Editing Tomb Raider (section)

==History==
===Original series at Core Design (1994–2006)===
[[File:Toby Gard - E3 2005.jpg|thumb|left|Toby Gard, a key creative figure for the series, at the 2005 [[Electronic Entertainment Expo]]]]The concept for ''Tomb Raider'' originated in 1994 at Core Design, a British game development studio.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-10-27-20-years-on-the-tomb-raider-story-told-by-the-people-who-were-there|title=20 years on, the Tomb Raider story told by the people who were there|last=Yin-Poole|first=Wesley|date=30 October 2016|website=Eurogamer|language=en|access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref> One of the people involved in its creation was [[Toby Gard]], who was mostly responsible for creating the character of Lara Croft. Gard originally envisioned the character as a man: company co-founder Jeremy Heath-Smith was worried the character would be seen as derivative of [[Indiana Jones (character)|Indiana Jones]], so Gard changed the character's gender. Her design underwent multiple revisions and redrafts during early development.<ref name="IGNretro" /><ref name="dvd-doc" /> The game proved an unexpected commercial success, reversing Eidos' then-bleak financial situation.<ref name="GTretroA" /> After the success of ''Tomb Raider'', work began on a sequel. Gard was no longer given creative control of the character, and it was stated by development staff that he was both saddened and disappointed by the use of Lara Croft's sex appeal in marketing. Gard left Core Design in 1997, alongside ''Tomb Raider'' co-creator Paul Douglas, to found their own gaming company [[Confounding Factor (games company)|Confounding Factor]].<ref name="GTretroA" /><ref name="dvd-doc" /><ref name="GamaInterview" />

The remaining team members, alongside new arrivals, would work on the sequel ''Tomb Raider II'' which released a year after the original game and proved as big a commercial success.<ref name="Retro163" /> The development team were burned out by release due to the [[Crunch (video games)|extreme crunch policy]] at Core Design.<ref name="Baxter">{{cite book |last1=Baxter |first1=Daryl |title=The Making of Tomb Raider |date=2021 |publisher=White Owl |chapter= Chapter 11, Home Sweet Home |isbn=978-1399002059}}</ref> The vision for the franchise in late 1997 involved an expansion pack for ''Tomb Raider II'', entitled ''The Further Adventures of Lara Croft'', followed by a [[Tomb Raider III#PlayStation 2 version|survival game called ''Tomb Raider III'']] to be released two or three years later for the [[PlayStation 2]]. Eidos were initially behind this direction, but later were driven by a desire to have annual releases for the Christmas window. This led them to request that a second team be created to develop an expanded version of ''The Further Adventures'' and release that as ''Tomb Raider III'' in the interim. The decision was not communicated to the original team, which learned of the move only when ''Tomb Raider III'' was publicly announced as a 1998 title for the original PlayStation. They were exhausted and withdrew from the PlayStation 2 project in response, which was soon cancelled. The ''Tomb Raider II'' team did not work on the franchise again, with some team members going on to work on ''[[Project Eden (video game)|Project Eden]]''.<ref name =Baxter/>

Going forwards the franchise would be worked on by a new team. With Eidos' new vision for the franchise they would aim for annual releases. Core Design's policy at the time involved years-long crunch periods, which placed strain on them and ultimately led to similar burnout.<ref name =Baxter/><ref name="Retro163">{{cite magazine |last1=Thorpe|first1=Nick |last2=Jones|first2=Darran |date=December 2016 |title=20 Years of an Icon: Tomb Raider|magazine=[[Retro Gamer]] |issue=163|publisher=[[Future Publishing]]|pages=16–29}}</ref> For this reason, and the feeling that they had exhausted the series' potential, the team tried to kill off Lara at the end of the fourth game, ''The Last Revelation''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/03/it-felt-like-robbery-tomb-raider-and-the-fall-of-core-design/|title = "It felt like robbery": Tomb Raider and the fall of Core Design|date = 31 March 2015}}</ref> Eidos insisted that the series continue,<ref name="Retro163"/> and so ''Chronicles'' was developed by the Tomb Raider team while an additional group made preparations for the transition to PlayStation 2 with ''The Angel of Darkness''.<ref name="EdgeMakingof" /> The ''Chronicles'' team strongly disliked being forced to continue the franchise, with the lead animator enjoying creating new death animations for Lara on that basis.<ref name="GSinterview">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.co.uk/interviews/2000/09/165-asmith.html |title=Adrian Smith On The Tomb Raider Chronicles |date=12 September 2000 |website=[[GameSpot|GameSpot UK]] |publisher=[[ZDNet]] |access-date=15 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001209162000/http://www.gamespot.co.uk/interviews/2000/09/165-asmith.html |archive-date=9 December 2000 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The game was poorly received, with reviewers suggesting the series was growing stale.<ref name="GIpc">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200102/R03.0806.1210.36520.htm |title=Tomb Raider Chronicles (PC) |last=Brogger|first=Kristian |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |publisher=[[FuncoLand]] |issue=94 |date=February 2001 |access-date=11 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080131093451/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200102/R03.0806.1210.36520.htm |archive-date=31 January 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> During this period, multiple handheld titles were developed by both Core Design and third-party developers.<ref name="GamaCompanies" /><ref name="GTretroB" />

