Earlier this month the webmasters of the fansite Kronika Tomb Raider launched a free digital magazine, Tomb Raider Wanderlust. The first edition, titled "In the Shadow of an Icon," was originally released in Czech, but an English language version is now available.
My Q&A style interview is just one of many conversations with TR developers and superfans, including composers Nathan McCree and Peter Connelly, writer and voice actor Jennifer Milward, cosplayers Jenn Croft and Rident, official Lara model Jill de Jong, and voice actor Shelly Blond, the first Lara Croft.
Visit Tomb Raider Wanderlust for more info and links to both the Czech and English magazines. You'll also find a video preview, social media links, and a blog with updates about current and future issues. The project is off to a great start, and I look forward to seeing what editor Jiŕí Zamarski and art director Jiŕí Benda bring us next!
This week toymaker Funko announced it will be launching two classic-inspired Lara Croft vinyl figures early in the new year. Lara joins the ranks of the chibi-inspired Funko Pop! series with this 3.75-inch dual-wielding darling releasing in late January. A 5-inch figure will also be added to the brand's Rock Candy line in February.
Much to the dismay of Tomb Raider collectors, these toys won't be available in time for Christmas, but both can be pre-ordered from Amazon or through local toy and collectibles retailers.
I recently had the great pleasure of chatting with Kris Darby (@digitalstrider) and Sam Turner (@MrSamTurner) on an episode of their Staying In Podcast. Topics included good (and bad) chicken-rearing techniques, marathons (both real and virtual), and of course Tomb Raider. These guys are some of the smartest, most articulate, and most fun gamers I know. I hope you'll give them a listen.
Anyone interested in donating or receiving a ticket to Nathan McCree's Tomb Raider Live in Concert December 18 at the Eventim Apollo in London, please contact me a.s.a.p. I will attempt to connect donors and attendees in the next few days. The goal is to provide as many free tickets as possible. The larger the audience, the greater the chance that the show will be able to continue on a WORLD TOUR.
Please SHARE this with friends and fans who might be interested in going or in helping someone else attend. I've also posted on Facebook and Twitter.
Check out Nathan's video appeal on YouTube and share that as well.
The number of tickets we'll be giving away will depend on how many donors we can line up. Donors do not need to give the price of an entire ticket. If you can donate even a little, that would be great.
Recipients should also know that we cannot provide transportation, so if you're interested in going, you'll need to get yourself to the show.
If you haven't played Lara Croft GO yet, well...GO! Square Enix Montréal's wonderful Tomb Raider-inspired puzzle game is now out on PS4 and Vita with a new expansion, The Mirror of Spirits, featuring exciting new puzzle mechanics set inside Croft Manor. Here's a little preview.
There's no news yet on whether the new levels will also be available on iOS and Android, and Windows Phone/PC/Tablet, but let's hope so.
UPDATE (12/4/16): The game was just release on Steam today, and I'm told that the Mirror of Spirits expansion will come to other platforms following a 3-month exclusive on PlayStation.
As of this writing, tickets are still available for the world premiere of Nathan McCree's Tomb Raider Suite, Sunday, December 18, at the Eventim Hammersmith Apollo in London.
The 70-minute concert suite for full orchestra and chorus features extended and reworked versions of McCree's original soundtracks from the first three Tomb Raider games, as well as stills and video clips from the games projected on a giant screen above the orchestra. It was recently announced that the evening will be hosted by special guest presenter Shelley Blond, voice of the original Lara Croft. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime event for Tomb Raider fans!
Shelley Blond played Lara Croft in the original Tomb Raider
During the creative process, McCree has shared a few of the updated compositions—"Vertigo," "A Friend Since Gone," and "The T-Rex"—on Soundcloud and has been interviewed on the Official Tomb Raider Blog, Kate Remington's Respawn! podcast for National Public Radio, and in M Magazine. You can also follow Nathan on twitter and Facebook for up-to-the-minute Tomb Raider Suite information.
