Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, the next major installment in the long-running franchise, is set to arrive early next year and provide a new way for fans and newcomers to experience Lara Croft’s original adventure.
But you might have some questions about how this remake connects to past Tomb Raider games, the presence of AI assets, and how the next Tomb Raider game, Catalyst, fits into all this.
🦴 Quick Overview: Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is a full Unreal Engine 5 remake of the original 1996 game, launching February 12, 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, and PC. It features a new Lara Croft actress (Alix Wilton Regan) and is set in the same timeline as the Survivor Trilogy.
Key Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Game | Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis |
| Developer | Flying Wild Hog (with Crystal Dynamics guidance) |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5 |
| Type | Full remake of the 1996 original (not a remaster) |
| Release Date | February 12, 2027 (originally 2026) |
| Platforms | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, PC |
| Lara Croft Actress | Alix Wilton Regan (replacing Camilla Luddington) |
| AI-Generated Assets | Yes — used in development, then “replaced or refined by humans” |
The Many Remakes of Tomb Raider
| Version | Type | Developer | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Tomb Raider | Original | Core Design | 1996 |
| Tomb Raider: Anniversary | Remake | Crystal Dynamics | 2007 |
| Tomb Raider I-III Remastered | Remaster | Aspyr | 2024 |
| Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis | Full Remake (UE5) | Flying Wild Hog | 2027 |
Timeline Confusion — Explained
Over the last few years, the people in charge of Tomb Raider have been trying to unify the franchise’s various timelines. Legacy of Atlantis is set in the same timeline as the Survivor Trilogy, bumping the original game (and Anniversary) from this singular timeline.
This also means that when you play Tomb Raider 2, it’s a sequel to Legacy of Atlantis now, canonically speaking. Bit weird, but luckily, you can mostly just ignore all that and enjoy the games as standalone adventures.
What About Tomb Raider: Catalyst?
Catalyst is set further into the future of Lara Croft’s timeline — after the events of Tomb Raider: Underworld, which was part of the same trilogy of games that contained Anniversary (which will no longer be part of the timeline). It’s a bit confusing, but the short version is that Catalyst is connected to the upcoming remake, but the two games show Lara at two different points in her life. But it’s the same Lara, hence the shared actress in Alix Wilton Regan.
AI-Generated Assets — A Concerning Detail
Sadly, yeah, it seems like it, according to the game’s Steam page. The devs say AI-generated assets were used in development and then either “replaced or refined by humans,” but that still isn’t great, and I expect people will find some odd-looking bits and bobs inside Legacy of Atlantis once it launches in early 2027.
🎮 Final Word: Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is shaping up to be a visually ambitious remake of Lara’s first adventure — but the timeline confusion and AI-generated assets are raising eyebrows. Whether it lives up to the legacy remains to be seen, but at least we’ll have a new Lara to follow in Catalyst.