The production of ''The Angel of Darkness'' was beset by problems from an early stage, with the team wanting to create a grander game to compete with contemporary action-adventure games. When the ''Chronicles'' team came back over to work on ''The Angel of Darkness'', they found that production had completely "gone off the rails", with the entire project having been scrapped and restarted once already.<ref name="EdgeMakingof"/> Under pressure from Eidos, key sections of the game needed to be cut, and it was released before the team felt it was ready.<ref name="EdgeMakingof"/><ref name="dvd-doc"/> It also suffered from crunch and burnout.<ref name =Baxter/> The game received negative reactions from critics, and was cited by [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]] as the reason for the [[Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life|second ''Tomb Raider'' film]] underperforming.<ref name="EdgeMakingof"/><ref name="dvd-doc"/><ref name="DigiHistory"/><ref name="ParaLara"/>

While development of the next title ''Legend'' moved to Crystal Dynamics, Core Design continued to work on the franchise. A remake of the original game for [[PlayStation Portable]] was in development there, entitled ''10th Anniversary''. While Eidos had been averse to further ''Tomb Raider'' titles from the group, their recent purchase by SCi meant that the decision would now be made by the new parent company, and they were in favour. By 2006 the title was nearly finished, but after Crystal Dynamics sent a demo to SCi showing the first level of ''Legend'' running on PSP, ''10th Anniversary'' was cancelled and Crystal Dynamics were charged with making a remake of the original instead. One of the key reasons for this was the fact that Crystal Dynamics had stronger capabilities to do a cross-platform launch. The decision "went down like a cup of cold sick" at Core Design. The studio attempted to reskin the title as a ''[[National Treasure (franchise)|National Treasure]]'' or ''[[Indiana Jones]]'' game in the wake of the decision, but these did not come to fruition. The loss of the ''Tomb Raider'' IP was a factor in the studio's closure several years later.<ref>{{cite web |date=7 January 2021 |last1=Campbell |first1=Ian Carlos |title=Play this long-lost Tomb Raider remake |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/7/22219080/tom-raider-10th-anniversary-remake-lost-playable-internet-archive |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Original developer of Tomb Raider tried to salvage cancelled 10th Anniversary Edition with Indiana Jones and National Treasure pitches |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/original-developer-of-tomb-raider-tried-to-salvage-cancelled-10th-anniversary-edition-with-indiana-jones-and-national-treasure-pitches |website=Eurogamer.net |language=en |date=7 January 2021}}</ref>

