Next Tomb Raider Game in Late Development as Crystal Dynamics Deploys Strike Teams

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Lara Croft stands as one of the most well-known and beloved video game characters ever created, and she’s been popping up in various other games like Call of Duty, Dead By Daylight, and Fortnite lately. With the fantastic remastered trilogies already out, fans of Tomb Raider are eagerly anticipating Crystal Dynamics’ next big AAA game featuring this iconic heroine. Although it hasn’t been confirmed yet, whispers suggest that we might catch a glimpse of the upcoming game at Summer Game Fest. Interestingly, a recent job posting from Crystal Dynamics may hint that Tomb Raider 12 is in its final stages of development.

Job listing hints next Tomb Raider game might be in late stages of development  

Initially, it was noticed by the original poster (OP) on the Tomb Raider subreddit that Crystal Dynamics advertised a Senior Level Designer position on May 17th. According to their LinkedIn job posting, they’re looking for a Senior Level Designer capable of:

  • Spearhead strike teams as a high-impact individual contributor
  • Take ownership of designing levels featuring compelling puzzle elements
  • Apply Unreal expertise to build, iterate, and refine designs

This information is intriguing due to the reference to “special task forces”. These groups, often referred to as strike teams, typically come into play during later development phases like alpha testing, beta testing, or final touch-ups, as explained by Game Developers. Strike teams are specialized units that concentrate on particular aspects and glitches within a game, and they are usually assembled at least half a year prior to the scheduled release of the game.

Although the job description doesn’t directly mention Tomb Raider, its emphasis on puzzle design within third-person action-adventure games strongly suggests it could be referring to the current project by Crystal Dynamics – Tomb Raider 12. Notably, they are also collaborating with The Initiative on Perfect Dark for Xbox, but that game is first-person, so it’s less likely to fit this job description.

If the upcoming Tomb Raider game is nearing completion, it might be released in 2026, which would coincide with the series’ 30th anniversary. Should it arrive next year, its launch timing could prove intriguing given the delay in GTA 6. Jason Schreier recently hinted at apprehension among other developers regarding potential further delays for Grand Theft Auto. Consequently, if Tomb Raider is indeed launched next year, it may aim to debut before May or opt for a Summer/Fall release and face the risk of another Rockstar postponement.

TR12 reveal at Summer Game Fest?

There’s a possibility that Tomb Raider 12 might be unveiled during Summer Game Fest. Famous leaker, NateTheHate, was asked if any of the games – Tomb Raider, Project 007, or Wolf Among Us 2 – would feature in Geoff Keighley’s event. In response, NateTheHate hinted that at least one of these three titles will be showcased.

The narrative is rumored to feature Lara Croft competing “against a Guild of Pillagers and other adversaries in a quest for potent artifacts,” and it’s said that there will be a fresh element centered around gathering teams and allies to tactically assist you in objectives and overcoming rivals. While this information is unverified, the mention of “the Society of Raiders” was posted by vthescooper prior to its appearance on the official Tomb Raider website during a fan registration process.

It’s still uncertain if Tomb Raider 12 will be revealed at Summer Game Fest, given that the information available is quite limited. At present, we only have a few details: it’s being developed by Crystal Dynamics using Unreal Engine 5, it will be published by Amazon Games, and it’s a continuation of Lara’s story from the survivor trilogy, which is considered her origin. We also have a glimpse of her standard unified outfit thanks to its appearances in various crossovers like Pinball FX.

Regarding the latest updates from Tomb Raider, Crystal Dynamics has reassured fans that their recent staff reductions won’t affect their ongoing projects.

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2025-05-19 14:40