Earlier this year, Microsoft laid off over 9,000 employees across the company, with every wing affected — including Xbox and several developers under its Xbox Game Studios publishing division, leading to the cancelation of several titles that were a work-in-progress.

Impacted games included Rare's new IP Everwild as well as The Elder Scrolls Online-maker ZeniMax Online's new MMO, and tragically, the Perfect Dark reboot as well. Microsoft also shut down the studio it formed in 2018 to make Perfect Dark, The Initiative, at the same time.

The revival of Rare's dormant stealthy sci-fi FPS series was announced in 2020, and had just gotten a gameplay reveal trailer at the Xbox Games Showcase 2024 months before the axe came down. Thus, while it was understood the game went through development struggles, its cancelation nevertheless came as a complete shock to most — and not just to players, either.

In a new interview with TheGamer, Alix Wilton-Regan — the actress that would have starred as protagonist Joanna Dark, also known for roles in Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and Cyberpunk 2077 — revealed that the news of the layoffs, cancelation, and closure of The Initiative came out of nowhere, and that she found out "at the same time as everybody else."

"I was as shocked, surprised, and devastated as everyone else was when the funding was pulled, and the studio was closed," she said. "I did not see it coming. I was absolutely blindsided when the project was defunded."

"It was devastating. So many people lost their jobs. An entire workforce was disbanded. There was an ecosystem of creativity and collaboration that was in place that we lost overnight," she continued. "It was really difficult, really difficult for everybody."

Wilton-Regan explained she'd recorded "bits and bobs throughout '23," and that The Initiative was also "doing lots of performance capture for it in '24," giving her the impression that the project had progressed a lot.

She'd "done entire chapters of this universe" and noted that the team "had delivered several milestones that the client was really happy with," but she ultimately didn't know how far Perfect Dark had come. Evidently, Microsoft didn't consider further development to be viable after seeing where it was at.

There was hope when Take-Two tried to save Perfect Dark from Microsoft's cancelation, but after that rescue attempt fell through due to disagreements about ownership of the IP, Wilton-Regan felt crushed.

"That was the day I was really sad because that was the day I lost hope," she said. "I couldn't say too much about it ... But certainly, everyone was working really hard behind the scenes to bring Perfect Dark back. And then one day, I heard from the creative director that the deal hadn't gone through, and that really everything had fallen apart, and production was fully stopping."

"I've never experienced in my career before what I experienced with Perfect Dark. And I guess now that I know that it can happen, you become really frightened that the same thing could happen again," she added.

Notably, Wilton-Regan is playing Lara Croft in the newly announced Tomb Raider: Catalyst. But while that role has helped keep her spirits afloat, she has a fear of that opportunity collapsing as well (Tomb Raider dev Crystal Dynamics has experienced three layoff waves this year).

"The saving grace for me when Perfect Dark fell apart was that I'd already been shooting Lara for about a year as well," she told TheGamer. "I was playing Joanna over here, and I was playing Lara over here, which was wonderful and genuinely one of the most creatively exciting times of my life. And I just felt so relieved that I still had Lara, but I also felt really frightened about losing Lara. I'm still frightened of losing Lara."

I wish nothing but the best for Alix Wilton-Regan and everyone else who worked on the canceled Perfect Dark reboot, and was affected by The Initiative's closure. Note that recently, two of its lead devs joined Take-Two to make a new 2K studio.

If you love the adventures of Lara Croft, boy howdy, you're in luck. Developer Crystal Dynamics made an appearance during the Game Awards 2025, revealing not just one but two Tomb Raider games.

The first title, Tomb Raider: Catalyst, is Lara Croft's next big game. Slated to launch in 2027, the teaser trailer references Lara's struggles across the reboot trilogy, while showing her gearing up and fighting across more ancient ruins and lost civilizations.

Developed using Unreal Engine 5, the press release touts that Tomb Raider: Catalyst is the series' "largest world yet," bringing more puzzles and mysteries for the intrepid explorer to solve.

You can check out the teaser trailer for Tomb Raider: Catalyst below:

Before that game arrives though, players will have the opportunity to revisit one of Lara's first outings...well, kinda. Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is a reimagining of the original Tomb Raider from 1996.

Also developed with Unreal Engine 5 and with support from Flying Wild Hog, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is slated to launch in 2026.

Both games are being published by Amazon Game Studios, a deal that was struck all the way back in 2022, and both games will be launching across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (Steam), and PlayStation 5.

It's been a minute since a new Tomb Raider game launched, with Eidos Montreal launching Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018 as the conclusion to the trilogy that began in 2013.

Since then, Eidos Montreal and its sister studio Crystal Dynamics have changed hands, leaving Square Enix and being sold to Embracer Group. Unfortunately, in keeping with much of the rest of the gaming industry, Crystal Dynamics has also had multiple rounds of layoffs through 2022.

Waves of layoffs in the gaming industry continue to hit developers and publishers around the world, with Crystal Dynamics — the studio best known for its work as the steward of the legendary action-adventure franchise Tomb Raider — being the latest team to be affected.

The developer announced the news on Wednesday afternoon on LinkedIn, confirming that "a number of our talented colleagues" were let go from the company in response to "evolving business conditions."

"Today we made the very difficult decision to part ways with a number of our talented colleagues as the result of evolving business conditions," reads the studio's post. "This decision was not made lightly. It was necessary, however, to ensure the long-term health of our studio and core creative priorities in a continually shifting market."

Notably, Crystal Dynamics has vowed to do everything it can to help affected employees in the wake of these layoffs, though it hasn't publicly mentioned any specific types of aid or compensation.

"To those impacted — we recognize and thank you for your hard work, talent, and passion. We are committed to offering the full extent of support and resources at our disposal during this transition," it said.

The studio concluded its statement with appreciation for the support offered by its teams, business partners, and players, also noting that the Tomb Raider franchise is supposedly "unaffected" by the cuts.

"To our teams, players, and partners, thank you for your continued support as we build a creative, sustainable, and resilient tomorrow together. This includes the future of Tomb Raider, which remains unaffected by this decision," reads the end of the notice.

At present, it's unclear how many Crystal Dynamics workers have been affected by this latest wave of layoffs, or which specific divisions of the studio, if any, have been affected more than others.

It's the second round of layoffs that the developer has gone through this year, with 17 workers also cut from the company in late March. Then, like now, it commented that the discharges were "necessary," and came due to a need to "better align our current business needs and the studio's future success."

It's important to highlight that Crystal Dynamics is owned by Embracer Group, a massive Swedish video game holding firm infamous for the large number of layoffs and studio closures that have occurred under its wing.

Much of the company's troubles in recent years have been attributed to the collapse of a critical $2 billion deal in 2022 that the firm was banking on, leading to share prices dropping by 40% in the aftermath.

The developer is currently working on an untitled Tomb Raider game published by Amazon Games. It was also collaborating with Xbox studio The Initiative on the Perfect Dark reboot, though the partnership ended when Microsoft shuttered The Initiative and the Perfect Dark project in July.

When will the bleeding stop?

These new cuts at Crystal Dynamics are yet another instance of the layoffs that have swept through the gaming industry throughout the last several years, with roughly 40,000 developers in total affected.

From Microsoft and Xbox, to Metal Gear Solid Delta's Virtuos Games, to Little Nightmares' Supermassive Games, to Destiny 2's Bungie, to Marvel Rivals' NetEase Games, these cuts have absolutely ravaged the industry, leaving thousands of hard-working developers out of work.

The layoffs themselves have been largely attributed to overinvestment in gaming during the pandemic, with inflated interest in the industry lowering once stay-at-home mandates were lifted and daily life returned to normalcy. Wider global economic shifts are also a factor, as are rising game development costs.

Though there's hope for a recovery in the near future, it's always harrowing to be met with the news of layoffs like these again and again, and frustrating to have to write this type of headline again and again, as well. For the sake of the people behind the creation of the games we love, I can only sincerely hope that the industry levels out as soon as it can.

My heart, and the heart of everyone here at Windows Central, goes out to any and all developers affected by these layoffs and any others.

Tomb Raider is a franchise that has spanned decades, beginning on PlayStation and later finding a strong home on Xbox with the 2013 reboot. It remains a series many players hold dear, remembered not only for its adventurous gameplay but also for its memorable soundtracks.

Among those who shaped its music is Peter Connelly, a composer whose work defined much of the classic era. Recently, however, Connelly has found himself in serious trouble.

Who is Peter Connelly?

If you are familiar with the Tomb Raider franchise, Peter Connelly is a name you might recognize.

He is best known for his work on Tomb Raider III, The Last Revelation, Chronicles, and The Angel of Darkness, where his music helped define the atmosphere of the series during its classic era.

Although Connelly did not compose for later Tomb Raider titles, his influence on the franchise’s soundtracks has been lasting. Tracks such as Jeep Thrills from The Last Revelation remain fan favorites, often praised for how they capture the adventurous tone of the game.

Beyond Tomb Raider, Connelly’s career has spanned several well-known franchises. He contributed to South Park: The Fractured but Whole, Watch Dogs, and Dead Island 2, bringing his experience to a wide variety of games.

Most recently, Connelly returned to Tomb Raider by contributing additional music and sound effects for the Tomb Raider I-II-III Remastered collection.

These remasters revisit the games he originally worked on, giving both long-time fans and new players a chance to experience the games on modern hardware.

Tomb Raider’s Journey on Xbox

It wasn’t until 2006 that Tomb Raider: Legend arrived on Xbox 360, marking Xbox’s first time with Lara Croft and introducing the character to a whole new generation of players.

For me, it was my first real introduction to the franchise outside of watching my older brother play the original games on PlayStation.

From that point on, Tomb Raider has enjoyed steady support on Xbox hardware. The full franchise reboot in 2013 launched first on Xbox One and Xbox 360, remaining exclusive to those platforms for its first year.

