Updated Tomb Raider website’s motorcycle reference feels encouraging after Catalyst leak

Tomb Raider Catalyst is scheduled for release in 2027. So far, developer Crystal Dynamics has only revealed that it is set in Northern India, features Lara Croft at her oldest, and takes place after the events of Tomb Raider Underworld (2008). While official details remain slim, reliable leaks have pointed to a massive open world that includes a motorcycle, and although still unconfirmed, a recent update to the official Tomb Raider website has offered an encouraging sign that the iconic vehicle may be returning.

As spotted by fan account InfinityTRaider on X, the official Tomb Raider website has updated Lara Croft’s biography. The page is now accompanied by a render of Lara from Legacy of Atlantis and describes the British heroine as a “fearless archaeologist and adventurer, renowned for her relentless pursuit of ancient secrets and artifacts”.

In addition to the biography, the website highlights five staples of Lara Croft’s identity. These include the dual pistols that have been iconic since her 1996 debut and are finally returning in Legacy of Atlantis, as well as her bow and arrow, seen throughout the Survivor trilogy. The Jade Pendant necklace, first introduced in Tomb Raider (2013), is also featured, alongside Croft Manor and Lara’s motorcycle.

The motorcycle is a notable inclusion, as it has not appeared in games since Underworld, nearly two decades ago. However, the Tomb Raider website now hails it as a “thrilling staple in Lara Croft’s adventure arsenal, embodying the daring spirit of her extraordinary lifestyle”.

We already know that the dual pistols and bow and arrow are returning in Tomb Raider Catalyst, as they appear in the trailer. The Jade Pendant is also likely to return, as it remains a core part of Lara’s unified design, carrying over from the Survivor trilogy into Legacy of Atlantis, despite not appearing in the original 1996 PS1 release. With the motorcycle positioned alongside these returning staples, it’s an encouraging sign that the vehicle may also be back, as suggested by leaks.

Bringing back Lara Croft’s motorcycle in Tomb Raider makes perfect sense

Although the motorcycle is not officially confirmed for Tomb Raider Catalyst, it was included in leaks from X account VScooper back in 2024. VScooper has proven reliable so far, having accurately leaked the game’s Northern India setting and its portrayal of a more mature and “prime” Lara Croft, lending credibility to their claim that the motorcycle will return.

In addition to the motorcycle, VScooper claims that Catalyst is set in a vast open world. While an open-world structure has not been explicitly confirmed by Crystal Dynamics, the studio has alluded to it by stating that “Tomb Raider Catalyst delivers the largest Tomb Raider world yet, where Lara will traverse a landscape full of secrets”.

Assuming Catalyst is open-world, the return of the motorcycle makes perfect sense, as it would allow Lara to traverse large environments without needing to walk everywhere on foot. It could also create unique gameplay opportunities, similar to Tomb Raider Underworld, where the motorcycle was briefly used to assist with puzzle-solving, similar to the Batmobile in Batman Arkham Knight.

Its return is also narratively logical. The motorcycle featured prominently in Underworld, and since Catalyst is set afterward, there’s no need to explain why Lara can suddenly ride one despite it never appearing in the Survivor trilogy. The motorcycle has also appeared more recently in Netflix’s Tomb Raider series starring Hayley Atwell, indicating that Crystal Dynamics hasn’t relegated it solely to the franchise’s past.

Before Catalyst arrives in 2027, the motorcycle should first return in Tomb Raider Legacy of Atlantis, which reimagines Lara’s 1996 debut. In the original game, Lara uses a motorcycle to travel to Egypt and later uses it for a bombastic action set piece to propel herself onto the escaping yacht of the game’s villain, Natla.

The motorcycle’s return would also align with new Lara Croft voice actor Alix Wilton Regan’s description of her portrayal as “very cool”. Regan has compared the “cultural phenomenon” of Lara Croft to fellow British icon James Bond, and Lara riding a motorcycle is a fitting parallel to Bond driving fancy cars.