The dice have been rolled and the random number gods have spoken! Congratulations to the 38 winners of Team Tomb Raider Community's Extra Life prize raffle. The winners have also been contacted by email.
TR Live VIP Passes – Carla (UK) Jose Cruz Art – Ricardo S. (Portugal) Taryn Platt Art – Lys (US) LaraRobsGraves Art – vampirecheetah (US) ROTTR Backpack – Lodair (Brazil) ROTTR Quiver and Art Print Set – Eydas (Israel) Tomb Raider Fan Kit – Simon T. (UK) ROTTR Boxed Poster Set – Sunspiral (US) 20 Years of Tomb Raider Book – Fran (Scotland) ROTTR Art Book – Raphaël (France) Tomb Raider Playing Cards – Shauni (Belgium) and Chris (Canada) Lara Croft Atlas Figurine – Maribel V. (US) Tourniquet phone case – Kieran (UK) Box Art phone case – Kayla V. (US) Crossroads phone case – whitney (US) Official Tomb Raider Files Book – Caity (US) Nathan McCree Autograph – José C. (Mexico) LEGO Adventurer Minifigures – Brian G. (US), Darby (US), Robert B. (US), and Oliver C. (US) Dark Horse Comics Collection – Annika S. (Germany), Lauren H. (US), and Tim O. (Australia) CCG Starter Deck Set – Dennis H. (US), Keaton (US), MawiaJ (Finland), Monica G. (US), Stephanie P. (UK), and Anzel (South Africa) Blade of Gwynnever Book – Patrick H. (UK) ROTTR Xbox One – Rena (UK) and georgekgr (Greece) ROTTR Steam – Aaron G. (Scotland) and Scott (Northern Ireland) ROTTR PS4 – Paul B. (UK) and Kurya B. (US)
Thanks to everyone who entered, donated to our Extra Life efforts, watched our livestreams, and helped to spread the word! So far we have raised $3,743 for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Extra Life accepts donations through the end of the year, so we are hoping to reach the $4,000 milestone by then. If you haven't donated yet, you can still contribute by visiting theteam's Extra Life page.
The team would like to give special thanks to the following sponsors:
Our wonderful, anonymous supporter for the Tomb Raider Suite VIP passes.
Artists José Cruz, Taryn Platt, and LaraRobsGraves (Ana and Inna) for their special contributions.
Lori Croft at Survivor Reborn for the Atlas figurine, TR phone cases, Official TR Files Book, and Nathan McCree autograph.
Saber-Scorpion for the awesome LEGO adventurer minifigures.
Meagan, Robin, and Katie at Crystal Dynamics for supporting our efforts throughout the year and lining up a great selection of prizes for this year's raffle. CD's donations include the signed copy of 20 Years of Tomb Raider, the backpack, quiver, fan kit, poster set, ROTTR Art Book, 20 Year Celebration playing cards, and Rise of the Tomb Raider game downloads.
Dark Horse Comics for the Tomb Raider comic trade paperback collections.
Square Enix Montréal for the Lara Croft GO game codes given away during our the livestreams.
GOG.com for the classic Tomb Raider and other PC game codes, which were also given out during the streams.
The Extra Life prize raffle has been extended an extra day. The deadline to enter is now Saturday, November 12, 2016, at 11:59 pm EST (4:59 am GMT November 12). Winners will be chosen at random and announced here on this blog, as well as on the team's Extra Life page and social media within a few days after the contest finishes. Individual winners will also be contacted by email.
Prizes up for grabs include VIP passes to Tomb Raider Live in Concert; Rise of the Tomb Raider for PS4, PC, and Xbox One; a copy of the book 20 Years of Tomb Raider signed by the author, Meagan Marie; plus some awesome fan artwork, books, and other collectibles!
Some of the prizes up for grabs in the TR Community Extra Life raffle.
Happy Monday, everybody. Over the weekend, the 27 players on the Tomb Raider Community team together raised more than $3,500 for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals! Donations ranged from $3 to $100, with 233 donations in all. HUGE THANKS to everyone who contributed, played, and cheered us on during our marathon!