At the time, many saw this as a controversial move, yet similar timed exclusivity deals are now commonplace across the industry, particularly on PlayStation.

The sequel, Rise of the Tomb Raider, followed in 2015 with another year-long exclusive window on Xbox before expanding to other platforms.

The trilogy then concluded with Shadow of The Tomb Raider in 2018, which released simultaneously across Xbox and PlayStation, giving players on both consoles a chance to experience the finale.

What Happened

In 2020, Connelly secured a legitimate loan of £22,000 (around $29,000) to support his music and sound production company, Peter Connelly Ltd, which specialized in sound recording, composition, and audio design services.

The loan was part of the UK Government’s Bounce Back Loan initiative, introduced to provide fast financial support to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, just a month later, Connelly submitted another application, this time inflating his company’s turnover to secure a second loan of £37,600 (roughly $50,000).

Under the rules of the initiative, each business was only permitted a single Bounce Back Loan. Despite receiving both loans, his company went into liquidation in 2021, and neither loan was ever repaid.

The Investigation and Verdict

The Insolvency Service, a UK government agency that investigates and takes action against companies or individuals involved in misconduct, fraud, or breaches of insolvency law, began looking into Connelly after his company collapsed.

Their investigation uncovered inflated turnover figures and a second Bounce Back Loan that should never have been taken out.

Connelly told investigators he had planned to use the funds to support projects re-imagining Tomb Raider music, but admitted that those plans stalled when he ran out of funds.

On July 17, 2025, Durham County Court sentenced Connelly to 16 months in prison and disqualified him from serving as a company director for six years.

I absolutely love Tomb Raider as a franchise. I’ve played all the games, including the newer Legend and Reboot trilogies, and I love them all in their own special ways. But the classic games will always hold a special place in my heart, which is why I was beyond excited when I heard that Tomb Raider Remastered was happening.

Tomb Raider 3 was the first Tomb Raider game I ever played, and it quite literally transformed my world. It was the first video game I got for my PlayStation 1, and I quickly fell in love with everything from the level design, atmosphere, and character. As I kid, I remember it looking so realistic, and I was certain video game graphics had peaked at that moment.

Cut to 2024, and me loading up Tomb Raider I-III Remastered on my Xbox Series X. My first stop is Lara’s Home in Tomb Raider 1, as it acts as an excellent tutorial level for those who may not remember the controls. The game took only a few seconds to load, and once I was in the first thing I did was attempt to switch to the modern graphics.

Imagine my surprise when I hit the graphics switch button only to realize that the new graphics were already on, and I had just switched over to the classic graphics from 1996. Now, this isn’t a jab at the new graphics at all. The new graphics are literally perfect. They capture the atmosphere and essence of the classics so well that they match what I remember the “realistic” graphics looking like as a kid.

(Side note: I do love how the classic graphics also drop the framerate to what appears to be a locked 30fps, which really adds to that nostalgic feeling of playing a PlayStation 1 game. The modern graphics run at an unlocked frame rate.)

Some of the environmental work done to the main game levels are incredible; everything from realistic foliage to small details like light sources have been considered in the remaster. As an example, there’s now snowfall in the first level of the first game that gently falls from the sky where there are gaps in the caves.

The gameplay is pretty much untouched, which is something I know a lot of die-hard Tomb Raider classic fans are going to thoroughly enjoy. That said, there are some minor quality of life improvements across the three games that I think all players will appreciate. For example, Lara’s jumping in Tomb Raider 1 is now much more responsive, with the ability to twist mid-air, akin to the behavior introduced in Tomb Raider 2 and 3.

There’s also now an icon that appears when you’re near an actionable item like a switch or lever, and pickups are now rendered in 3D instead of 2D sprites. The biggest addition to the game is an optional new control scheme which attempts to mimic how Lara moves in the more modern games.

This is notable, as the original Tomb Raider games are famous for their clunky and unresponsive controls. Using the classic controls, Lara feels like an absolute tank to manoeuvre, which some may prefer. Essentially, the modern controls offer responsive movement and a simplified control scheme, but at the cost of precision. The tank controls are much more precise, but much harder to master.

I certainly prefer the classic controls, as I feel the level design lends itself better to it. You’ll quite often find yourself platforming or moving through a level that requires jumping and grabbing onto ledges in specific areas, and the modern controls just make it a little harder to be precise in these scenarios. I suppose that’s why you have the choice to switch between modern and classic controls at any point during gameplay, which is always great to see.

Lastly, there's also a new camera mode that lets you change Lara's outfit, make her pose in funny and cool stances, and fly around the entire level. This is a really nice addition, and I find it can even help with figuring out puzzles as it lets you look around in areas you may not know how to get to just yet. Is this cheating? Maybe, but who cares.

Almost perfect

The remaster has pretty much nailed the visuals and gameplay, but there are a couple of additional areas that I think have been sorely missed, primarily the pre-rendered cutscenes and in-game sounds. The pre-rendered cutscenes are ripped straight out of the 90s, upscaled (likely using AI,) and that’s about it.

It’s quite jarring going from the remastered in-game cutscenes to the pre-rendered ones, which now bear little resemblance to the remaster itself. It’s not the end of the world, but those cutscenes really are old 90s CGI, and a real throwback once your brain has gotten used to the newer graphics.

Regarding the in-game sounds, I do wish they had put some time into remastering a lot of the ambient sounds and effects. I just wish things like footsteps and guns sounded a little more modern, as currently they feel like they were ripped straight from the 90s with no further edits.

I’m sure this was a deliberate choice by the developers to remain as close to the classics as possible. I certainly appreciate that, but I just wish there was an option for remastered sounds, similar to what Microsoft did with the Halo CE and Halo 2 remasters.

Overall, I think the Tomb Raider Remastered is the closest we’ve ever gotten to a modern-day return of the classic Lara Croft. I didn’t realize how much I missed this version of Lara until playing through these games, and now I hope the upcoming new Tomb Raider game restores this iconic version of the character. For fans of the classics, Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is a sure addition to the best Xbox games and greatest PC games.

I still consider the original run of Tomb Raider games incomplete, because Angel of Darkness (which I will defend forever) never finished its story arc. I know it was probably finished in a book somewhere, but that doesn’t count. Let me have a Tomb Raider 4-6 Remaster too, and then an all-new Tomb Raider 7, please!

What you need to know

• Aspyr and Crystal Dynamics have announced that Tomb Raider 1, 2 and 3 has been fully remastered under a new title: Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft.
• The first 3 Tomb Raider Titles as well as their expansions will feature upgraded graphics, performance enhancements, and secret levels.
• Tomb Raider I-III Remastered will be available on Feb. 14 for Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC (Steam & GOG).
• You can preorder the game now.

Few games franchises have had the opportunity to leave a mark on the history of gaming the way that Tomb Raider has. There's been no shortage of fans of the series calling for an official remaster, and according to an announcement from Aspyr and Crystal Dynamics today, those prayers have finally been answered. The upcoming Tomb Raider remaster, officially titled Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft, will be released on Feb. 14, 2024 for PC and consoles.

The brand-new Tomb Raider remaster, developed and published by Aspyr, will offer players the choice to experience the game, whether that is with classic visuals vs enhanced graphics or modern controls vs original joystick schemes. Both settings will be a toggle that can be changed by the player on the fly.  The remaster will include other quality of life updates, including improvements to camera lock-on and achievement support. Players can also look forward to all-new secret levels that have never been available on consoles.

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft will feature the remastered original trilogy, plus expansions. Tomb Raider I plus the "Unfinished Business" expansion will have players take on the role of Lara Croft in the 1996 adventure that kicked off the series. Run, jump, swim, and climb your way through tombs to recover an ancient artifact known as the Scion.  Tomb Raider II with the "Gold Mask" expansion then takes players and Lara on a mission to track down the Dagger of Xian. Tomb Raider III will include the "Lost Artifact" expansion, which ramps up the puzzle challenges and includes 6 new levels.

Players on console can preorder Tomb Raider I-III Remastered starting today with a 10% discount, though some platform restrictions will apply. PC players who already own Tomb Raider I, II, or III on Steam or the Tomb Raider Trilogy on GOG can preorder now with a 20% loyalty discount. On Xbox, the remastered trilogy will be a Play Anywhere title which can be accessed via Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S consoles and Windows PCs via the Microsoft Store.

What you need to know

• This week Embracer Group presented its quarterly earnings report for Q4, which includes January-March 2023.
• A critical partnership valued at $2 billion fell through late Tuesday night.
• Due to the fallout from the forfeited deal, Embracer Group has significantly cut its earnings forecast.

In recent years, Swedish company Embracer Group aggressively acquired an impressive arsenal of valuable IPs, including Lord of the Rings and Tomb Raider. While these investments previously demonstrated the company's trust in the trajectory of the video games industry, their latest quarterly earnings report has shaken investors' confidence.  

Embracer Group revealed it participated in negotiations for seven months with a noteworthy partner who was initially willing to invest $2 billion over the course of six years. According to the company, a verbal commitment was even established in October 2022. However, the evening before the earnings report, Embracer Group was informed that this strategic partnership "will not materialize." 

Because of these adverse financial developments, Embracer has lowered its adjusted earnings to $655-843 million, down from the original $964 million to $1.27 billion. CEO Lars Wingefors immediately set the unenthusiastic tone of the presentation by stating, "Today is a humbling morning." He went on to address the current climate of the industry and the various factors impacting Embracer Group.

"It has been a challenging year, adversely impacted by game delays, weaker consumer demand, and lackluster reception for certain notable releases," which include titles like Saints Row 2022. Embracer Group certainly isn't the only major player affected by economic uncertainty, as we've continued to see layoffs from Ubisoft, Xbox, EA, and other gargantuan publishers in gaming. Unfortunately, the disappointment from investors manifested in a 40% drop in the share price for Embracer Group.

