Lara Croft’s new adventure, “Tomb Raider: Catalyst”, may only be released in 2028, as revealed by an Amazon Games executive. However, the publisher claims to have no updates on the release window, generating uncertainty among fans.
The release schedule for “Tomb Raider: Catalyst” has seen a new development in recent days. The title, initially scheduled for 2027, had its future reevaluated after Jeffrey Gattis, an Amazon Games executive, suggested a possible change to 2028.
It is crucial to note that this information does not constitute an official postponement. A spokesperson for Amazon Games spoke after Gattis’ speech, declaring that the company has no news about the “Catalyst” calendar and assured that the project remains in good progress.
Thus, the current situation remains: a senior executive at the publisher mentioned the year 2028, but Amazon Games has not yet made any changes to the release date official, nor has it confirmed the cancellation of the original planning that pointed to 2027.
How did the mention of 2028 for the game’s release come about?
The indication of the possible postponement was made by Jeffrey Gattis during an interview given to the portal podcast The Game Business.
While discussing Amazon Games’ investments in various productions, the executive mentioned the next two titles in the Tomb Raider saga. Gattis mentioned that “Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis” will be released on February 12, 2027 and that “the next one” would arrive in 2028.
Although the name “Catalyst” was not explicitly uttered, the context strongly suggests that it referred to this game. “Legacy of Atlantis” and “Catalyst” are the only two Tomb Raider titles already announced and under Amazon Games publishing.
This statement generated great repercussion, as “Tomb Raider: Catalyst” was revealed at The Game Awards 2025 with the expected arrival on the market in 2027.
The original prediction did not specify an exact date. Crystal Dynamics and Amazon Games had only reported the year 2027, without detailing the month or quarter.
What has Amazon Games officially reported about the calendar?
After the possible change was announced by several press outlets, Amazon Games sent a statement to the Gematsu portal.
A company spokesperson said the publisher has no news about the release window for “Tomb Raider: Catalyst.” The company added that the project is progressing positively and that further details will be revealed as the premiere date approaches.
This manifestation does not directly contradict Jeffrey Gattis’ statement.
Amazon did not confirm the maintenance of the game for 2027. At the same time, it also did not make the transfer of “Catalyst” official to the year 2028.
The wording of the response leaves the launch situation open.
What is known about the official status of Tomb Raider: Catalyst currently?
Currently, the franchise’s official page still presents 2027 as the release year for “Tomb Raider: Catalyst” for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, via Steam.
Thus, there is some conflicting information in circulation:
- The saga’s official page maintains 2027 as the deadline.
- The Amazon Games executive pointed to a 2028 launch.
- An Amazon spokesperson said he had no new information about the calendar.
- The game’s development would be progressing smoothly.
- A specific date for the premiere has not been announced.
From an editorial standpoint, the most accurate way to address the topic at this point is to indicate that “Tomb Raider: Catalyst” may have been delayed until 2028.
Only an update on the official website, a statement from Crystal Dynamics or a direct announcement from Amazon Games could turn this possibility into a definitive confirmation.
How could Legacy of Atlantis have influenced the possible postponement?
The new deadline suggested by Jeffrey Gattis aligns with the franchise’s general calendar.
“Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis” was initially scheduled for 2026. However, its premiere was moved to February 12, 2027, with versions for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2.
If “Catalyst” was also released in 2027, Amazon Games could have two major Tomb Raider titles hitting the market in the same year.
Although not unfeasible, this coincidence would increase the risks of overlapping in marketing campaigns, pre-sales and the period of greatest commercial appeal for both projects, which is a common factor in large publishers to avoid internal competition and maximize the return on each launch.
Launching “Catalyst” in 2028 would give “Legacy of Atlantis” a period of greater prominence in 2027. This is an analysis that considers the timeline of both products, but has not been officially confirmed by Amazon Games.
The publisher did not clarify whether the decision, if confirmed, derives from the need for extra development time or just strategic commercial planning for the franchise.
Learn more about the game Tomb Raider: Catalyst
“Tomb Raider: Catalyst” is the next completely original adventure from the character Lara Croft.
The game is in development by Crystal Dynamics and will be published globally by Amazon Games. The production uses Unreal Engine 5 and was officially presented in December 2025.
The plot takes place in northern India, where a mythological cataclysm reveals ancient secrets and releases enigmatic forces that protect them.
This event also attracts renowned treasure hunters from around the world. Lara Croft will have to investigate the hidden truth in the region, prevent the destructive use of the revealed power and determine who to trust.
The narrative promises to involve unexpected alliances, intense rivalries, betrayals and a threat with the potential to change the future.
What’s new about the world of Tomb Raider: Catalyst?
Crystal Dynamics claims that “Catalyst” will have the largest world ever created for the Tomb Raider series.
Lara will be able to explore different areas in northern India, uncover forgotten tombs, solve puzzles and investigate the mysteries associated with the cataclysm that affected the region.
The developer also indicated the inclusion of adventure equipment that can be customized.
The exact functioning of this system has not yet been detailed. It may offer enhancements to climbing, exploration, investigation, or combat tools, but these specifications have not been officially released.
The question remains whether the vast world mentioned by Crystal Dynamics will be completely open or divided into large interconnected areas.
How does Catalyst seek to integrate the many facets of Lara Croft?
The new phase of the Tomb Raider franchise seeks to integrate characteristics of the protagonist’s various interpretations over the years.
