Tomb Raider: Catalyst developer Crystal Dynamics says it “stays absolutely dedicated to the longer term growth” of the Lara Croft franchise regardless of struggling its fourth redundancy spherical within the final 12 months.
“Right this moment, Crystal Dynamics is decreasing its workforce by 20 gifted group members, cut up between some growth personnel and a few central operations roles,” the corporate introduced on LinkedIn. “This can be a troublesome day for our studio, and we by no means make these selections flippantly, significantly after the restructuring we underwent final 12 months.”
On the time of its acquisition by Embracer in 2022, Crystal Dynamics had 273 staff throughout its Austin, Bellevue, and San Mateo places of work. Since then, studio staff have endured three separate layoff rounds in March, August, and November 2025, all of which got here on high of 10 job cuts in 2023. Now, the studio is shrinking its group by one other 20 folks. It is unclear what number of staff stay.
“As our present tasks transfer into new phases of growth, we constantly take a tough take a look at our group buildings to make sure they align with our long-term studio targets,” the studio added. “Whereas we all the time try to transition our folks into new roles each time attainable, we’ve got sadly reached some extent the place these departures are needed.
We’re unbelievable grateful for the fervour and exhausting work these people have poured into our video games and our studio. We’re offering them with severance and job placement help to assist them land their subsequent alternative. When you have openings or know of positions for gifted builders, please contact us, and we’ll join them.”
Concluding its assertion, Crystal Dynamics pressured that whereas it understood “information like this could trigger concern amongst our group,” it “stays absolutely dedicated to the longer term growth of our already introduced Tomb Raider titles. Right this moment, nevertheless, our precedence is supporting our colleagues who’re shifting on.”
Crystal Dynamics beforehand laid off an unknown variety of employees in August of final 12 months following the cancellation of Good Darkish by Xbox, which Crystal Dynamics had been supporting. It at the moment has two introduced Tomb Raider video games in growth: Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, a remake of the unique 1996 Tomb Raider, set for launch later this 12 months, and model new Tomb Raider sport, Tomb Raider: Catalyst, due out sooner or later subsequent 12 months. Alix Wilton Regan will now play Lara Croft in each video games, changing Camilla Luddington, who portrayed Lara Croft within the Survivor Trilogy.
Each Legacy of Atlantis and Catalyst are revealed by Amazon Recreation Studios, which itself has suffered a torrid time of late, with quite a few cancelations, closures, and layoffs. The Prime Video Tomb Raider sequence, starring Recreation of Thrones actor Sophie Turner, is at the moment filming in surrey, England.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, in addition to a critic, columnist, and marketing consultant with 15+ years expertise working with among the world’s greatest gaming websites and publications. She’s additionally a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually Excessive Chaos. Discover her at BlueSky.