- Crystal Dynamics remains committed despite recent redundancies.
Explained simply
Tomb Raider is a video game franchise that began in 1996, following archaeologist and treasure hunter Lara Croft through exotic locations and ancient mysteries. The character is one of gaming's most recognisable icons, and the franchise has sold millions of copies across numerous games, films, and television shows over three decades. It remains one of the gaming industry's biggest intellectual properties.
Amazon Games acquired developer Crystal Dynamics in 2021, taking ownership of Tomb Raider and other gaming franchises. Crystal Dynamics is now responsible for creating the next games in the Tomb Raider series under Amazon's ownership. The studio has undergone significant restructuring recently, with multiple rounds of job losses occurring whilst developing these new titles.
New releases in established franchises like Tomb Raider attract attention from players and industry observers alike, particularly when they involve beloved characters and long-running series. The scale of development for major franchises and the resources required often mean that the gaming industry watches these projects closely. This context helps explain why announcements about new Tomb Raider games generate considerable interest.