Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog showed off nearly a quarter of an hour of fresh Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis gameplay during the Xbox Broadcast at Gamescom 2026. This isn’t just a clip—it’s a full-length demo of the Peruvian level, where Lara must solve puzzles, dodge Velociraptors, and once again face that same T-Rex. The release is February 12, 2027, on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2.
Visually, the remake looks impressive. Unreal Engine 5 delivers images that surpass anything we saw in the Survivor trilogy. The locations are larger in scale, the lighting is more natural, and Lara’s model is meticulously detailed. The developers didn’t just repaint the original—they rebuilt it to meet modern standards.
But the graphics aren’t the only thing that’s changed.
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New gameplay mechanics: crafting and combat
Gameplay mechanics have been thoroughly reworked. Lara’s movements are now noticeably more dynamic—sprinting, dashing, and a grappling hook—all of which make level exploration more fluid and responsive. First aid kits are no longer found in ancient tombs (which, you’ll admit, always looked odd). Instead, a crafting system has been introduced: Lara gathers resources directly in locations and crafts healing items and temporary buffs. Hardcore players can ignore this mechanic—the developers leave the choice.
The combat system has also been updated. Enemies no longer charge head-on—Velociraptors are equipped with AI that forces them to dodge, flank, and attack from unexpected angles. Lara can activate slow motion for precise shots while jumping. The Tyrannosaurus itself is now green, with yellow accents and extensive feathers. Fighting it feels like a choreography: dodging, using the environment, counterattacking at the right moment.
In an interview with IGN, the developers at Crystal Dynamics emphasized their goal to preserve the spirit of the 1996 original while also providing a comfortable environment for new players. One striking example is the scanner, which can be used in various ways. If you want a clue for a puzzle, point it at a structure. If you want to delve into the lore, scan the environment and read the descriptions. There are no timers, no pressure—everyone explores the ruins at their own pace.
Flexible Difficulty System and Hint Disabling
Perhaps the most important innovation in Legacy of Atlantis isn’t just about graphics, but about freedom. Game Director Raúl Siqueira confirmed that the remake will feature a flexible difficulty system inspired by Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
Players will be able to separately adjust three parameters:
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Combat Difficulty—how aggressive enemies are and how much damage they deal.
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Puzzle Difficulty—the number of hints and the complexity of logical constructs.
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Exploration Difficulty—the presence or absence of visual markers.
The last point is a whole other story. In the settings, you’ll be able to completely disable the yellow paint used to mark climbing ledges in modern games. Many veterans find this annoying—it takes away the spirit of exploration when every path is pre-highlighted. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, increasing the difficulty removed the color coding completely. The same will be true here.
Why did the developers take this step? Siqueira explains simply: “The most important lesson we learned is adapting the difficulty level to player expectations.” Tomb Raider has always been a hybrid of different genres—puzzles, action, and exploration. And it turns out that many players enjoy challenging puzzles but feel unsure of gunplay. Separate sliders allow everyone to tailor their experience to their needs.
It’s still unknown how closely Legacy of Atlantis will replicate the system from Shadow of the Tomb Raider—the developers say they’re “still polishing” the details. But the fact remains: in 2027, we’ll get a remake where you can turn off hints, keep the hardcore puzzles, and play on easy difficulty in combat. Or vice versa.
Comparison of Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Anniversary
In 2007, Tomb Raider: Anniversary, the first remake of the original game, was released. Back then, it was a step forward: improved graphics, redesigned levels, and physics that were modern by its standards. But Anniversary, at its core, remains a remaster with elements of a reimagining—the same level design, the same puzzles, just in a more beautiful package.
Legacy of Atlantis is a completely different beast. It’s not just “updated textures.” It’s a full-fledged rebuild in Unreal Engine 5, with a reworked level structure, a new movement system, crafting, rewritten enemy AI, and separate difficulty settings. Blogger Cycu1 has already compared footage from both games—the difference is colossal. What was simplified in Anniversary (especially the Atlantis levels, which in the original leaned toward a Geiger-esque horror aesthetic) will apparently be restored and reimagined in Legacy of Atlantis.
Moreover, many journalists and fans are calling Legacy of Atlantis not so much a remake as a “sequel masquerading as a remake.” The game combines elements of the original trilogy, Survivor mechanics, and entirely new ideas. Anniversary was a homage. Legacy of Atlantis aspires to something more—a reboot of the entire franchise.
Under the hood, Legacy of Atlantis is powered by Unreal Engine 5, and is being developed in collaboration with Flying Wild Hog (yes, the same Polish studio that made Shadow Warrior). The animations are smoother, the enemies are smarter, the levels are larger and more detailed. Lara was recognizable in Anniversary, but she was still trapped by the mechanics of 2007. Here, Lara moves like a modern action character: dashes, dodges, slow motion, crafting on the fly.
If Anniversary was a careful step forward, Legacy of Atlantis is a leap over the abyss. And judging by the 15 minutes of gameplay from Gamescom, the landing will be confident.
