Tomb Raider’s Return Teased for The Game Awards with Iconic Dual-Pistol Lara Croft: “Did You Miss Her?”

It’s been over seven years since Shadow of the Tomb Raider wrapped up Lara Croft’s reboot trilogy, and fans have been eagerly awaiting any news about what’s next for the iconic adventurer. Now, it looks like that wait might finally be coming to an end, as a significant Tomb Raider reveal is set to take place at The Game Awards later this week.

“Did you miss her?” the official Tomb Raider account teased on Twitter. “She missed you.” This message invites fans to tune in on December 11 for a glimpse into the future of one of gaming’s most beloved franchises. The announcement was first hinted at in Fortnite, where a TGA-themed island was created for players to vote on their favorite fan-made creations.

The teaser features a silhouette of Lara Croft striking a confident pose with the classic dual pistols that defined her look in the original 1996 game. If you look closely, you can spot pouches and holster straps around her legs, reminiscent of her classic outfit.

While there’s speculation that this reveal could be linked to a non-gaming project, such as the upcoming Prime Video series, many believe it will be our first look at the new Tomb Raider game that Crystal Dynamics announced back in 2022. You don’t hint at the “future of one of gaming’s most iconic franchises” without fans expecting a video game announcement.

The most intriguing aspect is the updated design of Lara. As early as 2021, Crystal Dynamics expressed a desire to “unify” the classic Tomb Raider timeline with the modern Survivor trilogy. We’ve seen new interpretations of the character that blend ’90s style with a more realistic look. This teaser certainly seems to suggest a cohesive vision for Lara Croft moving forward.

Currently, we know two key details about the new Tomb Raider game: it’s being developed using Unreal Engine 5, and it’s set to be published by Amazon Games. For the past couple of years, Crystal Dynamics has mostly been silent, only resurfacing to announce layoffs. Let’s hope this reveal at The Game Awards brings some much-needed excitement and positivity.