Crystal Dynamics, the veteran California-based studio behind the Tomb Raider franchise, has confirmed a wave of layoffs but reassured fans that Lara Croft’s next adventure remains untouched. The announcement was made via LinkedIn, where the team expressed gratitude to departing colleagues and described the move as necessary for the studio’s long-term health in a volatile market.
Though Crystal Dynamics didn’t reveal the scale of the cuts, the timing has raised eyebrows. 
The developer was working alongside Microsoft’s The Initiative on the Perfect Dark reboot until that project was scrapped last month. The layoffs may be linked to those shifting circumstances.
Founded over three decades ago, Crystal Dynamics earned recognition through classics like Legacy of Kain, Gex, and, most prominently, Tomb Raider. Its more recent venture, Marvel’s Avengers, fell short of expectations, pushing the studio to refocus on its core strengths. In 2022, Crystal Dynamics revealed that its next Tomb Raider entry would be built in Unreal Engine 5, marking a significant step forward from its in-house Foundation Engine. The game is set to be published by Amazon Games, which has also secured rights to develop interconnected shows and films. Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge is already attached to write and produce a series for Prime Video.
While Amazon Games chief Christoph Hartmann teased in June 2024 that fans wouldn’t have to wait long for a reveal, nothing concrete has surfaced since. With The Game Awards in December fast approaching, speculation is mounting that Lara Croft could make her long-awaited return there.
1 comment
Unreal Engine 5 tho, thats hype!