UPDATE: By year's end, the team raised a total of $4,340! Congratulations to everyone who donated, participated, and cheered us on!
I'm still chipping away at my $1,000 personal goal and will continue to livestream and collect donations through the end of the year. If you haven't donated yet, there's still time. Visit my Extra Life page for details.
The team's PRIZE RAFFLE ends this Thursday, November 10, so be sure to enter soon if you haven't done so already. Anyone can enter, but Extra Life donors receive bonus entries. Winners will be announced this weekend. Follow this link for details and raffle entry form.
Update: The raffle deadline has been extended through Friday, November 11.
Some of the prizes up for grabs in the TR Community Extra Life raffle.
This year I will once again be leading Team Tomb Raider Community in Extra Life, a charity videogame marathon to raise money for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. We could really use your support!
CMN hospitals provide care for children from across North America and more than 100 other countries. They serve kids battling serious illnesses such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, and cystic fibrosis, as well as children who need complicated surgery or who've been injured and require intensive care. The money we raise also helps to fund medical research and community awareness of children's health issues.
Donating online is safe and easy. Just visit our Extra Life team page to get started. If you'd like to donate offline with a check or money order made out to "Children's Miracle Network Hospitals," that's fine too. Contact me or any other team member and we'll work out the details. Your contribution is tax deductible and ALL PROCEEDS go to help kids.
As part of our Extra Life efforts, the Tomb Raider team will be livestreaming throughout the weekend of November 4-6, with additional dates and times to be announced. I personally plan to play The Lost Artifact as well as a few co-op games with teammates that weekend, then take a stab at Rise of the Tomb Raider on Survivor difficulty later in November. Bookmark my Twitch Channel and the Team Livestream Schedule, and follow me on social media for up-to-the-minute Extra Life news.
As a way of thanking our supporters, we are raffling off a bunch of cool prizes, including VIP passes for Tomb Raider Live in Concert, games, books, collectibles, gorgeous fan-made artwork, and more! Anyone can enter the raffle, but Extra Life donors receive bonus raffle entries. Click the graphic below for details and entry form.
Even if you can't make a donation, you can still support the team by watching us play, cheering us on, and spreading the word.
It's been a long time coming but Rise of the Tomb Raider is finally out on PlayStation 4! Owners of the special 20 Year Celebration edition are in for a real treat. Along with the core game, this special release includes all available DLC including outfits, weapons, the three major content packs that were previously released on other platforms, plus the all-new Croft Manor, Co-op Endurance, and classic outfits DLC. The video below provides an action-packed overview—or you can just fire up the game and get right into it!
The 20 Year Celebration edition is also available for Windows PC. If you already own the original Rise of the Tomb Raider on PC or Xbox One, you can purchase the new DLC separately or download it as part of the Season Pass. (See the update below for details.) Unfortunately Croft Manor and Co-op Endurance are not availble on Xbox 360.
The developers have also announced that everyone who plays Rise of the Tomb Raider during launch week (October 11-18) on any platform with an online connection will receive 100,000 in-game credits to spend on Expedition Card packs. For more about Expedition Cards and credits, check out the DLC page on my main site. Visit the Square Enix Forums for a general 20 Year Celebration Edtion FAQ. And in case you get stuck, you'll find my detailed Rise of the Tomb Raider walkthrough in the usual place. I'll be adding the new Croft Manor content soon.
If you haven't ordered the game yet, you can find it on Amazon.com, Amazon UK, and at your local game retailer.
UPDATE (8:50 am EDT) - UNLOCKING THE NEW DLC ON PC/XBOX ONE: If you have the game on Steam, the new content should download automatically when you start the game. If that's not happening, right-click the game in the Steam Library list and choose Properties > Updates, then choose one of the options from the drop-down list under 'Automatic Updates'. There's also a tab in the Properties box for DLC. Scroll down and make sure 20 Year Celebration pack is checked.
