Amazon adventures for Tomb Raider

Following rumours of a new Tomb Raider video game announcement at this year's E3, Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag) is purportedly in talks to develop a live-action series for Amazon Prime.

The beloved video game franchise was rebooted to critical acclaim in 2013 with Camilla Luddington (Grey's Anatomy) playing Lara Croft. This is the year PlayStation exclusive The Last of Us was also released. The latter has a live-action adaptation currently streaming on HBO Max.

Waller-Bridge’s first archaeological adventure is starring alongside Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny this June.

Are you excited about a Tomb Raider series from Phoebe Waller-Bridge on Amazon Prime? Who would you like to see play the titular character? Let me know in the comments below.

Tomb Raider 4 using Unreal Engine 5

Crystal Dynamics used Tuesday's The State of Unreal Event 2022 to announce Tomb Raider 4 is in development using Epic Games' next-generation game engine.



Game director Will Kerslake explained that the new game will 'unify' classic and reboot timelines:

"[Crystal Dynamics'] origin trilogy back in 2013 told the story of Lara's early days [...] while the classic games featured a seasoned and confident adventurer, travelling the world, unlocking its secrets, often standing alone against cataclysmic forces. We envision the future of Tomb Raider unfolding after these established adventures, telling stories that build upon the breadth of both Core Design and Crystal Dynamics' games, working to unify these timelines."

Camilla Luddington (Grey's Anatomy) provided the voice and motion capture reference for Lara Croft in the rebooted trilogy. Hopefully, she's reprising the role for the upcoming fourth instalment.

Rise of the Tomb Raider was published by Microsoft as a timed exclusive for Xbox when the Redmond-based company bankrolled the first sequel. It’ll be interesting to see if there’s another tie-in as Epic Games emphasised Unreal Engine 5 development on Xbox. However, it’s worth noting Sony, the owner of PlayStation, has a minority stake in Epic Games and Unreal Engine 5 was publicly demoed in 2020 on PlayStation 5 (PS5).



Microsoft has been buying AAA publishers to bolster Xbox Game Pass. Crystal Dynamics could be a good fit for Xbox Game Studios.

Tomb Raider 4 is one of several popular media franchises using Unreal Engine 5. The dominance of one game engine could be anti-competitive. However, the Unreal Engine has proven its scalability, powering franchises from BioShock to Mass Effect and Epic Games' very own Fortnite.

Tomb Raider turns 25

25 years ago, Lara Croft lept onto Sega Saturn on this day in 1996, PlayStation and PC a month later and the fan-favourite video game archaeologist never looked back.

Croft became a pop culture icon overnight in an era of girl power. The success of the original Tomb Raider spawned sequels, comic books, toys, films (starring Angelina Jolie and most recently Alicia Vikander in the titular role) and more.

Whilst there's an upcoming Netflix animated series, starring Hayley Atwell as Lara Croft, there's no new game to mark the silver anniversary.

“We’ve got big ambitions for the future of Tomb Raider,” said Will Kerslake, Tomb Raider franchise game director at Crystal Dynamics. “Our origin trilogy back in 2013 told the story of Lara’s early days when she was forged into a survivor, became a hero and ultimately the Tomb Raider.

“But the classic games featured a seasoned and confident adventurer, travelling the world, unlocking its secrets, often standing alone against cataclysmic forces.

“We envision the future of Tomb Raider unfolding after these established adventures, telling stories that build upon the breadth of both Core Design’s and Crystal Dynamics’ games, working to unify these timelines,” Kerslake said.

“With Tomb Raider’s extensive history, this is not an easy task, and we ask for patience as we go through the development process. We don’t have plans for a major game announcement in the near future.”

To celebrate my first job after graduating from university, I remember queuing outside EB Games to buy Tomb Raider, an original PlayStation and memory cards (remember those?).

What are your Tomb Raider memories? Let me know in the comments below.

Hayley Atwell is Lara Croft on Netflix

I vividly remember watching Captain America: The First Avenger and thinking Hayley Atwell (Agent Carter) should play Lara Croft in a live-action Tomb Raider reboot! Incidentally, The First Avenger is notable for a pre-Doctor Who cameo by Jenna Coleman.