What you need to know

• Earlier in 2022, Square Enix sold its western studios and much of the IP, including Crystal Dynamics and Tomb Raider, to Embracer Group.
• Crystal Dynamics previously revealed that it was working on a new Tomb Raider game using Unreal Engine 5. 
• The new Tomb Raider game will be published by Amazon Games. 

It may be a while before Lara Croft's next adventure is playable, but we now know that it will have a new publisher. 

Developer Crystal Dynamics shared on Thursday that the next Tomb Raider game is being published by Amazon Games. The game, which was previously confirmed to be in development using Unreal Engine 5, is a multiplatform single-player experience. This yet-unnamed title is still early in development and does not have a release window.

This comes after Crystal Dynamics and other western Square Enix Studios were purchased by the growing conglomerate Embracer Group earlier in the year, with IP such as Tomb Raider and Deus Ex included in the sale. 

“Crystal Dynamics has an extraordinary opportunity following our acquisition by Embracer to redefine what a publishing relationship is for Tomb Raider,” said Scot Amos, head of studio at Crystal Dynamics. “Transformative is what we’re looking for, and with Amazon Games, we found a team that shares our creative vision, ambitions, and values for a Lara Croft universe across the spectrum of possibilities. 

"They’re uniquely positioned to rewrite what publishing and development collaborations are, and we’re eager to forge this new path together, starting with building the biggest and best Tomb Raider game yet!”

Amazon Games is branching out as a publisher, having published Lost Ark in 2021, while recently being announced as the publisher for Bandai Namco's upcoming Blue Protocol. In addition to working on a new Tomb Raider game, Crystal Dynamics is continuing to aid The Initiative and Xbox Game Studios on the upcoming spy shooter Perfect Dark.

Windows Central's take

Amazon Games is pivoting to quickly position itself as a third-party publisher, which makes sense. It is curious that Embracer Group wouldn't want a big IP like Tomb Raider published through one of its internal labels, though perhaps the support being offered by Amazon was too good to pass up. 

The film rights for the Tomb Raider franchise are currently in a bidding war, but if Amazon can get ahold of them, it would make sense to push for media synergy across games and Prime Video. 

Update May 2, 2022: The Initiative confirmed that Crystal Dynamics will continue their work on Perfect Dark after the acquisition.

Original article:

Recently, Microsoft entered into an agreement with Square Enix to have Crystal Dynamics work with The Initiative to build the upcoming sci-fi FPS Perfect Dark for Xbox, leading to expectations that someday, Microsoft may end up acquiring Crystal Dynamics outright. It seems that another company has beat them to the punch.

Embracer Group has been on an acquisition spree in recent years, buying up masses of core studios from across the spectrum, and today, the company has acquired a whole load more from Square Enix.

Embracer has officially snapped up Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal, and Square Enix Montreal, and a range of familiar western IP including Deus Ex, Tomb Raider, Thief, Legacy of Kain, and "50" back catalogue titles from the Japanese publisher. Embracer's headcount will swell by more than 1100 employees as a result of the deal, which amounts to $300 million USD in cash to be paid once the deal fully closes. Embracer expects the deal to be finalized by September 2022.

The news comes as no surprise, as the industry seeks further consolidation in an inflationary market, with major tech companies vying for the future of gaming and virtual worlds in general. Square Enix has long neglected its western teams, arguably, repeatedly casting doubt over franchises like Tomb Raider, and canceling others like Deus Ex and Thief outright.

The fact Embracer name-checked these franchises along with Legacy of Kain is unmistakably a positive sign for fans of those games, but it remains to be seen what, if anything, comes of the deal for consumers. At the very least, it imparts some hope to getting new games under those classic franchises, but it'll come at a loss for Microsoft and Xbox, who most likely sought to acquire at least Crystal Dynamics themselves to help bolster The Initiative.

Microsoft is working to acquire a much bigger fish in the form of Activision-Blizzard right now, which will give them a mass of PC and mobile titles for its push beyond Xbox consoles.

Lara Croft is coming back in a new adventure, but some things may be different this time.

The next Tomb Raider game is currently in development. While there's little we know right now, the developers have shared a few bits of information that'll help us glean clues moving forward. Lara Croft is one of the biggest icons in gaming, so it's fair to say hopes and dreams are high with the knowledge a new entry in the Tomb Raider series is on the way. Here's everything you need to know about the next Tomb Raider game.

What is the next Tomb Raider game?

Square Enix-owned Crystal Dynamics officially revealed that development on a new Tomb Raider game was taking place at the State of Unreal April 2022 event. To close the event, the developers also shared that the next Tomb Raider would use Unreal Engine 5. This is a shift from prior games in the franchise, which used the proprietary Crystal and Foundation engines.

"Crystal Dynamics is proud to be a part of the launch of Unreal Engine 5. This new engine translates into next-level storytelling and gameplay experiences, and that's why we are thrilled to announce today that we have just started development of our next Tomb Raider game, powered by Unreal Engine 5," said Dallas Dickinson, general manager of the Tomb Raider franchise at Crystal Dynamics. "Our goal is to push the envelope of fidelity and to deliver the high-quality cinematic action-adventure experience that fans deserve from both Crystal Dynamics and the Tomb Raider franchise."

The Tomb Raider franchise has a long history, beginning with the launch of Tomb Raider in 1996, which was developed by Core Design and published by Eidos Interactive. Core Design would continue to develop games in the franchise until the 2006 title Tomb Raider: Legend, which was led by Crystal Dynamics after the failure of Core Design's prior game, Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness.

In 2013, Crystal Dynamics released Tomb Raider, the first in a series designed to reboot the franchise. A greater emphasis was placed on realism and survival gameplay, as well not sexualizing Lara Craft to the extent seen in prior games. A critical and commercial hit, this 2013 Tomb Raider has sold over 14 million copies, the highest sales of the entire franchise so far. It's also commonly seen as being seen as one of the best Xbox games of that year.

Crystal Dynamics followed this game up with a sequel in 2015, Rise of the Tomb Raider. The reins were then handed to Eidos Montreal for Shadow of the Tomb Raider, closing out the reboot storyline. While it was still commercially successful, Shadow saw criticism of its story and more mixed critical reviews than the prior two games.

Will the next Tomb Raider follow the current story?

Right now, we don't know what the story of the next Tomb Raider game will be or if it will even be set in the same timeline as the reboot games. The story of Lara Croft has been reset before, so it's not impossible that Crystal Dynamics could decide to wipe the slate clean yet again.

With that said, it's also possible that the next game will follow the current storyline. We could even see the story skip ahead a few years, as a more experienced Lara Croft is taking on more and more jobs.

Back in January 2021 during a celebration of the franchise, Crystal Dynamics noted that the team saw a future where Lara's past and present would be brought together, where the different timelines of games could be fused into one. It's currently unclear if this is still the plan and if it is, how the studio will go about organizing this endeavor.

Rhianna Pratchett, lead writer for Tomb Raider and Rise of the Tomb Raider, told Eurogamer that while she's not involved with this new game, she'd like to see fewer "father issues" with Lara. "And that's coming from me!" she added.

"I like seeing her striking out on her own and really taking some joy in what she does. Because when we wrote the reboot game, she was really on her way to becoming a tomb raider. So she was like proto-Tomb Raider. And all the the traits that you associate with Tomb Raider like tenaciousness, bravery, resourcefulness, were kind of bubbling to the surface with her," Pratchett added. "I want to see that full fruition, I want to see the sassy one liners and things that I would have loved to have written. But, you know, she wasn't at that stage yet, she didn't have the confidence yet.

Is the next Tomb Raider coming to Xbox Series X|S and PS5?

Given how late into the lifecycle of the newest consoles this game will be releasing, it is overwhelmingly likely that it'll only be available on current-generation platforms. This will allow the game to take advantage of higher-end features in Unreal Engine 5. While platforms haven't been officially announced, it'll likely be available on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, and PS5.

When is the next Tomb Raider game's release date?

The next Tomb Raider game doesn't have a specific release date or release window. Crystal Dynamics noted that development using Unreal Engine 5 had "just started," indicating that the game won't be done for at least a few years. Given the general uncertainty of AAA game development at the best of times, as well as the fact that the world is still struggling in places with remote development, it could conceivably be 2025 or later before we see this game arrive.

Notably, Crystal Dynamics is also currently supporting Perfect Dark development, partnering with Xbox studio The Initiative in order to complete the reboot of another video game heroine. Crystal Dynamics has also expanded in recent years, establishing support studios Crystal Northwest in Seattle and Crystal Southwest in Texas, adding to the roster of support and number of projects the studio can take on.

What you need to know

• Epic Games held a State of Unreal stream to talk about Unreal Engine 5.
• Epic Game shared that Unreal Engine 5 is now available for all developers, not just select partners in early access.
• Crystal Dynamics closed out the stream by announcing that the next Tomb Raider game is in development using Unreal Engine 5.

Accompanying the news that Unreal Engine 5 is now available for all developers, Epic Games closed a State of Unreal stream by having Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics make a special announcement.

The next Tomb Raider game is in development with Unreal Engine 5, Crystal Dynamics has confirmed. This follows a recent industry trend of games being announced fairly early on in order to recruit for the project's development cycle. You can watch the full State of Unreal developer showcase below:

Epic Games recently announced a partnership with CD Projekt RED, confirming that the next Witcher game will also be using Unreal Engine 5, eschewing CD Projekt RED's proprietary REDEngine technology.

The last Tomb Raider game released was Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018, with development led by Crystal Dynamics western sister studio, Eidos Montreal. Crystal Dynamics led the development of the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot, as well as the 2015 Rise of the Tomb Raider.