If the patch has downloaded, you should see version 1.0 build 751.5_64 on the splash screen that comes up when you launch the game.
The actual content doesn't unlock on Seam until 9am PDT. See these patch notes for details.
On Xbox One, if the new content doesn't unlock automatically, go to the Xbox dashboard, choose Store from the menu bar at the top, search for Rise of the Tomb Raider, scroll down to 'Add-ons for this game' then select the Season Pass. Select 'Manage' and you should see a screen with all included DLC. The new stuff should be in the left column under 'Ready to install.' Select that and choose the 'Install all' button. If you then go to 'My Games and Apps' you can watch the download progress.
Once the new content is unlocked, you'll be able to access the Croft Manor DLC from the main menu any time after reaching the Siberian Wilderness level in the main story. Co-op Endurance mode is available under Expeditions > Endurance. Co-op is one of the options in the setup menu.
It's official! After months of hard work by Senior Community Manager Meagan Marie and her loyal team of fan editors (including yours truly), 20 Years of Tomb Raider will be released October 25. This 360-page hardcover, published by Prima Games, is packed with inside information and gorgeous pictures spanning the entire history of the series, from the early days at Core Design through Rise of the Tomb Raider, including:
Previously unpublished images and assets.
Exclusive interviews from Core Design, Crystal Dynamics, official voice actors, composers, live actions models, comic artists, and more.
An in-depth look at every game and expansion, with insights into unreleased titles.
An exploration of the entire Tomb Raider universe—games, comics, Hollywood movies, pop culture influences, and the community.
More than 200 Contributors, including industry insiders, writers, artists, and fans!
Check out the preview Meagan tweeted yesterday and pre-order from your local bookstore, Amazon, or Amazon UK.
This afternoon Crystal Dynamics invited webmasters from the Official Tomb Raider Fansite Program to a livestream Q&A session focused on the upcoming Rise of the Tomb Raider 20 Year Celebration edition.
Senior Designer Will Kerslake and Senior Community Manager Meagan Marie introduced a series of gameplay demos shown earlier this month at Gamescom, then answered our questions—with technical and moral support from Associate Community Specialist Robin Huey. We were not allowed to record the stream but I've included the demo video and the new "Blood Ties" trailer below.
In case you missed the announcement back in July, Rise of the Tomb Raider 20 Year Celebration will be released for PlayStation 4 on October 11. The new DLC will be available (separately and as part of the Season Pass) for PC and Xbox One players who already own the game. Check this post for details. Pre-order through Amazon or Amazon UK.
= = = = = WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD! = = = = =
Recapping this afternoon's livestream, first up was a sequence from the main game titled "Thin Ice," in which Lara makes a daring escape at one point during the main story.
Next, we saw scenes from the "Blood Ties" story DLC set in Croft Manor. A third segment featured "Lara's Nightmare," the second part of the Croft Manor DLC, in which Lara takes on hordes of zombies invading her ancestral home in a scenario straight out of a bad dream. Finally, an extended segment of the upcoming Co-op Endurance Mode was shown. (This is not included in the Gamescom demo, but you can see some of it in this video from IGN.)
Meagan and Will answered questions between each segment. Since we were not permitted to record the session, I can't provide a transcript, and I apologize for any errors I may have made while taking notes.
0:00 - "Thin Ice" action sequence from the main campaign
03:35 - "Blood Ties" Croft Manor story DLC
08:40 - "Lara's Nightmare" Croft Manor expedition DLC
20 YEAR CELEBRATION (General)
When asked what part of the new game they are proudest of, Meagan mentioned the nostalgia factor—things like classic Lara skins, Easter eggs, and other tributes to the previous games. Will said he was excited that Rise of the Tomb Raider offers a much bigger, more complicated game (building on the foundation laid in the reboot), and that it's great that the developers were able to expand into new areas, including procedurally generated content like the Cold Darkness and Lara's Nightmare DLC. Both also mentioned TIME magazine's inclusion of Rise of the Tomb Raider #18 in their 50 Best Videogames of All Time.
