Tomb Raider 30th Anniversary: A Flood of Merchandise and Potential Remasters
Fans of the iconic Tomb Raider franchise should prepare their wallets, as a significant wave of merchandise is being teased in anticipation of this year's 30th anniversary celebrations. While the highly awaited new mainline game featuring Lara Croft is not scheduled until 2027, 2026 promises to be an eventful year for the series.
This year will see the release of Tomb Raider: Legacy Of Atlantis, a comprehensive remake of the original game, alongside a plethora of commemorative products. Embracer Group, which acquired the franchise from Square Enix in 2022, has announced an extensive list of partnerships aimed at marking this milestone anniversary.
Partnerships Hint at New Products and Possible Remasters
The official Tomb Raider website has revealed a detailed roster of collaborators, including notable names such as Dark Horse, Funko, and Aspyr. This list is accompanied by special anniversary artwork showcasing Lara Croft's evolving designs over the decades.
Among these partnerships, Aspyr stands out due to its expertise in ports and remasters of older games. As a subsidiary of Embracer, Aspyr has previously released two collections of remastered Tomb Raider titles, covering the initial six games developed by Core Design.
This involvement strongly suggests that Aspyr's role in the anniversary celebrations will be game-related. Potential projects could include:
- A special physical bundle combining the existing remastered collections, possibly in collaboration with Limited Run Games.
- Remasters of retro Tomb Raider games such as the 2006 title Tomb Raider: Legend or the lesser-known Game Boy entries.
- Enhanced editions of the two Game Boy Advance games, Tomb Raider (2000) and Curse Of The Sword (2001), or the Ubisoft-developed Tomb Raider: The Prophecy (2002).
Merchandise Galore and Upcoming Media Projects
The partnership list allows for more straightforward predictions regarding new Tomb Raider products. For instance, Dark Horse is likely to produce new comics or an anniversary book documenting the series' history, while Funko is expected to release collectible figures.
Additionally, the anniversary coincides with other major Tomb Raider developments, such as the upcoming Amazon TV series starring Sophie Turner as Lara Croft. Recent reports indicate that Keely Hawes, who has voiced Lara in several games, will join the cast, potentially playing Lara's mother.
As the franchise celebrates three decades of adventure, fans can look forward to a year filled with nostalgic merchandise, potential game re-releases, and new media expansions, all building excitement for Lara Croft's return in 2027.