In 2020, Crystal Dynamics released Marvel's Avengers to mixed commercial and critical success. The team is also currently aiding Xbox studio The Initiative in the development of a Perfect Dark reboot, which will also use Unreal Engine.

Multiple other Xbox teams are using Unreal Engine 5 as well, including State of Decay developer Undead Labs, Gears dev The Coalition and San Francisco-based Double Fine Productions. Some PlayStation Studios teams are also using Unreal Engine 5, including Sony's recently-acquired Haven Studios.

You can watch The Coalition's full Unreal Engine 5 demo below, though note that it is a technical test and not indicative of a game in development:

Today, Larry Hryb, Director of Programming for Xbox Live, announced that Xbox 360 games Tomb Raider: Anniversary and Tomb Raider: Legend are now backward compatible on Xbox One. The three games aren't the heavy-hitters fans were hoping for, but they're still a lot of fun. The two games are on sale for just $1.99 on the Xbox 360 Marketplace right now!

Backward compatibility opens Xbox One to a huge variety of games, spanning three generations of Microsoft's consoles. Despite hardware differences, it remains an outstanding feature, allowing a select library of older games to be played on Xbox One. While the majority of them are Xbox 360 titles, there are also some original Xbox games in there.

Tomb Raider: Anniversary

Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a reimagined adventure inspired by the original Tomb Raider game. The title is considered to be one of the greatest adventure games of all time. This version features higher resolution visuals, real-time lighting and shadows, and better character movement.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Tomb Raider: Legend

Tomb Raider: Legend is another adventure for Lara Croft. Players will discover ancient realms that hold clues to her past. Among the most significant additions to this game were the grappling hook and variety of locations like jungles and snow-covered mountains.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Be sure to check out these games on Xbox One if you're looking for a break between new experiences like The Crew 2. Even to this day Tomb Raider: Anniversary and Tomb Raider: Legend remain quite enjoyable.

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Lara Croft is set to make her return in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and at its E3 2018 presentation, Microsoft offered a new peek at what she'll be up to when the game launches on September 14.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider takes place in a South American setting, with Lara once again taking on both the elements and a potential apocalypse. The trailer shows off elements we've come to expect from the Tomb Raider franchise, including solving puzzles and taking stealthily taking out enemies. Oh, and there's a palpable air of impending doom.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is the third entry in the rebooted series since Crystal Dynamics released Tomb Raider and Rise of the Tomb Raider. The game is expected to release on September 14 and is available for preorder now for $59.99.

• See at Amazon
• $19.75 at Walmart

Microsoft is currently running a promotion through its Store through which you can snag two weeks of Xbox Game Pass for free if you buy the latest Tomb Raider movie. That won't appeal to everyone, sure; but if you've been considering picking up the cinematic reboot anyway, it's a solid deal.

Tomb Raider (2018) stars Alicia Vikander as the titular Tomb Raider herself, Lara Croft. The film reboot sheds away the canon set by the Angelina Jolie movies of yore, offering a story that closely hews to the Tomb Raider video game reboot that Crystal Dynamics kicked off in 2013.

Seeking to find her father after his disappearance years before, Lara sets off to a remote island off the coast of Japan to try to find him. What follows is a violent run-in with mercenaries, a group of cultists, and the spirit of the mythical Sun Queen, Himiko.

According to Microsoft's terms for the offer, the free two weeks of XBox Game Pass will be available through June 4 with any purchase. Sadly, rentals aren't eligible for the offer. After you buy the movie, you'll receive a redeemable code through the Xbox Live Messaging Center once the promotion is over.

If you want to give Xbox Game Pass a shot without picking up Tomb Raider (2018), the service offers up access to more than 100 games, including Sea of Thieves and State of Decay 2 for $9.99 per month. Otherwise, Tomb Raider is available to pick up at the Microsoft Store for $18.99.

Thanks to Mohammad for the tip!

• See at Microsoft Store
• See Xbox Game Pass at Microsoft

Darrell Gallagher, the former head of Crystal Dynamics and senior vice president at Activision, is joining Microsoft Studios in a new executive leadership role. Gallagher worked at Crystal Dynamics for almost a decade before leaving. His tenure at Activision only lasted a few years. The news was announced on Twitter by Matt Booty, the recently-appointed head of Microsoft Studios.

Gallagher is a veteran of the gaming industry and has worked at various levels of game development. He's best known for his involvement with the successful Tomb Raider reboot which gave the franchise a more mature and survival-focused tone. It's unclear what his new position at Microsoft Studios is but both Booty and Gallagher teased exciting news for E3 2018. This could be the beginnings of Microsoft investing more in quality first-party games.

Ever since the new broke, numerous gamers have been speculating about what this could mean. Hopefully Microsoft will announce a new adventure game instead of simply stating who the company hired at E3. However, only time will tell.

Over the past few years, Microsoft hasn't released quality first-party games and even titles like Sea of Thieves were lacking content. On the other hand, Nintendo and Sony have published critical-accliamed games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and God of War. Microsoft has a long road ahead if it wants to match that level of quality, but hiring seasoned developers is a step in the right direction.

• See Rise of the Tomb Raider at Amazon
• See Rise of the Tomb Raider at Microsoft Store
• See Rise of the Tomb Raider at Green Man Gaming

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

The adventures of Lara Croft are set to continue this September with the next entry in the Tomb Raider franchise. Following a leak earlier this week, Square Enix has now confirmed that Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the third game in rebooted series that began with 2013's Tomb Raider.

Outside of a teaser trailer featuring some short clips of Lara running and climbing through what looks to be a South American setting, Square Enix didn't provide any details on what to expect. However, the publisher does promise that the game will see a full reveal on April 27. In the meantime, check out the teaser trailer below:

We've known a new Tomb Raider was in the works for some time, and Square Enix even teased an announcement was coming in December. The last game in the series, Rise of the Tomb Raider, was released in November 2015.

According to Square Enix, Shadow of the Tomb Raider will be available for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Given that Rise of the Tomb Raider was among the first games to get enhanced for Xbox One X, it's reasonable to assume Shadow of the Tomb Raider will feature graphical boosts on Microsoft's latest console as well.

We'll learn more about Shadow of the Tomb Raider on April 27. In the meantime, both previous entries in the series are available to pick up on Xbox One and are also part of Xbox Game Pass.

Preorder at Amazon

Rise of the Tomb Raider should be joining Xbox Game Pass in March 2018. Today, Larry Hryb, Xbox Live's Director of Programming, announced that March's Xbox Game Pass additions would be revealed next week. However, he teased one of the games early. Hryb's Twitter post identifies the first title as Square Enix's Rise of the Tomb Raider.

Usually new Xbox Game Pass titles are available for download at the beginning of each month and Rise of the Tomb Raider shouldn't be any different. Membership costs $9.99 each month so be sure to check it out if you want a Netflix-style subscription for games on Xbox One.

Rise of the Tomb Raider is the sequel to 2013's Tomb Raider reboot. It follows Lara Croft as she tries to uncover the secret to immortality. However, her pursuit pits her against a shadowy organization obsessed with the supernatural. The Tomb Raider franchise couldn't compete with the likes of Uncharted before Square Enix decided to start from scratch with a darker theme. Hopefully the staples of great third-person gameplay and storytelling will continue with future installments.

In our review of Rise of the Tomb Raider, we said that "the game is well-written and doesn't issue many blunders this time around. Additionally, the motion capture makes an already great story even better. As for the gameplay, it received some well-deserved additions as well as some revamps that everyone will find pleasing." Be sure to play the game if you're an Xbox Game Pass subscriber and haven't done so already.

• See Xbox Game Pass at Microsoft Store
• See Xbox Game Pass at Amazon

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

It's been just over two years since the last Tomb Raider game, Rise of the Tomb Raider, hit Xbox One, and now the story of Lara Croft is about to continue. Publisher Square Enix took to Twitter to announce that a new Tomb Raider game is in the works.

Says Square Enix:

That's bound to be pretty exciting news for Tomb Raider fans who are excited to pick back up where Rise of the Tomb Raider left off.

Tomb Raider, along its protagonist Lara Croft, has been one of the most iconic mainstays in gaming since its debut in 1996. The series has seen numerous entries, and even movies, over the years, but it saw a reboot with Crystal Dynamics' 2013 Tomb Raider. The game, along with its sequel, was well received by both critics and fans. Rise of the Tomb Raider was also one of the first games to add special visual improvements for Xbox One X.

Rise of the Tomb Raider was a timed console exclusive for Xbox One, so there's a chance a similar deal may be reached for whatever Square Enix has up its sleeve for the sequel. For fans eager for more details, however, we'll likely learn much more in the coming months.

Square Enix has lowered the price of its two great puzzle games, Hitman GO and Tomb Raider GO. Both are just $0.99 each in the Windows Store for a limited time.

Normally, these games cost $4.99 each, so you are getting a good deal if you jump in on these offers. Both Hitman GO and Tomb Raider GO feature Agent 47 and Lara Croft, respectively, as they try to fight the bad guys by solving puzzles. Which game or games are you picking up? Let us know in the comments.

Download Hitman GO from the Windows Store

Download Lara Croft GO from the Windows Store

Rise of the Tomb Raider has made its way to the Windows Store, and if you're residing in India, the game is available for considerably lesser than what it costs in the U.S. or the U.K. The Indian Windows 10 Store has the game priced at ₹1,002 ($15), and is running a discount through which you can pick up the title for just ₹889 ($13). By comparison, the game costs $59.99 in the U.S., and is on sale for $53.99.