Ultimately, the big screen baton was passed from Angelina Jolie to Alicia Vikander as Atwell continued to reprise her role as fan-favourite Agent Carter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Atwell has now been cast as the titular character for Netflix's animated spin-off series. It will follow the events of Square Enix's Tomb Raider video game trilogy, which starred Camilla Luddington as the archaeological heroine inspired by Indiana Jones.

Tomb Raider celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. However, there's no news on when the animated series will debut on Netflix.

Looking forward to seeing Hayley Atwell as Lara Croft? Let me know in the comments below.

Netflix adapts Tomb Raider for 25th anniversary

Tomb Raider celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

Crystal Dynamics has announced a new video game and Netflix is producing an animated series adaptation both of which follow the story of the rebooted trilogy, which began in 2013.

Camilla Luddington (Grey's Anatomy) provided the voice and motion capture reference for Lara Croft in the rebooted trilogy. Hopefully, she's reprising the role for the upcoming game and Netflix series.

The multimedia action-adventure franchise became synonymous with PlayStation but premiered first on Sega's ill-fated Saturn in October 1996. The success of the original video game spawned sequels, comic books, films (starring Angelina Jolie and most recently Alicia Vikander in the titular role) and more. I still have an extensive collection of merchandise.

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Game director Will Kerslake explained that the new game will 'unify' classic and reboot timelines:

"[Crystal Dynamics'] origin trilogy back in 2013 told the story of Lara's early days [...] while the classic games featured a seasoned and confident adventurer, travelling the world, unlocking its secrets, often standing alone against cataclysmic forces. We envision the future of Tomb Raider unfolding after these established adventures, telling stories that build upon the breadth of both Core Design and Crystal Dynamics' games, working to unify these timelines."

Are you excited for a new Tomb Raider video game and series, and what are your memories of playing as Lara Croft? Let me know in the comments below.

25 years of PlayStation

25 years ago today, the original PlayStation went on sale in the UK. I wouldn't own Sony's upstart console with a copy of Tomb Raider until 1996. However, I first played a friend's Japanese import PlayStation and then commandeered a university housemate's for a daily dose of Destruction Derby, Ridge Racer and WipEout when I should have been writing my third-year dissertation. Because reasons.

I'd taken my 16-bit Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) to university where it played genial host to Super Mario Kart tournaments, with housemates and friends, until the PlayStation was launched in 1995 at the peak of the console wars between Nintendo and Sega. Incidentally, the console wars will be explored in an upcoming documentary on Netflix.

Without the SNES, there would be no PlayStation. Sony's 32-bit console began life as an aborted SNES CD-ROM add-on in 1988. However, Nintendo shunned Sony at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and partnered with Philips in 1991. The rest is gaming history.

PlayStation 5 (PS5) (affiliate link) launches this November, and it's all too easy to overlook the disruptive impact the brand has had on popular culture for almost 3 decades. The PlayStation popularised 3D visuals with landmark titles such as Tomb Raider and Resident Evil. Capcom's survival horror was nightmarish played in broad daylight at a friend's sadly defunct independent video game store.

Tomb Raider, originally released on the ill-fated Sega Saturn, became synonymous with PlayStation in the mid-nineties, and I feverishly followed the franchise for several years, collecting all manner of merchandise in the process. Lara Croft was a female protagonist possessing the chutzpah of Indiana Jones.

In the mid-to-late nineties it was fashionably cool to say you owned a PlayStation during water cooler conversations at work (in my case as an online journalist at Reuters) and the console was featured on newsstands everywhere, from Edge to FHM, nudging Nintendo and Sega off the top spots forever.

What are your favourite PlayStation memories? Let me know in the comments below.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider released this September

Today Square Enix announced the final chapter in the Tomb Raider reboot trilogy to coincide with the live-action reboot starring Alica Vikander as Lara Croft in cinemas.

