Crystal Dynamics has confirmed that Tomb Raider: Catalyst will continue with the same Lara Croft introduced in the Survivor trilogy, connecting the upcoming game with Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis.
Despite Tomb Raider: Catalyst being delayed to 2028, we now have a clearer idea of which version of Lara Croft will lead the next chapter of the franchise.
Game director Raul Siqueira confirmed that the Lara appearing in Catalyst and Legacy of Atlantis is the same character established across Tomb Raider (2013), Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
Survivor Lara Croft Is Here to Stay
Speaking during a Gamescom Q&A, Siqueira explained that Crystal Dynamics wants to respect Lara’s history while moving her story forward.
“The Lara you see here is the same Lara from the Survivor era [Tomb Raider 2013, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which tell Lara’s origin story], and it will be the same Lara in our projects moving forward.”
That confirms Crystal Dynamics isn’t replacing Survivor Lara with another interpretation of the character for Catalyst.
Instead, the studio appears to be building upon the character established during the reboot trilogy.
Legacy of Atlantis and Catalyst Share the Same Lara
The upcoming Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis will also feature this version of Lara, despite revisiting the events of the original 1996 Tomb Raider.
However, Crystal Dynamics stresses that Legacy of Atlantis remains its own project and is intended to stay faithful to the original game.
“Obviously, we are making the games together,” Siqueira explained. “However, it is very important for us to distinguish that Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is completely its own project and we are making sure that we are staying faithful to the original game.”
The approach allows Crystal Dynamics to revisit Lara’s classic adventures while maintaining continuity with the modern Survivor-era character.
Tomb Raider: Catalyst Arrives in 2028
Catalyst will then move Lara’s journey forward rather than simply retelling another previous adventure.
Crystal Dynamics has also previously stressed that players won’t need to do any “homework” before playing Catalyst, meaning newcomers shouldn’t need extensive knowledge of previous Tomb Raider games to understand its story.
For longtime fans, however, confirmation that this is the same Lara provides a clear connection between the Survivor trilogy, Legacy of Atlantis and the franchise’s future.
Tomb Raider: Catalyst is currently scheduled for 2028, while Legacy of Atlantis will reimagine Lara Croft’s original 1996 adventure with the Survivor-era version of the character.