If you're one to purchase your games via Steam, the title is listed for ₹899 ($13), with a retail price of ₹999 ($15). The Deluxe Edition — which includes the season pass — can be bought for ₹1,555 ($23). As a refresher, these are the minimum system requirements for running the game:

• OS: Windows 7 (64-bit)
• Processor: Intel Core i3-2100 or AMD Phenom II X4 945
• Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 650 2GB or AMD HD7770 2GB
• RAM: 6 (Six) GB
• Hard Disk Space: 35 GB (base game)
• Requires DX11

Here are the recommended system requirements:

• OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
• Processor: Intel Core i7-3770, 3.40GHz or AMD FX-8350, 4.0Ghz
• Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon R9 290x
• RAM: 8 (Eight) GB
• Hard Disk Space: 35 GB (base game)
• Requires DX11

The sale is valid until February 4 on Steam, and February 5 for the Windows Store. Interested? Be sure to check out our review before you buy the game:

• Read our Rise of the Tomb Raider review
• See Rise of the Tomb Raider in the Windows 10 Store
• See Rise of the Tomb Raider on Steam

Thanks iTaher!

When Rise of the Tomb Raider hit the Windows 10 Store, a few eagle eyed gamers quickly noticed that Microsoft's pricing was somewhat higher than that of Steam. Even with the initial 10% discount, Steam was still a cheaper option out of the gate.

Now, in the UK at least, Microsoft has reduced the regular price, so for a short time at least the discounted price is even less.

The regular price has now dropped to £39.99, which becomes £35.89 when the 10% discount is applied. The 10% off only lasts for six more days at the time of this post, so if you're wanting to buy from the Windows 10 Store, it's a good time to do so.

Grab it for yourselves at the link below, or check out our full review of the Xbox One version if you're undecided. And if you're seeing similar price cuts elsewhere, be sure to drop us a line in the comments. Right now it doesn't look like the U.S. Store is seeing a similar cut.

Buy Rise of the Tomb Raider at the Windows 10 Store

Previously a Xbox One exclusive, Rise of the Tomb Raider follows the series' famed heroine, Lara Croft, on a quest to unlock the secrets of immortality. The latest game in the series is a single-player only affair, featuring cutting edge graphics and explosive third-person combat.

While Rise of the Tomb Raider sits among the most gorgeous games on Xbox One, PC gamers with high-end rigs can really push the visuals into an entirely new dimension, as detailed in the tech trailer above.

If you're purchasing the game from the Windows 10 Store, it'll come with Xbox achievements and include all the social features found in the Windows 10 Xbox app. Rise of the Tomb Raider is also available on Steam for those who prefer Valve's more mature PC game distribution service.

Speaking of which, there are a few issues you should be aware of should you plan to download the game from the Windows 10 Store. Since this is likely by far the biggest single download available in the store, Microsoft has yet to update the UI to reflect such large data transfers, as noted by the following:

• Windows 10 download progress bar does not accurately display progress.
• Due to a UI issue download progress may not be accurately displayed (despite downloading without issue).
• When pausing and resuming the download, it may appear that the download has reset (appears to start from 0). However, actual download progress has not been affected.

Whether you're downloading from Steam or the Windows 10 Store, here are the minimum system requirements:

• OS: Windows 7 (64-bit)
• Processor: Intel Core i3-2100 or AMD Phenom II X4 945
• Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 650 2GB or AMD HD7770 2GB
• RAM: 6 (Six) GB
• Hard Disk Space: 35 GB (base game)
• Requires DX11

Here are the recommended system requirements:

• OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
• Processor: Intel Core i7-3770, 3.40GHz or AMD FX-8350, 4.0Ghz
• Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon R9 290x
• RAM: 8 (Eight) GB
• Hard Disk Space: 35 GB (base game)
• Requires DX11

If you're a Windows 10 user purchasing from the Windows 10 Store, note that Microsoft requires you to have installed the November update (Version 1511). You can learn how to check if you're fully up to date here.

Rise of the Tomb Raider marks the Windows 10 Store's first foray into triple-A PC gaming. We know that Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, Fable Legends, Killer Instinct and various other Xbox One titles are heading to Windows 10 via the store. It'll be interesting to see how far Microsoft go to compete with Steam over the coming months.

• Check out our Rise of the Tomb Raider review
• See Rise of the Tomb Raider in the Windows 10 Store
• See Rise of the Tomb Raider on Steam

As promised, Microsoft will help bring Rise of the Tomb Raider to the PC on Windows 10. The action-adventure game from developer Crystal Dynamics that was first released for the Xbox One and Xbox 360 consoles in late 2015 will be available on the Windows Store, Steam and other retailers on January 28.

The Windows 10 version of Lara Croft's latest adventure will get some extra features:

We have no idea what "VXAO" means, but hopefully that will be revealed before the game comes out later this month.

Source: Xbox Wire

If you're up for a new challenge in Rise of the Tomb Raider, the Endurance Mode DLC, which pits Laura against the elements, is now available to purchase. Endurance Mode is very much a struggle to survive, as you must collect and craft the necessary tools to survive against the cold, stave off hunger, and more. From the description:

The DLC pack also lets you compete against your friends for the longest survival time on leaderboards, and includes a new outfit and weapon for Laura.

If you're interested in checking the DLC out, you can grab it for $10 at the link below. Endurance Mode is also included with the Rise of the Tomb Raider Season Pass, which you can snag for $30.

• Purchase Rise of the Tomb Raider Endurance Mode DLC ($10)
• Purchase Rise of the Tomb Raider Season Pass ($30)

Though it wasn't immediately clear whether Rise of the Tomb Raider would be coming to the Windows Store when it arrives on PC in January, that indeed appears to be the case. The official Windows Store Twitter account announced that Rise of the Tomb Raider will be "coming soon" to the Windows Store. And given that the game is due to arrive for Windows 10 PCs via Steam next month, we wouldn't expect its Windows Store arrival to be too far off.

The news also raises questions if Rise of the Tomb Raider is the first Project Centennial game e.g. a Win32 port to the Windows Store or something else. Project Centennial was announced back at Build as a way to bring classic Windows apps and games to the new Windows 10 Store (they can even be larger than 150GB in size). However, since the announcement, not much news has come out about the Bridge technology.

Rise of the Tomb Raider was originally released as an exclusive title for the Xbox One and Xbox 360 in November, but the exclusivity period is almost up, heralding the game's impending arrival to other platforms.

Similar to Steam, buying Rise of the Tomb Raider through the Windows Store will enable one-click installation or removal, along with automatic updates.

Source: Windows Store (Twitter)

For the time being, Rise of the Tomb Raider is a Xbox One exclusive, a fact that's proven somewhat controversial. Over a year since that announcement, Tomb Raider's developer still receives angry tweets for "betraying" the iconic franchise to Microsoft, which rose to the fore as a Playstation system-seller back in the 90s. Tomb Raider's current owner, Square Enix, spoke of their "disappointment" in the sales of Crystal Dynamics' 2013 reboot. As a result, hopes for a sequel seemed thin.

Despite a disappointing financial year, Square Enix did greenlight a Tomb Raider follow up, resolving to restructure the way the company finances "Triple A" titles. Whether that apparent anxiety led to the joint-funding deal with Microsoft will likely remain a secret. However, given what I've seen in Rise of the Tomb Raider's first few hours, even the most voracious elements of the anti-Xbox crowd might find themselves thanking Microsoft for stepping in.

The journey to Siberia

Without going into too much detail, Rise of the Tomb Raider takes place a year after the events of the 2013 reboot. Lara, emotionally wounded by her experiences, realises that there's a whole world of ancient and supernatural mysteries to uncover - despite the prevailing scientific consensus. Lara becomes obsessed with her father's research and embarks on a global and dangerous quest for discovery.

The game's tutorial mission takes place in a flashback to Lara's time in Syria, detailed in some of the early trailers. Her quest eventually leads her deep into the frozen wastes of Siberia, and this is where we begin our preview.

Like the reboot, Rise of the Tomb Raider is divided up into mission hubs filled with collectibles, secrets and main objectives that drive the story forward. Following the game's tutorial areas, the first expansive mission hub is set in an abandoned Soviet-era work camp, slowly being devoured by decades of icy blizzards.

Crystal clear visuals, dynamic and detailed

Screenshots released to press are rarely taken as indicative of a game's final product, the images could've been enhanced or taken on higher-end hardware. Seriously, though, those early screenshots, as amazing as they were, pale in comparison to what I've experienced first hand in Rise of the Tomb Raider's Soviet Installation area. The visuals are simply stunning, and it comes as no surprise given that Tomb Raider (2013) was one of the best looking games on the Xbox 360.

Rise of the Tomb Raider enjoys vivid, dynamic lighting, made all the more special by incredible fire effects and an expanded amount of dark crypts to explore. Beyond the more obvious improvements, Crystal Dynamics has included more subtle details like realistic snow depression and Xbox One rumble trigger support. Should this level of quality be maintained throughout, Crystal Dynamics will have firmly outdone themselves.

The Soviet Installation hub in Siberia is gargantuan, outstripping the largest areas from its predecessor by a wide margin. To complement the expanse, Rise of the Tomb Raider boasts impressive draw distances and detailed backdrops. It gives Siberia a sense of uncharted majesty that was certainly touched upon in the 2013 reboot but is now fully realised thanks to the Xbox One's hardware and, perhaps, Microsoft's cash. Even when switching between Tomb Raider's impressive Xbox One Definitive Edition, the bump in visual quality is stark, but it's not just raw graphics that have impressed me so far.

The reboot was an incredibly detailed game, even more so in the Definitive Edition, which added special tech to grant realism to Lara's hair. In partnership with AMD, Crystal Dynamics has pushed the hair tech even further for Rise of the Tomb Raider, giving it extra weight when it's wet, allowing it to float in water, and having snowflakes realistically accumulate in it as Lara braves the Siberian tempest. As someone who knows the frustration of an unruly ponytail, I smiled when I noticed Lara occasionally re-adjusts hers, wringing water from it when she leaves water bodies.