One webmaster asked how they decided which classic skins to use in 20 Year Celebration release, Meagan explained that after researching and writing the 20 Years of Tomb Raider book, she brought a bunch of suggestions to the team. They ultimately decided on Lara's Home outfit from TR1, the classic outfit with long braid from TR2, plus a few fan favorites: the TR2 bomber jacket, the catsuit, and of course one from Angel of Darkness.
Will elaborated on the new Extreme Survivor difficulty mode, explaining that it takes all the elements of Survivor (auto-aim and health regeneration disabled, tougher enemies, etc.) and removes all checkpoints. Players can only save by finding and lighting base camps.
Meagan mentioned that Arabic localization (subtitles but unfortunately not voiceover) will be added in the 20 Year Celebration edition.
In the PS4 version, all content will be included on the disk. PC/Xbox One will need to download the DLC, which will be included with the season pass but also available separately.
BLOOD TIES (Croft Manor Story DLC)
Includes approximately 1 hour of new content—more if you are a typical hardcore Tomb Raider fan who enjoys exploring thoroughly and examining every object. ;)
Will likened this DLC to an adventure game. There are lots of documents and relics you can piece together to solve puzzles.
Both Will and Meagan agreed that one of the best new features of Blood Ties is PlayStation VR support. Will explained a bit about how virtual reality is implemented. The game takes the usual third-person view when playing the manor DLC without VR, but it shifts to first-person in VR mode. "You can teleport from place to place," Will explained, but once you're in a room, "with VR you can walk around in your living room in order to explore the virtual space. The more you can move, the more you feel connected to that other world." Meagan said fans in Spain who tried the demo had a blast exploring and inspecting all the details of the manor.
Several of us were concerned about the user-friendliness of the PS VR rig for players who wear glasses, but both Meg and Will said so far it has not been a problem. Will encouraged people to try a demo—which should be widely available at game stores once PlayStation VR launches—before committing.
As you'll see if you watch the video, Blood Ties includes some flashback sequences, including conversations between young Lara and her father in voiceover.
Logistically Croft Manor fits between Syria and Siberia. As you play through the game, once you finish the Syria level, the manor will then unlock and you can explore it any time after that. If you miss any collectibles, you will be able to return, as you do in other levels, and when you finish the main campaign story, a few new things are added to the manor to be found.
My fellow webmasters noticed a number of similarities and differences between the new iteration of Croft Manor and the classic versions. Will explained that, yes, the manor is dilapidated but Lara is going to try to win it back and make it her own.
Asked about the possibility of Easter eggs, secrets, and throwbacks to the classics? Meg and Will both gave an enthusiastic YES to all. Will said, Croft Manor was an obvious choice for the celebration since it connects the old and new games.
No comment on the status of Winston, Lara's butler and possibly her closest friend, but according to Will, "you do feel his presence in Lara's past," and yes, "you learn more about Lara's family and background."
LARA'S NIGHTMARE (Expedition DLC)
Lara's Nightmare is a separate component of the Croft Manor DLC. It is one of several Expedition modes, which are separate from the main story campaign. (This was not said in the Q&A but I get the impression that it's similar to the Cold Darkness Awakened DLC in that it's loosely connected to the story but is entirely optional and more combat-oriented. If you haven't played the game yet or aren't familiar with these extra modes, check out this Expeditions FAQ.)
This mode includes short sessions with intense action/combat focus. Each time you start in different random place within Croft Manor. The major pick-ups are also randomized.
One webmaster asked how do you win in Lara's Nightmare? Will explained that you play for score (as in the other Expeditions) and there are leaderboards. You can choose from the full range of difficulty levels, attempt various challenges, and use cards to modify your loadout, as in the other Expedition modes. You need to make it all the way through on one life. In the process you'll find skulls, find a key, and defeat a final boss.
VR support is only for Blood Ties not Lara's Nightmare.