===Crystal Dynamics and ''Legend'' trilogy (2003–2008)===
After the critical backlash against ''The Angel of Darkness'', Eidos decided to take production of the ''Tomb Raider'' series out of Core Design's hands and give it to another subsidiary studio. Production of the next game was given to Crystal Dynamics in 2003, a studio that had made its name with the ''[[Legacy of Kain]]'' series.<ref name="DigiHistory"/><ref name="BBCcroft"/><ref name="PSM-77"/> Eidos CEO [[Ian Livingstone]] stated that while the critical failure of ''The Angel of Darkness'' was a major reason for taking the series away from Core Design, the decision was motivated by their inordinate struggles with developing for the PlayStation 2, and by how many members of the Core team had complained that they were "burnt out" on ''Tomb Raider''. He added that "for a UK company, moving the development of its prized asset from Derby to California was a big decision to make but, as it turned out, absolutely the right one to make".<ref name="Retro163"/> One of the main priorities for both Eidos and Crystal Dynamics was to regain the fanbase's trust in the brand, along with helping the series reclaim the status and selling power it had before ''The Angel of Darkness''{{'}} release.<ref name="GSlegends"/> Their main goal was to put Lara back inside tombs, with their physics-based engine enabling more intricate puzzles.<ref name="1UPlegend"/> ''Legend'' was well received, and was the first game in a rebooted trilogy.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/tomb-raider-every-version-of-lara-croft-ranked-by-lara-ness/|title=Tomb Raider: Every version of Lara Croft, ranked by Lara-ness|magazine=Pc Gamer|date=28 September 2020|last1=Henley|first1=Stacey}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/03/29/tomb-raider-trilogy-review|title=Tomb Raider Trilogy Review - IGN|date=29 March 2011}}</ref> After ''Legend'' was finished, the team decided to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the series by remaking the original game, rebuilding the environments and redesigning the story to fit in with the events and gameplay of ''Legend''.<ref name="AnniversaryDev3"/><ref name="dvd-doc"/> Alongside the development of ''Anniversary'', an entry for [[Seventh generation of video game consoles|seventh-generation hardware]] was in development, although it used established gaming architecture from ''Legend'' and this caused problems for the development team.<ref name="GamaUnderPost"/> This released as ''[[Tomb Raider: Underworld]]'' in 2008.

===Square Enix acquisition and ''Survivor'' trilogy (2009–2019)===
In 2009, the year after the release of ''Underworld'', Eidos was bought by Square Enix and later renamed [[Square Enix Europe]], giving Square Enix ownership of the ''Tomb Raider'' franchise.<ref name="MCVeidos"/><ref name="JoySQEXeurope"/> Development of Tomb Raider remained with Crystal Dynamics, now under the new structure. A new subseries began in 2010, billed simply as ''Lara Croft'' rather than ''Tomb Raider'' while using the aesthetics of the ''Legend'' continuity.<ref name="EuroGuardian"/> The first of these was ''[[Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light]]'', followed by ''[[Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris]]'' in 2014. From 2015 the subseries aimed at the mobile format with ''[[Lara Croft: Relic Run|Relic Run]]'',<ref name="BlogOsiris"/><ref name="AdInterview"/> and later ''[[Lara Croft Go]]'' which received critical acclaim.<ref name="DevGo"/>

During this period, a second development team was working on a second reboot of the series and character, which put emphasis on a darker and grittier interpretation of the character.<ref name="GI-213"/><ref name="GSreboot"/> Another priority was presenting Lara as a more human character, putting her in vulnerable situations, and showing how she begins her journey to becoming a "tomb raider" through both narrative and gameplay.<ref name="DailyLara"/> The reboot, simply entitled ''[[Tomb Raider (2013 video game)|Tomb Raider]]'', was met with critical acclaim at launch in 2013, and became the start of the "Survivor Trilogy".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/product/EP0082-CUSA27688_00-0299001029018095|title = Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.psu.com/a018479/Tomb-Raider-review-scores-90----Lara-is-back|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226084940/http://www.psu.com/a018479/Tomb-Raider-review-scores-90----Lara-is-back|archive-date=26 February 2013|title=Tomb Raider review scores 90% - 'Lara is back'|date=24 February 2013}}</ref> A sequel, eventually revealed as ''[[Rise of the Tomb Raider]]'', was in development a few months after the reboot's release.<ref name="RTRrelease1"/><ref name="EuroSequel"/> In response to criticisms about a lack of classic tombs, more optional and story-based tombs were incorporated into the game.<ref name="EuroTombs"/> It continued the team's new portrayal of Lara, showing more sides to her character and her growing obsession with discovering the truth.<ref name="GIstory"/> In 2018, ''[[Shadow of the Tomb Raider]]'' was released to coincide with a new film starring [[Alicia Vikander]] as Lara Croft, simply titled ''[[Tomb Raider (film)|Tomb Raider]]'', taking heavy inspiration from the 2013 game of the same name.<ref>{{Citation|title=Shadow of the Tomb Raider Officially Announced - IGN|date=15 March 2018 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/03/15/shadow-of-the-tomb-raider-officially-announced |access-date=3 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=14 March 2018|title=Tomb Raider 2018 Is A Prequel-Reboot-Adaptation: A Brief Guide To Lara Croft's History|url=https://screenrant.com/tomb-raider-movie-2018-remake-prequel-reboot/|access-date=3 August 2021|website=ScreenRant}}</ref> ''Shadow'' was developed by [[Eidos-Montréal]] as Crystal Dynamics completed ''[[Marvel's Avengers (video game)|Marvel's Avengers]]'', though Crystal would provide secondary support. The game concluded Lara's origin story. A "Definitive Edition", featuring all 7 DLCs for ''Shadow'' was released in November 2019.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.square-enix-games.com/en_GB/news/shadow-tomb-raider-definitive-edition | title=Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition out now &#124; Square Enix Blog}}</ref>

