Amazon to Support and Publish New Tomb Raider With Crystal Dynamics

Amazon Games has signed a deal with Crystal Dynamics to support the development of and publish the next mainline Tomb Raider game being made in Unreal Engine 5.

The companies announced the partnership today, December 15, saying they “have reached an agreement under which Crystal Dynamics will develop a new multiplatform Tomb Raider title, with Amazon Games providing full support and publishing the game globally.”

The game in question is the next-gen Tomb Raider that was announced in April 2022. Crystal Dynamics, which was purchased by Embracer Group in August, noted that the acquisition has allowed for more unconventional publishing agreements such as the deal with Amazon.

“Crystal Dynamics has an extraordinary opportunity following our acquisition by Embracer to redefine what a publishing relationship is for Tomb Raider,” said head of Crystal Dynamics Scot Amos.

“Transformative is what we’re looking for, and with Amazon Games, we found a team that shares our creative vision, ambitions, and values for a Lara Croft universe across the spectrum of possibilities. They’re uniquely positioned to rewrite what publishing and development collaborations are, and we’re eager to forge this new path together, starting with building the biggest and best Tomb Raider game yet.”

A relatively vague description of the new game was also shared, though it essentially conforms to what players would expect from Crystal Dynamics’ next game. “The as-yet-untitled new Tomb Raider game is a single-player, narrative-driven adventure that continues Lara Croft’s story in the Tomb Raider series.

“It includes all the elements that have made Tomb Raider one of the most revered franchises in gaming, giving players control of the confident and multidimensional hero Lara Croft in an environment that rewards exploration and creative pathfinding, with mind-bending puzzles to solve, and a wide variety of enemies to face and overcome.

“Crystal Dynamics is drawing on the power and cutting-edge technology of Unreal Engine 5 to take storytelling to the next level, in the biggest, most expansive Tomb Raider game to date. The title is currently in early development, and additional details will be announced at a later date.”

Little else was said about the game and, considering it’s still in early development, it will likely be a while longer before Crystal Dynamics, Embracer, or Amazon Games shares more.

In our 9/10 review of the previous game, IGN said: “Shadow of the Tomb Raider offers up a powerful finale to Lara Croft’s origin trilogy.”