Amazon Games president Christoph Hartmann has reassured fans that the next Tomb Raider game is on track despite recent turmoil at Crystal Dynamics parent company Embracer.
In December 2022, it was announced that Amazon would publish the next Tomb Raider game being developed by Crystal Dynamics.
Crystal Dynamics was one of a number of studios laid off last year under a “restructuring program” announced by owner Embracer Group that will see some studios closed and some projects canceled.
In a new interview with IGN, Amazon Games president Hartmann claims Crystal Dynamics has been “pretty much spared” from the Embracer chaos and that development on the next Tomb Raider is “well underway.”
“As far as I know, the studio is pretty protected from everything that happens at Embracer,” he said. “That’s because it’s not really a single company. It’s a bunch of independent businesses. It’s not just about making games, it’s also about books and games and stuff.
“And they’ve always been very protective. People obviously see what the parent company is doing, but it’s never affected their resources, it’s never caused any change in management, so they’re fine.”
Hartman admitted that there was anticipation for the sequel to Tomb Raider, which has been in development for several years.
“Making a new Tomb Raider is a really high bar. The longer you do it, the higher the bar gets, so it’s a huge undertaking, but it’s progress,” he said. “There are some really great ideas that I’d like to share, but I’m not sharing them. But it’s going well, and it’s moving forward.”
He added, “And as far as I know, Crystal was pretty protected. The studio had been through a couple of ownership changes anyway, which wasn’t really new to them. They were moving around and making games anyway. And, okay, there’s a new sheriff… you know, there’s a new owner in town. Let’s just keep doing what we’re doing and making games.”
This summer, it was confirmed once again that Amazon Prime Video had ordered a Tomb Raider original series starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
The British actor, screenwriter and producer, who won an Emmy, Golden Globe and BAFTA for his performance in Fleabag, will serve as writer and executive producer on the TV show.
