We know that a new Tomb Raider is in development at Crystal Dynamics, but for the moment, the information is extremely scarce. We have no idea what it will be about, let alone where the adventurer will set down her suitcases. Worse still, we don't even know what Lara will look like. All that has been said is that the next game should, in one way or another, allow us to find a Craft from "back in the day." An experienced and fearless adventurer. The developers have said it, the goal is to give meaning to all the timelines known to date in order to satisfy all the fans, those from the 90s, 2000s, and 2010s. So we only have one question: what will Lara look like? Well, it's possible that in reality, we already know more or less...
To each Tomb Raider its Lara Croft
There are as many versions of Lara as there are narrative arcs. The adventures of the beautiful Englishwoman can be divided into three main sections: the first Tomb Raider games 1 to 6, the first reboot by Crystal Dynamics in the 2000s with Tomb Raider Legend, Anniversary and Underworld, then the trilogy that came out in 2013. Each time, Lara changes as much physically as psychologically, even if in broad outline, she retains her strong markers. So we legitimately wonder what the next Lara will look like? A while ago, Crystal Dynamics had already released artwork of a new Lara. Faced with the relatively chilling reception from players, the studio had explained (and tempered) that this was not the real Lara of the next game, but rather a sort of "unified muse" in the end, an image that we can have of the current Lara, a summary of all the versions.
Much more muscular, not to say that she has square shoulders, this new Lara has not been unanimously approved. However, everything suggests that she is very close to what we will be entitled to in the next Tomb Raider. Why such a reflection? Simply because, in the absence of having the right to her new adventure, Lara Croft multiplies the appearances here and there and each time, she has more or less the same features. That's starting to be a lot, especially since the license has been more and more active lately.
A Tomb Raider series on Netflix canonical and which already changes a lot of things
Tomb Raider has been given a Netflix series, supposedly canonical, so much for the inconsistencies. In the series Lara is physically transformed, far from the young woman of Shadows of the Tomb Raider. She appears much more muscular and generally imposing at times. Not to mention her fiery temperament miles away from what we saw with the Survivor trilogy which began in 2013. The artistic direction of the series also plays a big part in this, but certainly accentuates important markers of this new version of Lara. Her voice is also more impactful, imposing in its English version played by the charismatic and talented Hayley Atwell who everyone is expecting to return for the games. Fingers crossed that this version of Lara, while divisive, works well overall.
New crossovers featuring yet another transformed Lara
In addition to the Netflix series, Tomb Raider is also featured in several video games. Most recently, the franchise planned a crossover with Pinball FX, featuring two pinball tables in the franchise's colors. Again, the Lara we see shares similar traits with the one in the Netflix series, but also, and especially, the one featured on the artwork. Clothes, build, face, everything is there, even if here again, the artistic direction used by the studio modifies the features somewhat.
Finally, Lara is planning to appear in Dead by Daylight once again. The adventurer already has her own character in the famous asymmetrical horror game. She is one of the playable survivors and has her own unique abilities. However, at the time, Lara looked similar to the one from Tomb Raider 2013. This proves that crossovers still respect certain characteristic traits of the characters they use. Lara appears young, athletic, but rather thin and seems a little overwhelmed by events.
Dead by Daylight has, however, announced new skins for a more "classic" Lara, as well as another as yet unannounced skin (perhaps directly linked to the next game?) and here again, we are getting closer to what was done in the Netflix series and Pinball FX. The adventurer wears her iconic outfit, the one that made an impression in 96, but physically once again we find the markers of the “new version of Lara”: a more mature, experienced and tailored woman.
The new Lara from the next Tomb Raider has been right in front of us all this time?
So, doubt is more than permitted. On the one hand, we can always think that everyone has worked to reproduce more or less the model of Lara presented on the artwork. An “image” of the adventurer that could ultimately be a “unified” marketing version, the one that everyone will now use to offer their version of Miss Croft and make an impression on consumers. Or, it could simply be the new Lara, the one we will find in the next Tomb Raider. She synthesizes all the versions of herself rather well and would fit with this vision that Crystal Dynamics has for the sequel. A woman who has experience, who is no longer really afraid of anything and who is more determined than ever. She is physically imposing, but not only that. The adventurer with a capital A!
An announcement should be imminent, everything is accelerating
We now hope for only one thing: official information. For the moment, apart from theorizing like here or taking a look at the few rumors here and there by playing all the possible crossovers, we have nothing concrete to sink our teeth into. So we'll wait a little longer, crossing our fingers that 2025 will bring us what we're all waiting for: a trailer and some real information. Given how everything is starting to accelerate around the license, it would be surprising not to see the adventurer this year, perhaps at the Summer Game Fest in June? Especially when we see that Dead by Daylight still refuses to present one of the two skins planned for this summer, perhaps there is a link with a possible announcement soon? Let's not sell the T-Rex skin before killing it, but we still want to believe it.
Source: Tomb Raider official site, Dead by Daylight, Pinfall FX, X.com
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