===Diversification and Embracer Group acquisition (2020–present)===
Following the conclusion of the Survivor trilogy, both Crystal Dynamics and Eidos-Montréal were busy with Marvel properties, and so there were no further ''Tomb Raider'' games for several years. In Crystal Dynamics' case, continued support for ''Marvel's Avengers'' lasted until 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/01/23/avengers-to-disassemble-this-year-as-staff-move-onto-tomb-raider-18148562/ | title=Avengers to disassemble this year as staff move onto Tomb Raider | date=23 January 2023}}</ref> While there were no new games in this period, the franchise was active via other avenues. In 2021, [[Legendary Television]] and DJ2 Entertainment announced an [[anime series]] set after the events of ''Shadow of the Tomb Raider'' for [[Netflix]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zorrilla |first=Mónica Marie |date=27 January 2021 |title=Netflix Expands its Growing Anime Repertoire With 'Skull Island' and 'Tomb Raider' Adaptations |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/netflix-anime-skull-island-tomb-raider-video-game-1234893288/ |access-date=3 August 2021 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> The series' title was revealed as ''[[Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft]]'' and it was released in October 2024.<ref>{{cite web|title=Netflix Unveils First Look At Tomb Raider: The Legend Of Lara Croft In New Teaser Trailer|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/netflix-unveils-first-look-at-tomb-raider-the-legend-of-lara-croft-in-new-teaser-trailer/1100-6518005/|website=[[GameSpot]]|last=Wolinksy|first=David|date=September 27, 2023|accessdate=September 27, 2023|quote=The animated series is set to debut in 2024.}}</ref> A great many crossovers with other video game franchises were held in the early 2020s, with an article from ''Fandom Wire'' identifying 14 franchises that received crossovers, ranging from ''[[Fall Guys]]'' to ''[[Dead by Daylight]]''. These were generally in the form of cosmetic additions or through Lara appearing as a playable character.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-26 |title="Lara really is everywhere": Tomb Raider Isn't Just Hitting Dead by Daylight, as Lara Croft Jumps into Battle Royale Mode |url=https://fandomwire.com/lara-croft-tomb-raider-naraka-bladepoint-dead-by-daylight/ |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=fandomwire.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[Embracer Group]] purchased a number of [[Square Enix Europe]] assets in May 2022 for {{USD|300 million|long=no}}, including Crystal Dynamics and the ''Tomb Raider'' franchise.<ref name="SquareIGN">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/embracer-group-enters-agreement-to-acquire-eidos-crystal-dynamics-square-enix-montreal-and-more-tomb-raider-deus-ex|title=Embracer Group Enters Agreement to Acquire Eidos, Crystal Dynamics, and Square Enix Montreal for $300 Million|first=Adam|last=Bankhurst|date=2 May 2022|website=IGN}}</ref><ref name="SquareEmbracer">{{Cite web |date=2 May 2022 |title=Embracer Group enters into an agreement to acquire Eidos, Crystal Dynamics, and Square Enix Montréal amongst other assets |url=https://embracer.com/release/embracer-group-enters-into-an-agreement-to-acquire-eidos-crystal-dynamics-and-square-enix-montreal-amongst-other-assets/ |access-date=2 May 2022 |website=Embracer}}</ref> The studio announced the next main ''Tomb Raider'' title in 2022 as a game that would "unify the timelines", and combine elements from all three series, including the work of Core Design. In this timeline, Lara would be a seasoned adventurer.<ref>{{Citation|title=Community Update: Tomb Raider 25 Year Celebration| date=27 January 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_gO4xj5u9k |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/m_gO4xj5u9k| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=3 August 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> This instalment will use [[Unreal Engine 5]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=5 April 2021|title=A new Tomb Raider is coming, built on Unreal Engine 5|url=https://www.polygon.com/23011809/tomb-raider-new-game-unreal-engine-5|access-date=6 April 2021|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]}}</ref> and will be published by [[Amazon