“Catalyst” portrays a more experienced Lara Croft, self-assured and ready for challenges, without neglecting the emotional evolution seen in the trilogy that began in 2013.
The objective is to fuse elements of the classic character with the contemporary narrative approach employed by Crystal Dynamics in recent titles.
British actress Alix Wilton Regan will take on the voice of Lara Croft, voicing the character in both “Tomb Raider: Catalyst” and “Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis.”
Regan is recognized for her work on games such as “Dragon Age: Inquisition”, “Mass Effect 3” and “Cyberpunk 2077”.
The presence of the same actress in both projects contributes to solidifying a unified identity in the new phase of the franchise, even with the different stories of the productions.
Differences between the Catalyst and Legacy of Atlantis projects
Although they share the protagonist, technology and part of the teams, the two future games in the saga present very different proposals.
“Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis” will consist of a reimagining of Lara Croft’s initial adventure, released in 1996. Production is in charge of Crystal Dynamics in collaboration with Flying Wild Hog.
The title revisits the search for Scion fragments, offering broader scenarios, restructured puzzles, an updated combat system and new exploration options.
Iconic moments from the original game, such as the confrontation with Tyrannosaurus Rex and the exploration of the Lost Valley, will be reimagined with changes in structure and presentation.
“Catalyst”, meanwhile, will feature an all-new story set in northern India and conceived as the next big milestone in Lara Croft’s journey.
What factors indicate that Legacy of Atlantis took priority?
Amazon Games has not officially stated that “Legacy of Atlantis” has received priority over “Catalyst”.
However, the reimagining is already at a more advanced commercial stage. The game has a defined release date, active pre-sales, special editions announced and a publicity campaign in full swing.
“Catalyst” does not yet have a release date, price, editions or pre-sale announced.
Few specific details about the gameplay have been revealed so far. Most of the information available focuses on the setting, narrative premise, and general aspirations of Crystal Dynamics.
In this scenario, focusing on 2027 on “Legacy of Atlantis” and releasing “Catalyst” only in 2028 seems like a commercially logical strategy. However, this interpretation has not been confirmed by Amazon Games.
The concerns surrounding the Crystal Dynamics situation
The possible change in schedule comes at a delicate time for Crystal Dynamics.
In March 2026, the studio laid off 20 employees from development and operations sectors. This was the fourth wave of layoffs that the company has carried out in about a year, which raises questions about its stability and ability to maintain multiple large projects simultaneously.
At that time, Crystal Dynamics stated that the cuts were part of a restructuring linked to the new phases of its projects and the studio’s long-term goals.
The company also reinforced its full commitment to the two announced Tomb Raider games.
There is no confirmation that the layoffs have caused any delays.
Directly connecting the cuts to “Catalyst’s” potential move to 2028 would be speculation. However, repeated restructuring explains why any change in the calendar generates apprehension among players.
The impact of Perfect Dark’s cancellation on the studio
Crystal Dynamics was also involved in the development of the “Perfect Dark” reboot, a project in collaboration with Microsoft’s The Initiative studio.
The game “Perfect Dark” was canceled during a restructuring of the Xbox division, culminating in the closure of The Initiative.
Subsequently, Crystal Dynamics suffered further cuts, but did not disclose how many professionals previously linked to “Perfect Dark” were reassigned to the Tomb Raider franchise.
Therefore, it is not possible to specify how the cancellation influenced the production of “Catalyst”.
What aspects of Catalyst remain undisclosed?
Even after the announcement made at the end of 2025, several information about the game remains secret.
Crystal Dynamics has not yet detailed:
- The complete architecture of the world.
- How customizable equipment will work.
- The details of the combat system.
- The length of the main campaign.
- The existence of completely open areas.
- Lara Croft’s movement skills.
- The characters who will be allies and rivals.
- The editions that will be made available.
- The official launch value.
- The minimum and recommended requirements for the PC version.
- The possibility of a version for Nintendo Switch 2.
- The month or quarter in which the release will occur.
- Whether the title will actually arrive in 2027 or will be transferred to 2028.
So far, “Catalyst” has been confirmed only on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Unlike “Legacy of Atlantis”, no Nintendo Switch 2 version has been announced for this game.
Amazon Games needs more clarity on the calendar
Jeffrey Gattis’ statement cannot be ignored.
The head of Amazon Games explicitly mentioned 2028 when referring to the next title after “Legacy of Atlantis.” His leadership position in the company responsible for publishing gives significant weight to his speech.
At the same time, Amazon’s subsequent response prevents the information from being treated as a fully official postponement.
The company could have confirmed the year 2028, but chose to state that there was no news about the launch window.
He could have also reaffirmed 2027, but he didn’t.
Tomb Raider: Catalyst will be released until 2028?
The most accurate answer at the moment would be: probably, but without formalization yet.
Jeffrey Gattis suggested that “Catalyst” will be released in 2028. However, Amazon Games states that it does not have an official update on the schedule, while the official Tomb Raider website still indicates 2027.
Therefore, the new window must be considered information with strong evidence, but which still awaits definitive confirmation.
Meanwhile, “Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis” remains scheduled for February 12, 2027. “Catalyst” remains in development for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with the promise of more information as the project gets closer to its debut.
The only certainty is that the next few years will mark a new phase for Lara Croft. Firstly, the character will revisit her original adventure in “Legacy of Atlantis”. Then, she will head to northern India in “Catalyst”, either in 2027 or, as indicated by the head of Amazon Games, only in 2028.
