Tomb Raider: Catalyst could help define the franchise

Lara Croft is about to get very busy. After years of remasters and re-releases, the Tomb Raider franchise is finally preparing for a major new chapter, with Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Tomb Raider: Catalyst set to arrive relatively close together. 

The first piece of the puzzle is Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, the ambitious reimagining of the original 1996 adventure. The game is scheduled to launch on February 12, 2027, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2 and PC. Embracer's latest financial reporting identifies it as one of the major pillars of its FY2026/27 lineup, alongside Metro 2039.

Then comes Tomb Raider: Catalyst. Originally announced for 2027, Crystal Dynamics' new mainline adventure has now moved into Embracer's fiscal year 2028, which runs from April 2027 through March 2028, the accounting language leaves a fairly generous window, but Amazon Games has already indicated that Tomb Raider: Catalyst is targeting 2028.

Tomb Raider could be entering its most exciting era yet

That two-pronged strategy could be exactly what Tomb Raider needs. Legacy of Atlantis looks backwards, celebrating the franchise's roots, while Catalyst looks forward and has the much bigger job of establishing Lara's next long-term direction. If both games succeed, Crystal Dynamics could finally have a stable foundation for the franchise rather than another excuse to press the reboot button. Legacy of Atlantis could even open the door for more classic adventures to be reimagined, while Catalyst could become the starting point for a new series of modern Lara Croft adventures.

The series has already gone through several distinct eras, from the original Core Design games to the Crystal Dynamics Legend era and then the more grounded Survivor trilogy. Each reinvention brought something interesting to the table, but it also meant periodically pressing the giant narrative reset button. Tomb Raider: Catalyst could be the opportunity to stop doing that.

There is, of course, one danger: too much Lara, too quickly. Two major releases arriving within roughly a year could make the games compete for attention. Fortunately, their different approaches should help keep them distinct. Ultimately, Catalyst could be more important than just another Tomb Raider game. If Legacy of Atlantis successfully reconnects Lara with her past and Catalyst gives her a compelling future, the franchise could finally have something it has lacked through several reboots: a clear direction. 

Lara Croft isn't just climbing back into the spotlight. She might be preparing to stay there. And if you want to join her in her new asventure, our comparator can safely help you get  Tomb Raider: Catalyst at the cheapest price.