Games]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cabello |first=Marcos |title=Amazon Will Publish the Tomb Raider Game |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/amazon-will-publish-the-tomb-raider-game/ |access-date=15 December 2022 |website=[[CNET]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215213342/https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/amazon-will-publish-the-tomb-raider-game/ |archive-date=15 December 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Tomb Raider Reloaded]]'', a mobile game, was published by [[Square Enix London Mobile]] in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Forde |first=Matthew |title=Tomb Raider Reloaded unearths a soft launch|url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/76040/tomb-raider-reloaded-unearths-a-soft-launch/|access-date=3 August 2021|website=pocketgamer.biz|date=15 March 2021}}</ref> ''Tomb Raider'' was only briefly under Embracer Group, as the company suffered from over-expansion and announced in 2024 that it was to split into three companies; the IP is to be held by [[Middle-earth Enterprises]] after it completes its separation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Batchelor |first=James |date=2024-04-22 |title=Embracer Group splits into three: Everything you need to know |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/embracer-group-splits-into-three-everything-you-need-to-know |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-13 |title=Embracer Group To Make Severe Cutbacks After Absurd Spending Spree |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2023/06/embracer-group-to-make-severe-cutbacks-after-absurd-spending-spree |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The period also saw a number of re-releases in the form of collected editions and remasters. [[Feral Interactive]]'s Lara Croft spin-offs were re-released as ''The Lara Croft Collection'' for Nintendo Switch in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kennedy |first1=Victoria |title=Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Temple of Osiris finally get Switch release date |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/lara-croft-and-the-guardian-of-light-temple-of-osiris-finally-get-switch-release-date |website=Eurogamer.net |language=en |date=15 June 2023}}</ref> [[Aspyr]] released remasters of all six Core Design titles across two collections as ''[[Tomb Raider I–III Remastered]]'' and ''[[Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered]]'' in 2024 and 2025. The remasters were made available for [[Nintendo Switch]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation 5]], [[Windows]], [[Xbox One]], and [[Xbox Series X and Series S|Xbox Series X/S]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered Reveal, 100 Million Games Sold & More! |url=https://www.tombraider.com/news/video-games/tomb-raider-iv-vi-remastered-reveal-100-million-games-sold-and-more |website=Tomb Raider |access-date=11 October 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Aspyr & Crystal Dynamics Reveal Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft, Coming to PC & Consoles Feb. 14, 2024 – Crystal Dynamics |url=https://www.crystald.com/aspyr-crystal-dynamics-reveal-tomb-raider-i-iii-remastered-starring-lara-croft-coming-to-pc-consoles-feb-14-2024/ |website=[[Crystal Dynamics]] |date=14 September 2023 |access-date=14 September 2023}}</ref> The Core Design games were also re-released in their original form for [[Evercade]] across two cartridges, with ''Tomb Raider Collection 1'' covering the first three games, and ''Tomb Raider Collection 2'' covering the fourth and fifth. The Evercade re-releases did not include ''The Angel of Darkness''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://evercade.co.uk/press-release/evercade-announces-tomb-raider-cartridge-collection-with-crystal-dynamics-featuring-the-first-three-tomb-raider-games/ |title=Evercade Announces Tomb Raider Cartridge Collection with Crystal Dynamics, featuring the first three Tomb Raider games - Evercade |work=Evercade }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sheehan |first1=Gavin |title=Evercade Has Announced The Tomb Raider Collection 2 |url=https://bleedingcool.com/games/evercade-has-announced-the-tomb-raider-collection-2/ |website=bleedingcool.com |language=en |date=22 February 2025}}</ref>