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Unfortunately, Tomb Raider developer, Crystal Dynamics, has announced a third round of layoffs for 2025. The newest wave of departures was announced on November 13th via LinkedIn, and it involves “just under 30” layoffs with Crystal Dynamics saying the decision was “difficult but necessary” as a way to “optimize the continued development of our flagship Tomb Raider game”.
The message also says the decision was necessary to shape the “rest of the studio to make new games for the future”. Crystal Dynamics “thanks all of those impacted for their incredible talent, hard work, and dedication,” and the studio is “committed to offering our fullest resources and support to you during this transition”.
Layoffs are always horrible news, but it’s even more unfortunate that this is the third round of layoffs in 2025 for Crystal Dynamics. The first round of layoffs were announced in March. This saw the departure of 17 team members, and Crystal Dynamics assured fans they “did not make the decision lightly,” and that they remain “committed to pushing the boundaries of making great games”.
There were then more layoffs in August following Microsoft’s cancellation of Perfect Dark, which Crystal Dynamics were co-developing. No specific number of layoffs were revealed, but the studio said it was “necessary to ensure the long-term health of our studio and core creative priorities in a continually shifting market”.
Where the Hell is the New Tomb Raider Game?
We haven’t seen anything of the next new Tomb Raider game. All we’ve heard is that it’s being developed using Unreal Engine 5, it’s published by Amazon Games, and it is a single player experience starring a unified Lara Croft. This unification means that the Survivor trilogy is Lara’s canonical origin, and all the adventures of the other Tomb Raider games have happened.
There have been rumors of an open-world adventure set in India with Lara pitted against a “society of raiders,” but this is just a rumor rather than anything official. We haven’t heard anything about the game for a while, but Amazon has recently said they’re “continuing” to help on the new Tomb Raider despite suffering significant layoffs and putting a half to its AAA games development.
A lot of fans are hopeful that maybe there will be a reveal at The Game Awards on December 11th. This is because the second season for the Lara Croft Netflix anime premieres on the same day as The Game Awards, and the anime is supposed to tie into the new game somehow, someway.
Besides the anime’s second season and the eventual release of Tomb Raider 12, fans also have a live-action Amazon Prime series starring Game of Throne’s Sophie Turner to anticipate. Sophie Turner isn’t the most popular choice amongst the community, but she has assured fans “Lara is in very safe hands”.
Unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be any more remasters on the way as folks involved with the excellent 1-3 and 4-6 trilogies “haven’t received a request” to remaster the LAU trilogy. In good news though, Tomb Raider Anniversary is coming to PS Plus Premium on November 18th.
About the Author
Tomb Raider
- Platform(s): Android, iOS, PC, PlayStation, PlayStation 3, SEGA Saturn, Xbox 360
- Genre(s): Action