Speaking of detail, Rise of the Tomb Raider, so far, seems to benefit from an expanded focus on supporting narrative. Diaries, journals and logs add context to the game's world, as per the previous game, narrated to a high standard. Not all of the logs are completely pertinent to the core plot either, furthering the sense that you're an archaeologist shedding light on personal stories long forgotten. I get the feeling Crystal Dynamics is starting to understand what made Tomb Raider so popular back in the 90s, expanding on the solid foundations set in Rise of the Tomb Raider's predecessor.

Becoming the Tomb Raider

I shan't spoil unrevealed story elements here, but what I've seen in the first few hours already seems like a massive step up for Crystal Dynamics, regarding both the delivery and writing itself. I've mentioned Lara's hair and mannerisms, but it's Camilla Luddington's facial motion capture and expressive acting that truly bring the story to life. The facial expressions are among the most natural looking I've seen, up there with RYSE and Halo 5 without doubt, and they add a layer of empathy to the characters and their struggles.

When it comes to gameplay, Rise of the Tomb Raider seems fairly familiar so far. I can't recall there being enough complaints about Tomb Raider's combat to warrant a large overhaul. There are some differences, though. The upgrades system has been expanded, and requires boatloads of raw materials, adding a gameplay incentive to hunt down those fluffy snow bunnies.

As you unlock new skills, Lara can learn to perform some pretty gratuitous acts of violence, including an Assassin's Creed-like aerial shank; and dual-arrow shots, allowing you to skewer two targets at once. The game has expanded support for different types of play styles. Certain areas can be traversed using a pure stealth approach, distracting enemies and hiding in bushes and trees. Occasionally, though, you'll have no choice but to stand your ground guns blazing, crafting Molotov cocktails and shrapnel bombs mid-fight using the game's active crafting system.

In support of the diverging playstyles, the skills system is back from the previous game. It affords upgrades in exchange for accumulated XP, but Rise of the Tomb Raider adds an extra dimension with new hidden skills, revealed as rewards for the game's more abundant optional tombs.

One of the biggest complaints about Crystal Dynamics' 2013 Tomb Raider was the lack of, well, tombs. The developer has taken the feedback on board, adding crypts, caves and challenging puzzle tombs for budding explorers to dive in and solve. So far, each tomb has offered additional context in the form of notebooks and audio logs, charting everything from early archaeological findings to ancient philosophies and Soviet atrocities. If you wanted more discovery, more exploration, it certainly seems like Rise of the Tomb Raider is on the correct trajectory.

Rise of Crystal Dynamics

We're still working on our full review, but from what I've experienced in the game's earliest areas, Rise of the Tomb Raider seems to chart not only Lara Croft's ascendancy but Crystal Dynamics' as well. Crystal Dynamics has a lengthy history and is responsible for tons of classics from Pandemonium to Soul Reaver. While I enjoyed it overall, the first Square Enix published Tomb Raider, to me, felt a little more about emulating Uncharted, with a tacked-on multiplayer, linearity, scripted set-pieces, and annoying quick time events.

From my early experiences, Rise of the Tomb Raider feels a little more liberating, a little more confident, and a whole lot more dynamic - without sacrificing that cinematic edge. Since taking up this writing gig, I've noticed that the best games are the ones that engage me enough to make me forget I'm supposed to be writing about them. So far, Rise of the Tomb Raider has me hooked.

Stay tuned for our full Rise of the Tomb Raider review, slated for Monday, November 9th!

Rise of the Tomb Raider launches on November 10th, 2015 for Xbox One, Q1 2016 for PC and Q4 2016 for PS4.

Pre-order Rise of the Tomb Raider on Amazon for $59.96

Welcome to our weekly ICYMI for Xbox news!

We'll still be posting major Xbox announcements in the main feed. However, I'll be collecting some of the more nuanced news, rumors and talking points into one handy post every weekend! You can also rely on this weekly column to keep up to date with all the latest game releases.

So without further ado, here's the latest edition of This Week in Xbox One News.

Rise of the Tomb Raider has no multiplayer

Rise of the Tomb Raider is heading to Xbox One as a console exclusive this November. The previous game, simply named "Tomb Raider" featured a rudimentary multiplayer mode, which was light on features and heavy on clunk. Thankfully, rather than spend dev time cobbling together an unexciting multiplayer mode, Crystal Dynamics are focussing 100% on the game's single player.

The quote comes from the Official Xbox Magazine September issue as part of their Rise of the Tomb Raider coverage (via AOTF).

Forced multiplayer modes are a pet-peeve of mine, but there's some business logic behind their construction. The idea being that a multi-player mode is a relatively low-cost way of extending the playable life of a game, stemming the tide of potential trade-ins. If Crystal Dynamics is focussing all of their efforts into the single-player mode, it could mean we'll get some serious longevity from the game's campaign. Here's hoping.

Rise of the Tomb Raider launches on November 10th for Xbox One, Q2 2016 for PC and Q4 2016 for PS4.

Fallout 4's dialogue is complete, features more lines than Skyrim and Fallout 3 combined

Fallout 3 and Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim are both so vast that the average player will struggle to see every piece of content the games have to offer. It seems as though Fallout 4's volume will be similarly daunting.

Bethesda recently announced via Twitter that they've completed Fallout 4's dialogue, which sports an astronomical 110,000 lines of dialogue.

For voice acting projects, the current world record holder is EA's MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic, claiming the record with 200,000 lines of dialogue. SWTOR features 8 separate, fully-voiced stories for each individual class, in addition to 2 variations (for gender) and narration for each quest, no matter how trivial.

As a single-player RPG with only two main voice actors (one for male characters and one for female), for Fallout 4 to hit 110,000 lines of voice overs is pretty astronomical. It's going to take hundreds of hours to hear all of that dialogue.

Fallout 4 launches on Xbox One, PS4 and PC on November 10th, 2015.

Former composer for both Halo and Destiny defeats Bungie in lawsuit

The mind behind the iconic Halo theme recently defeated his former employer, Bungie, in a lawsuit pertaining to unpaid earnings (via ICXM.net).

Back in April 2014, composer Marty O'Donnell announced that his contract with Bungie was "terminated without cause".

Rumors suggest that the rift began when Activision outsourced the music for Destiny's marketing. Bungie reportedly filed a complaint about the omission of O'Donnell's music, but Activision overruled. Additionally, O'Donnell's requests for Destiny's soundtrack to get released as a standalone item, like Halo before it, was refused by Activision. O'Donnell attempted to sew discord against Activision becoming 'disruptive', according to the reports.

The falling out kicked off legal proceedings, which O'Donnell has now won. O'Donnell picked up $142,500 in unpaid profit sharing, plus $95,000 in unpaid wages. O'Donnell also won the right to shares in Bungie, which run into "significant" amounts.

Congratulations aside, perhaps now that Mr. O'Donnell is free of Bungie, he'd be up for scoring Halo 6.

Bid farewell to Metal Gear Solid with this emotional video from Hideo Kojima

It's no secret that Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain's development suffered difficulties. A rift between the series' creator, Hideo Kojima, and parent company Konami threatened to overshadow the entire game. Thankfully, it seems as though MGSV has emerged unscathed, with many reviewers calling it a masterpiece.

Hideo Kojima has finally bid farewell to the series. He states in the above video that MGSV bridges the gap between the story arc of Big Boss (MGS3, Peace Walker) and Solid Snake (MGS1, 2 and 4). Hideo also meets various developers from the project, famed press members and the family of a Metal Gear super-fan who recently passed away. Kojima dedicated the video to his memory, as part of a wider tribute to fans of the franchise. If you're a Metal Gear fan, be sure to give it a look.

ICYMI - Some of Windows Central's biggest Xbox articles of the week

• Castle Crashers Remastered will burst onto the Xbox One on September 9
• The PowerA FUSION Pro Controller is yet another high-end Xbox One gamepad
• Microsoft's new Forza Motorsport 6 TV ad celebrates over 40 years of racing games
• Exclusive: Mythological MMO Onigiri comes to Xbox One next week
• If you own Destiny, you can play some of The Taken King's content for free next week
• Hands-on with the Razer Wildcat controller for Xbox One
• The Xbox 360 version of Borderlands to support Xbox One backward compatibility
• Early impressions of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain on Xbox One
• Star Wars Battlefront beta coming to Xbox One and PC in early October
• Check out the action-packed Halo 5 opening cinematic and prepare for the ultimate drop

New Xbox One game releases for the week ending Sept 6th, 2015

Rugby World Cup 2015 - Sports - HB Studios

"Experience the passion of rugby in the official 2015 Rugby World Cup video game. Choose from among the 20 teams in the World Cup and take part in the most prestigious competition in rugby."

Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart - Puzzle - Artifex Mundi

"On a cold, stormy night, the Caribbean Museum curator Sarah Black is making the final arrangements for the grand pirate exhibition's star attraction – the mummified corpse of the fearsome 18th century pirate, Captain Henry Remington."

Quest of Dungeons - RPG - Upfall Studios

"Quest of Dungeons is a turn based dungeon crawler game, a roguelike featuring a good old 16-bit retro artistic look. An evil Dark Lord has stolen all the light, so your mission is to enter his lair and defeat him."

Broken Sword 5 - the Serpent's Curse - Action & Adventure / Puzzler - Revolution Software

"Paris in the spring. Shots ring out from a gallery. A robbery... a murder... and the beginning of another epic Broken Sword adventure. From multi-award winning Revolution comes the latest mystery in this much loved adventure-puzzle series."

Super Toy Cars - Racing - Eclipse Games

"Super Toy Cars is a tabletop arcade combat racing game featuring fast and cool looking cars, impressive tracks made of everyday objects and a bunch of power-ups that will let you destroy your opposition!"

METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN - Action & Adventure - Kojima Productions

"Ushering in a new era for the franchise with cutting-edge technology powered by the Fox Engine, MGSV: The Phantom Pain, will provide players a first-rate gaming experience as they are offered tactical freedom to carry out open-world missions."

The Deer God - Platformer - Crescent Moon Games

"The Deer God is a breathtaking 3D pixel art adventure that will challenge your religion and your platforming skills. It's a game about survival, reincarnation, and karma; all set in a breathtaking and unique 3D pixelized world."

Mad Max - Action & Adventure - Avalanche Studios / WB Games

"Become Mad Max, the lone warrior in a savage post-apocalyptic world where cars are the key to survival. In this action-packed, open world, third-person action game, you must fight to stay alive in The Wasteland, using brutal on-ground and vehicular against vicious gangs of bandits."

And that's a wrap!

I'm 45 hours into Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, sitting at 35% completion according to the game's stats. It seems difficult to find a place on the net that isn't talking about The Phantom Pain right now. After all, you can drive a golden tank. What have you lovely people been playing this week? Hit the comments!

Lara Croft GO is a brand new turn-based puzzle title by the same company that brought the world Hitman GO. Taking the same experience and art direction of the previous GO title and mashing it together with Tomb Raider has resulted in a beautiful take on Lara Croft. Prepare to be immersed on the diorama board with plastic figures as you work alongside Croft to uncover the myth of the Queen of Venom.

Should you not be a fan of turn-based games, you may wish to look away as this is exactly what has become of the fearless tomb raider. If you're a fan of the genre, you'll be tasked with navigating through gorgeous-looking boards, fighting off enemies who happen to cross your path, and overcome the usual deathly obstacles and traps Croft has dealt with many a times in the past.

There's a lot to see and do with more than 75 levels available, split into five chapters. Collecting ancient relics on your journey will enable you to unlock some new threads of Croft, providing a refreshed look for the adventurer. It's an interesting take on the Tomb Raider franchise and one we expect many will enjoy. Like Hitman GO, the latest title from Square Enix Montreal will set you back $4.99.

Note that the web store link isn't working as of now, but the issue seems to be on Microsoft's end.

We have an exciting Lara Croft GO developer interview in the works - stay tuned!

Download Lara Croft GO for Windows Phone ($4.99)

Last week, Gamescom 2015 attendees got treated to an extended Rise of the Tomb Raider gameplay trailer complete with dev commentary. Microsoft has now released the fresh footage in all its archaeological glory.

Rise of the Tomb Raider is (somewhat controversially) Xbox One exclusive until 2016. A PC version will arrive in Q1 and a PS4 version in Q4. Lara's latest outing will take her head to head with the monolithic Fallout 4, both shipping on November 10th, 2015.

The trailer takes us into the cliffs bordering Syria while Lara hunts for an ancient artifact. Trinity, a corporation that serves as the game's big evil, is also on the trail of the antiquity that is said to hold the secret of immortality. The demo we saw was running on a Xbox One dev kit, sporting some of the most impressive visuals I've seen from this gen yet. The vista showing a Syrian city from the cliff was particularly impressive (3:10 in the video), giving us an idea of the detail and draw distance we can expect in the final code. Youtube's compression doesn't do it justice.

At the demo at Gamescom, we were joined by a representative of Crystal Dynamics who demonstrated the game in real time (indeed, sporadically dying in the process). She was keen to emphasise that Crystal Dynamics wanted to recapture the essence of the original Tomb Raider games. One pillar of this is exploration. The rep showed how straying from the main path would lead you to treasures, some of which serve as upgrades and others as simple collectibles.

Exploration takes a grander path in Rise of the Tomb Raider, owing in part to what they called the translation system. At 4:30 in the video, Lara spies a mural. She can attempt to translate the inscriptions on murals and other objects, which allow her to "level up" her language skills. You can use her skills to reveal tombs and other secret locations after translating the corresponding texts.

After a stint showing off the game's more dynamic climbing systems, we get to see some of Rise of the Tomb Raider's new tomb raiding styles. The simplistic water puzzle at 9:30 got described as being part of the game's tutorial. The full game will have far larger, more complex "nested puzzles", which are essentially puzzles within puzzles. Traps litter Rise of the Tomb Raider's dungeons as part of Crystal Dynamics' attempt to bring in some of that old school feel. They skipped through the final puzzle of this segment rather than reveal its solution.

The trailer ends with a gratifying homage to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, as Lara escapes the tomb flooding with water.

Crystal Dynamics is confident about going head to head with Fallout 4, as game director Brian Horton recently told Gamingbolt:

After seeing Rise of the Tomb Raider running live, I'm pretty confident too.

Rise of the Tomb Raider launches November 10th on Xbox One, Q1 2016 for PC and Q4 2016 for PS4.

• Pre-order Rise of the Tomb Raider on Amazon UK
• Pre-order Rise of the Tomb Raider on Amazon US

Xbox One is no stranger to third-party deals, picking up console exclusivity for Dead Rising 3, RYSE, Titanfall, Sunset Overdrive and others, but none struck a chord like Rise of the Tomb Raider. A quick perusal of the developer's Twitter mentions reveals a stream of vitriol from PS4 users angry at the deal, which hands Xbox One a whole year of console exclusivity.

Square-Enix isn't blind to the criticism. Speaking in an interview with Examiner, Square Enix CEO of the Americas and Europe Phil Rogers defended the deal, which he described as being "not an easy decision".

Many commentators speculated that Rise of the Tomb Raider's Xbox exclusivity was intended to head-off competition from the similar PS4 exclusive Uncharted 4. UC4 has since been delayed into 2016, leaving some of us wondering whether the deal still makes sense.

Tomb Raider's reboot back in 2012 failed to meet Square-Enix's sales expectations, despite selling well over 3 million copies in its first month. Square-Enix stated previously that Microsoft are helping fund Rise of the Tomb Raider's development. Phil Rogers elaborated further in the Examiner interview, noting that Xbox head Phil Spencer himself visits the dev team on a regular basis:

Phil Rogers also noted his delight to see Tomb Raider showcased alongside Xbox heavy-hitters like Halo, Forza and Gears of War. Being featured with the best Xbox has to offer is sure to raise Tomb Raider's profile for younger gamers unfamiliar with its PS1 roots. The deal also allows Microsoft to attach a ubiquitously recognisable brand to the Xbox One moving in to the 2015 holiday season. For Square-Enix though, it's all about taking Tomb Raider to "the next level" according to Phil Rogers:

It seems likely that Square-Enix came away from the Tomb Raider reboot with a great deal of anxiety. The game achieved solid reviews from both fans and critics and sold millions of copies in its first month. However, the fact Square-Enix described the sales as 'disappointing' makes me wonder just how inflated the game's budget was.

By partnering with Microsoft, Square-Enix can offset the costs of developing a triple-A sequel - which, in theory, are always higher budget than the previous title in the series, to grow in-line with fan's expectations. It's hard to gauge what form Rise of the Tomb Raider would've taken without Mircosoft's involvement, or whether or not the project would've existed at all. Maybe Square-Enix and Microsoft are buddy-buddy enough to bring me an Xbox One version of Final Fantasy XIV... maybe, please?

What do you think? Could Microsoft's "muscle" be better spent elsewhere? Is the adverse reaction worth it for Square-Enix? Hit the comments!

Rise of the Tomb Raider releases on November 10th, 2015 for Xbox One, early 2016 for PC and Q4 2016 for PS4.

• Pre-order Rise of the Tomb Raider for Xbox One on Amazon US
• Pre-order Rise of the Tomb Raider for Xbox One on Amazon UK

Source: Examiner

Rise of the Tomb Raider will lose its Xbox exclusivity in early 2016. Publisher Square Enix has confirmed that the highly anticipated action-adventure game will be coming to Windows 10 and Steam PCs in that time period, with the PlayStation 4 following sometime in the holiday period of 2016.

Microsoft first announced that the Xbox One and Xbox 360 would get Lara Croft's next adventure first at E3 2014, but the company always stated it would be a timed exclusive. Rise of the Tomb Raider will be released for those consoles on November 10. So far, there's no word if any additional features or content will be added to the Windows 10, Steam or PlayStation 4 versions of the game.

Source: Square Enix

Fans of Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider franchise will be happy with Microsoft's latest Deals with Gold digital game price cuts for the Xbox One and Xbox 360 consoles. The lower prices are available from now until November 24 (despite what the Major Nelson site currently says) for paid Xbox Live Gold members.

The Xbox One has just one Deals with Gold game this week, for Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. You can download and get the game now for just $20 or 50% off its normal price. All the other games on sale are for the Xbox 360 and nearly all of them are members of the Tomb Raider series:

• Tomb Raider - $9.99
• Tomb Raider Adventure Pack Unlock - $3.49
• Tomb Raider Online Survival Pack Unlock - $3.49
• Tomb Raider: Underworld - $4.99
• Tomb Raider: Underworld Lara's Shadow Add-on - $3.29
• Tomb Raider Underworld Beneath the Ashes Add-on - $3.29
• Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light - $4.94
• Tomb Raider Anniversary - $4.99
• Tomb Raider: Anniversary – Episodes 1 & 2 Add-on - $3.29
• Tomb Raider: Anniversary - Episodes 3 & 4 Add-on - $3.29
• Tomb Raider: Legend - $4.99
• Armored Core: Verdict Day - $9.99
• Enslaved - $4.94

Which game or games on this list will you be buying this week?

Source: Major Nelson

Today's announcements from Microsoft at Gamescom have been pretty exciting for console gamers. We saw the announcement of a brand new theme park simulator, ScreamRide, for Xbox One and 360, as well as fresh looks at several upcoming Xbox One games like Halo: The Master Chief Collection. And hey, Quantum Break looked pretty exciting in motion to boot.

