Noah Romsdal Hallundbæk Sørensen
A mysterious new Tomb Raider reveal is rumored to hit the Game Awards stage.
A familiar franchise is poised to return to the stage this week, but whether audiences will see a game, a TV project, or both remains unclear.
Hints from industry figures have set fans speculating as the countdown to The Game Awards begins.
A cryptic build-up
Social media posts from event host Geoff Keighley and the official Tomb Raider account ignited expectations after Keighley told followers, “As just revealed in our The Game Awards Vote in Fortnite map portal, tune in Thursday night for a look at the future of one of gaming’s most iconic franchises, Tomb Raider. This is one you won’t want to miss.”
According to their posts, the reveal will showcase what lies ahead for the long-running series.
The announcement left observers wondering if a long-anticipated game reveal is finally imminent.
Crystal Dynamics first confirmed a new Tomb Raider project in 2022, though it has shown no gameplay since.
The most tangible update was a Lara Croft redesign shared publicly last year.
Studio in transition
Crystal Dynamics’ silence has coincided with major upheaval.
Reuters and other outlets have detailed how Embracer Group purchased the studio and rights from Square Enix, only to sell both to Middle-earth Enterprises in 2024.
Amazon remains the publisher, though reports have highlighted its broader struggles with troubled MMO projects and substantial layoffs.
The studio itself has faced repeated job cuts.
Coverage this year noted three separate rounds, including 30 layoffs last month, additional reductions in August following Xbox’s cancellation of Perfect Dark, and earlier cuts involving more than a dozen employees.
The screen adaptation
Amazon is also developing a live-action Tomb Raider series with Story Kitchen, with Game of Thrones actor Sophie Turner set to play Lara Croft.
Story Kitchen has said the aim is to “reinvent the franchise on a massive scale” while connecting “live-action television series and video games into a unified storytelling universe.”
However, reports from several outlets suggested the project stalled in 2023 and 2024 due to scheduling hurdles and leadership changes at Amazon.
In September, Amazon reaffirmed that the series was moving forward, targeting a 2026 shoot and keeping Turner attached.
Set for Thursday
With production on the show yet to begin, industry watchers believe the game is the more likely candidate for the upcoming reveal.
Still, the ambiguous messaging has left the door open for a dual showcase, or at least a first look at Turner in character.
For now, fans wait to see which version of Tomb Raider steps into the spotlight.
The Game Awards will air on December 11 at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET.
Sources: IGN Nordic, X/@tombraider, X/@geoffkeighley