The 2013 Tomb Raider reboot came out of left field and was a darling of the critics and gamers alike. The first sequel Rise of the Tomb Raider, marred at launch by an Xbox One timed exclusive controversy, built on that robust foundation in 2015 and expectations are high for the climactic instalment.

Camilla Luddington (Grey's Anatomy) provided the voice and motion capture reference for Lara Croft in the first two instalments. Hopefully, she's reprising the role for the third time.

A full reveal of Shadow of the Tomb Raider is scheduled for 27th April. In the meantime here's a teaser trailer.



Shadow of the Tomb Raider will be released on Xbox One, PS4 and PC on 14th September. Pre-order from Amazon.co.uk (affiliate link).

Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in Tomb Raider trailer

Following the first official poster for the Tomb Raider cinematic reboot starring Alicia Vikander, which garnered a mixed reaction earlier this week. Because freaky neck is freaky in Photoshop fail. A trailer has dropped depicting scenes inspired by the video game reboot from 2013. So much so, fans (myself included) of the video game franchise will see nothing new and this is a good thing.



Do you think Vikander is a worthy successor to Angelina Jolie in the role of Lara Croft on the big screen? She sounds like Camilla Luddington who voices the beloved character in the video game series since 2013. Let me know in the comments below.

Tomb Raider opens 16th March 2018.

Jumanji 2 is jungle TRON

A trailer for Jumanji 2: Welcome to the Jungle dropped yesterday and mashed-up Freaky Friday, The Breakfast Club, Pitfall! and Disney's Tron franchise with aplomb.



The first sequel to the original Jumanji stars Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Jack Black (Kung Fu Panda) and Karen Gillan (Guardians of the Galaxy).

The former Doctor Who star looks like she's channelling Lara Croft in the mid 1990s. However, this trope will be explained in the upcoming movie that sees a group of teens sucked into a video game much like Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) in Disney's cult classic Tron from 1982.

I didn't see Jumanji, starring the late Robin Williams, until it was released on DVD and soon became a family favourite.

Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in Tomb Raider

Lara Croft is no stranger to the silver screen. Angelina Jolie played the titular character to mixed reviews in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and its sequel, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, last decade.

Now, Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina) assumes the mantle in a cinematic reboot following the recent critical and commercial success of the original video game franchise, which was in decline until Tomb Raider wiped the slate clean and deftly mixed movie inspirations in 2013. Actress Camilla Luddington breathed new life into the role with a script by acclaimed writer Rhianna Pratchett.

Director Roar Uthaug elaborates on his reboot based on the 2013 game of the same name:

"Being a longtime fan of the game, it’s important to me to honor the Lara Croft legacy and capture that spirit. It’s great to know that there’s such a passionate global fan base for Lara and her world, and our commitment to that will be evident in our movie. What’s different about this “Tomb Raider” movie is that it’s an origin story for the big screen, focusing not only on Lara’s strength and physical accomplishments but her humanity. We see Lara as a young woman, smart and capable but largely unfocused, and follow her on a dangerous journey that will push her to her limits in every sense, and allow her to hone the skills she needs to ultimately become who she was meant to be. As Lara Croft, Alicia Vikander is brilliant. She brings great depth to a complex role that is both physically and emotionally demanding. We hope this film will delight fans around the world and add another intriguing chapter to the Tomb Raider story."

Tomb Raider, originally released on the ill-fated Sega Saturn, became synonymous with PlayStation in the mid 1990s, and I followed the franchise for several years, collecting merchandise in the process. Here was a female archaeologist possessing the chutzpah of Indiana Jones.

Tomb Raider is released in theatres in March 2018.

Looking forward to seeing Vikander as Ms Croft? Let me know in the comments below.

Daisy Ridley confirms talks for Tomb Raider

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter (THR), during the Empire Awards, Daisy Ridley confirmed she's in talks to play Lara Croft in a Tomb Raider franchise reboot on the big screen. The Star Wars: The Force Awakens actress would be following in the footsteps of Angelina Jolie.

