Recently, Scot Amos, the head of Crystal Dynamics, announced that players can jump straight into Tomb Raider: Catalyst without needing to play earlier titles in the series.
During the 2025 Game Developers Conference, the studio revealed two new releases: a remastered classic, Tomb Raider: Atlantis Ruins, set to launch in 2026, and a brand‑new title, Tomb Raider: Catalyst, scheduled for 2027, which will see Lara exploring northern India.
Amos explained that Catalyst is positioned at the peak of Lara’s career, with all previous stories regarded as her past. Even at the end of the timeline, new players can start playing without having to catch up on earlier games.
The game’s design philosophy is to let fresh players dive right in—no prior knowledge required—so that both newcomers and longtime fans can enjoy a complete, thrilling adventure.