Crystal Dynamics, a respected developer studio, is seeing high expectations to release a new version of the classic video game as the 25th anniversary of Tom Raider approaches this year. With the next generation of consoles already on the market, fans are expecting to see a new Tomb Raider title, one which could indeed bring the franchise to its natural end. But can we expect the new title any time soon?
Tomb Raider Franchise is Extremely Versatile
Like it or not, Tomb Raider franchise is one of the most successful video games ever. First Tomb Raider gained a lot of attention thanks to its innovative gameplay and immersive storyline. It was a one-of-a-kind game at the time, giving a unique perspective to what adventure games can accomplish. Many years have passed since the first title, and a lot has happened for Tomb Raider franchise since. Thanks to smart thinking, Crystal Dynamics managed to transform Lara Croft into more than just a video game. She was adapted into Hollywood movies, comic books, and even various online slots that proved to be popular among the casino-goers. Lara will soon also be turned into animated TV series on Netflix.
With that being said, the potential of the franchise cannot be denied, as well as the popularity of the video game series. However, at this point, we have no information about whether the next-gen title is coming or not, even though fans are expecting to see Lara’s adventures running on powerful new machines like PlayStation 5.
Next-Gen Games Are Likely Coming, and Here’s Why
With PS5 and Xbox Series X already being released, it’s not an outlandish idea to expect a new Tomb Raider as well. These new consoles offer much better performance than their predecessors, and studios want to expand their offering on these new platforms. For example, the new PlayStation 5 offers 60 FPS, while the PS4 was capped at 30 FPS, leading to a significant disadvantage in frames per second compared to PCs of that generation. The processing power of new generation consoles has also greatly improved, allowing for more complex graphics.
Tomb Raider is a well-known and popular franchise for more than two decades now, which is also something to consider. New and old fans are anticipating another release, whether the studio has plans for it or not. Even though Crystal Dynamics remains silent, a job listing for people with knowledge about “natural and architectural environments” recently appeared. Could that mean a new game might have an open-world environment?
Finally, Tom Raider has been on a hiatus for quite a few years. The last title, “Shadow of the Tomb Raider,” was released in 2018. Big game series usually have a new installment every few years to keep players coming back. With anticipation being so high, it would be surprising for Crystal Dynamics not to release a new game soon. This October, when we mark the 25th anniversary of Tomb Raider, would be an excellent time for them to release a new installment as it marks that critical milestone. With a game as successful as Tom Raider – it has sold nearly 100 million copies so far – it is not entirely unreasonable to expect a new game.