Ridley's Star Wars co-star John Boyega, who plays Finn in the sequel trilogy, admitted he'd already eyed Ridley for the role of Lara Croft and he's not alone.

“I played Tomb Raider the game, it’s a new take and I think the movies are going to be based on that version,” he told THR. “But I texted Daisy [and] was like, ‘this is you!’ and ‘you need to get on that because you could be Lara Croft.’ She should be."

Daisy Ridley has already proved her leading role credentials in Star Wars and would be a fitting Lara Croft. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Microsoft to publish Rise of the Tomb Raider

Microsoft has announced it is publishing Rise of the Tomb Raider for Xbox One and Xbox 360 in late 2015.

The Redmond-based company's head of global product marketing Aaron Greenberg revealed the news on Twitter.

"Yes we are publishing Rise of the Tomb Raider," Greenberg wrote in response to a question about publication.

Square Enix expanded upon this.

"Microsoft will be publishing Rise of the Tomb Raider on Xbox," the company said. "Microsoft has always seen huge potential in Tomb Raider and they will get behind this game with more support across development, marketing and retail than ever before, which we believe will be a step in continuing to build the Tomb Raider franchise as one of the biggest in gaming."

This follows last weekend's reveal, during the PlayStation Experience, that Street Fighter V is a PS4 and PC exclusive. A pet hate of mine; third-party exclusives can be divisive amongst fans and fuel bitter rivalries. As an owner of PS4 and Xbox One consoles, I have the luxury of deciding which platform to purchase for, but many gamers don't.

Will you buy an Xbox One to play Rise of the Tomb Raider? Let me know in the comments below.

PlayStation celebrates its 20th anniversary

What began life as an aborted Nintendo SNES CD-ROM add-on celebrates the twentieth anniversary of its launch in Japan this month.

Many happy returns of the day, PlayStation!

Sony's first foray into home consoles, the brainchild of Ken Kutaragi, was released at a time when I'd given up gaming (my undergraduate grant only went so far and I was the proud owner of an Apple Macintosh Performa). My enthusiasm was rekindled within seconds of seeing Ridge Racer's, now iconic, loading screen on a friend's freshly imported PlayStation. Who doesn't savour the visceral joy of blowing up alien spacecraft?



I wouldn't own a PlayStation, myself, until 1996 when I began a love affair with Tomb Raider that endures to this day. I've owned every iteration of PlayStation and the PS4 is, barring multimedia support lagging behind PS3, the best yet.

What's your first memory of PlayStation? Let me know in the comments below.

Rise of the Tomb Raider only on Xbox One

Tomb Raider, a franchise broadly synonymous with PlayStation, will see the first sequel to its successful 2013 reboot only on Xbox One. This exclusive bombshell was announced during Gamescom and ignited fan fury across the internet.

Whether or not Rise of the Tomb Raider is a timed exclusive doesn't matter. Tomb Raider is a multi-platform franchise. Presumably, Microsoft is bankrolling the development of the new game in the hope it'll go toe-to-toe with PS4 exclusive Uncharted 4: A Thief's End during holiday 2015.

In a blog post, Crystal Dynamics chief Darrell Gallagher said the company is trying to make “the most ambitious ‘Tomb Raider’ game ever built” and that “our friends at Microsoft have always seen huge potential in 'Tomb Raider’ and have believed in our vision since our first unveil with them on their stage at E3 2011. We know they will get behind this game more than any support we have had from them in the past — we believe this will be a step to really forging the ‘Tomb Raider’ brand as one of the biggest in gaming, with the help, belief and backing of a major partner like Microsoft.”

Other Tomb Raider games will still be released on the PlayStation and PC, including December’s Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris and Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition will not be disappearing from shelves.

It wouldn't be a stretch to imagine Microsoft adding Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition for Xbox One (updated to run at 1080p/60fps) to Games with Gold in the coming months.

Microsoft also detailed an update for Xbox One, which will bring multimedia feature parity with Xbox 360. A media player with USB device playback and DLNA support soon.

Are you annoyed Lara Croft has switched to Xbox? Let me know in the comments below.