But the real bombshell of the presentation was the news that Rise of the Tomb Raider from Square-Enix and Crystal Dynamics will be exclusive to Xbox One in 2015! Tomb Raider has been a mainstay gaming series since the Playstation One and Sega Saturn days, with this year's HD remake of the Tomb Raider reboot gracing both Xbox One and Playstation 4. But the sequel Rise won't show up on the Playstation 4, giving Microsoft a big peacock of a feather in its cap.

It's a good thing Microsoft had that exclusivity announcement today, because the Rise of the Tomb Raider presentation would otherwise have been very low-key. Instead of a new trailer or gameplay footage as we would typically expect from a press conference like today's, all we got were still images while the presenter spoke about the game. I'm still psyched though!

Crystal Dynamics promises that Rise of the Tomb Raider will redefine survival action. Big words considering it's likely to be very close to the previous entry, but that's not a bad thing considering how good Tomb Raider was! Players will explore vast areas in beautiful and dangerous locations around the world. The tombs will be "bigger, better, and more challenging." Shoot, I was pulling for small tombs. Oh well, I can tough it out.

The dynamics of exclusivity

The decision to make a previously multiplatform game exclusive to a single platform (even one as awesome as the Xbox One) is bound to be met with criticism from supporters of competing consoles like the Playstation 4. I guess technically Nintendo has a system too, but nobody was expecting Rise of the Tomb Raider on it.

Make no mistake, somebody always loses out when a big game (or series) goes exclusive to a single platform. Think of how annoyed we all are that Bayonetta 2 is stuck on the Wii U instead of more popular systems. But here at Windows Phone Central we are Microsoft supporters and Xbox gamers. Most of us will benefit from this exclusivity.

The Xbox One retail exclusives so far have sold okay but failed to really drive adoption the way Microsoft would hope. Was anybody climbing over themselves to get the pretty-but-shallow Ryse, or the always-sterile Forza 5? Dead Rising 3 certainly has its share of fans, although the widespread perceptions of the game's performance issues (and the series' slightly more niche appeal) have kept it from becoming a true system seller.

Rise of the Tomb Raider, however, is a game that players from the 32-bit era onward are likely to appreciate. The Tomb Raider reboot (and Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition) met with praise from critics and fans alike, despite a few questionable gender issues and greater focus on action than tomb raiding. Many Xbox and Playstation gamers have been looking forward to Rise since its announcement at E3 this year. Rise is the closest thing to Sony's Uncharted series that Microsoft has, come to think of it. Some of those Playstation owners and Uncharted fans will be tempted to give the Xbox One a shot now!

The decision to make Rise of the Tomb Raider an Xbox One exclusive is a financial one. As with Bayonetta 2, Microsoft must have made Square-Enix an offer on Rise that was simply too good to refuse. As Crystal Dynamics explains in a blog post meant to pacify Playstation owners, "We know [Microsoft] will get behind this game more than any support we have had from them in the past."

The combination of Microsoft funding and promotional spending could certainly help Rise do very well. I don't think it will sell quite as well on just the one system (even with Microsoft's backing) than it would have on two, but the developers still come out ahead thanks to all that funding and promotion. Xbox One gamers are going to want Rise of the Tomb Raider, and players who haven't hopped on-board with the latest console generation yet now have another reason to do so – and hopefully go with Xbox One as their system of choice.

Note that the wording of the announcement still leaves open the possibility of the game coming to another console in another year. I heard "exclusive in 2015," which doesn't promise exclusivity in 2016. But we shall see! And Playstation 4 gamers can still get Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris this December. Being a smaller downloadable title, that one is not quite the same kind of game as Rise. But I'm very excited for it.

What do you guys think of Rise of the Tomb Raider becoming an Xbox One exclusive so soon after its announcement at E3?

In a bit of a surprise, not one but two new Tomb Raider games were announced today as part or the overall E3 2014 festivites. In addition to Rise of the Tomb Raider that's due out in late 2015, publisher Square Enix has announced Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, which will be coming to the Xbox One, PC and PlayStation 4 consoles.

The game is a follow up to Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, which was first released in 2010. Like that game, Temple of Osiris is a top down action-adventure game but unlike Guardian of Light, which supported just two players in its co-op campaign, the new game supports four player co-op. In addition to Lara, players can control a new character that's a competing "tomb raider" along with the wife and son of Osiris.

Square Enix has not announced a release date or price point for Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, but it sounds like it will be a downloadable title rather than a retail game.

Source: Game Trailers

2014 is almost upon us. With the new year comes another month of free Games with Gold titles for Xbox 360 owners. Last month we got an oldie-but-goodie retail title (Gears of War) and a decently-liked XBLA game: Shoot Many Robots. So what does Microsoft have in store for the New Year?

This month, Xbox Live Gold subscribers will first get Sleeping Dogs from Square Enix. Released in August 2012, this makes the newest retail title that the program has offered so far. Starting on January 16th, XBLA hit Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light from Eidos/Square-Enix will be the next free game. Guardian of Light is the first and only Tomb Raider game with cooperative multiplayer, and a must-play if you haven’t already got it.

More details and download links after the break!

Sleeping Dogs – Free from January 1-15

• Xbox 360 – 6 GB – Xbox.com Store Link

Ready for an open world crime game in the vein of Grand Theft Auto? Of course you are. Sleeping Dogs takes place in the city of Hong Kong. Players take on the role of Wei Shen, a police officer with experience both in the United States and Hong Kong. He returns to his homeland as an undercover cop in order to help stamp out the rising power of the criminal Triad.

Will he stay focused on the mission and clean up the streets, or become corrupted by the gang life? That’s up to the player. A unique three-prong experience system determines which side Wei Shen will eventually end up on. Be heroic and you’ll earn cop points; be a cruel killer to gain influence with the Triad. Or be helpful to the citizenry itself to gain Face. It’s truly a unique setup.

Sleeping Dogs is an open-world game, so players have the freedom to move about a realistic version of Hong Kong at will. The game’s driving system is highly playable, making it easy to get around in a hurry. It also features strong hand-to-hand combat, so beating up on punks or innocents won’t stop the fun train from rolling.

Most Games with Gold choices offer paid DLC for gamers to purchase, and Sleeping Dogs is no different. There are several smaller items to buy, but these are the main ones:

• The Year of the Snake (includes Achievements) - $6.99
• Nightmare in North Point Pack (includes Achievements) - $6.99
• The Zodiac Tournament Pack - $4.99
• The Wheels of Fury Pack - $3.99
• The Ghost Pig Pack - Free

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light – Free from January 16-31

• Xbox 360 – 2 GB – Xbox.com Store Link

Ready for a Tomb Raider of a different color? Before 2013’s Tomb Raider rebooted the series, Guardian of Light took things in a separate and unique direction.

The story begins with Lara accidentally releasing a demon from an ancient mirror in South America. The Guardian of Light, Totec also awakens and teams up with Lara to help her stop the demon. It’s actually not much of a story, with iffy writing, cheap art, and limp voice acting, but it keeps things moving along.

Unlike the mainline Tomb Raider games, this one takes place from an isometric perspective. Players run with the left stick and aim and shoot with the right. The twin-stick shooter-style combat feels great, and even jumping works well. Then there are the puzzles…

Guardian of Light can be enjoyed solo or with a friend in local/online co-op. Each of the two characters has a unique ability. Lara gets a grappling hook with which to create tightropes for her partner. Totec can throw spears that stick into walls and create platforms for Lara to jump on. When playing in co-op, the puzzles require both players to work together in order to get ahead. In single-player, the puzzles work differently so that you don’t need a partner to solve them.

2013’s Tomb Raider is headed to the Xbox One as Tomb Raider: The Definitive Edition on January 28th. Grab Guardian of Light when it goes free and prepare with a much different (but still awesome) entry in the series.

E3 2012 – the Electronic Entertainment Expo kicks off with Microsoft’s press conference this Monday, June 4. We’ve already outlined our predictions and plans for the event, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing new to share right now. A number of developers have released trailers of the console games they’re showcasing at E3 ahead of time.

First up is Skulls of the Shogun from Haunted Temple Games and Microsoft Studios. Skulls is a beautiful and fast-paced strategy game that’s scheduled to arrive on Xbox Live Arcade, Windows 8, and Windows Phone as an Xbox Live title. We’ll be playing it at E3, so look forward to our impressions!

Head past the break for a big batch of E3 Xbox 360 game trailers!

Castlevania Lords of Shadow 2 from Mercury Stream and Konami:

We’ll definitely be checking out Konami’s booth next week. As our Castlevania Puzzle review reveals, I’m a huge Castlevania fan.

Hitman Absolution from Square Enix:

Sniper Ghost Warrior 2 from City Interactive:

I don’t see this one topping Sniper Elite V2, which I recently reviewed for Co-Optimus. But its modern-day, faster-paced approach could be fun too.

Tomb Raider Crossroads from Square Enix:

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance from Platinum Games and Konami:

Woefully silly subtitle aside, we’re definitely looking forward to trying this one out.

Of Orcs and Men from Spiders (developer) and Cyanide:

Quantum Conundrum from Airtight Games and Square Enix:

Looks a bit like Portal crossed with a slightly uglier Totoro, doesn't it?

Doom 3 BFG Edition from id Software and Bethesda:

Here’s a FPS remake I’m very excited about. Now if id would just port their iOS Doom games to Windows Phone…

Skyrim ‘Dawnguard’ from Bethesda:

Our own George Ponder and legions of RPG fans are sure to enjoy this upcoming DLC expansion pack for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

Once again, Windows Phone Central’s E3 2012 coverage will start on Monday, June 4^th and run throughout the week. Stop by often and/or follow the e3 2012 tag for all of this year’s stories.

Related: Our full DOOM Eternal Xbox One review