Why zombies? Apparently the devs did a lot of playtesting and zombie modes tested high. The goal was then to figure out what do zombies look like in the Tomb Raider universe. In Cold Darkness, they manifest as infected soldiers overrunning an old Soviet research lab. In Lara's Nightmare, it's a literal nightmare, made up of terrors that Lara is working through subconsciously. There are references from the other DLC packs—Cold Darkness, Baba Yaga, as well as Blood Ties.
CO-OP ENDURANCE MODE
The 20 Year Celebration edition adds a new co-op mode to the existing Endurance Mode DLC. (In the original iteration, Lara is alone and must survive in the wilderness—by finding food and shelter, as well as fighting off enemies and hostile wildlife—while exploring crypts and collecting artifacts.)
As previously announced, each player will appear as Lara in his/her own game. The other player will appear as Nadia, the NPC from the Baba Yaga and Cold Darkness DLC.
In the Q&A, Will clarified that the game only includes online co-op, not local.
Players can go off on their own but the game encourages them to work together. For example, resources are shared as long as the two characters stay close enough together. Traps are much more unforgiving than in the main game, but players can revive an injured partner. Also, you can only leave a crypt (and thus get credit for finding an artifact) if you exit together.
If you do get separated, a player beacon in Survival Instinct will show where your partner is. You can't see the other player's status, but their character will make verbal comments if she's injured, freezing, or starving.
Many resources can be shared but a few, such as weapons looted from enemies or the contents of chests, are not shared.
There are no co-operative moves like the grapple/shield mechanics in Guardian of Light and Temple of Osiris, but your overall score is the combined score, and both players get credit for artifacts. So, again, it's to both players' advantage to work together.
As with other expeditions, each player can choose a few challenges at the start, and both can choose card-based modifiers which apply to both characters. The exception is cards for outfits, which can only be seen by the player using them. (Again, both players see themselves as Lara and the other player as Nadia, so the outfits you choose can only be seen by you.)
Single-player achievements can be acquired in co-op but there are also a number of new achievements for co-op.
Details on the PlayStation trophies and new Xbox/PC achievements will be announced at a later date.
Rise of the Tomb Raider Croft Manor DLC – Blood Ties and Lara's Nightmare – Coming October 11, 2016
As part of the Tomb Raider 20th anniversary celebration, Crystal Dynamics has revealed Tomb Raider Archives, a four-volume set collecting the classic Top Cow comics originally published between 1999 and 2006.
Andy Park, the series' original artist, made the official announcement during the SDCC panel "20 Years of Tomb Raider: Lara Croft's Multimedia Empire." The book will include a foreword by Park and feature his artwork, as well as the work of renowned comic artists Michael Turner, Marc Silvestri, David Finch, and many more. Writers include Turner, Dan Jurgens, and others. The set will be published by Dark Horse, which produces the current Tomb Raider and Lara Croft comic series.
Volume 1 will go on sale November 30, 2016. It will have 408 pages in an 8" x 12" hardcover format. Volumes 2 through 4 will follow next year.
Apparently issue #25, "Endgame," a Tomb Raider–Witchblade crossover, could not be included for legal reasons. That's unfortunate, but if you simply must know what happened, copies of this issue can usually be found at reasonable prices on Amazon and eBay.
ADDENDUM (8/21/16): Check out Treeble's comment below the post for more info about which issues are needed to follow crossover plot completly. Thanks, Treeble!
The Top Cow Tomb Raider comics were previously collected in a single massive paperback called the Tomb Raider Compendium, which has been out of print for many years and fetches premium prices on used book sites.
For more info about the Tomb Raider Archives and other #TombRaider20 festivities, visit the official Tomb Raider Blog.
Tomb Raider Archives 4-volume set collects 50 issues of the best-selling Top Cow comic. Order from TFAW, Amazon, or Amazon UK.
As of this writing, tickets are still available for the world premiere of Nathan McCree's Tomb Raider Suite, Sunday, December 18, at the Eventim Hammersmith Apollo in London.
To celebrate Tomb Raider's 20th anniversary McCree, composer for the first three Tomb Raider games, has created a 70-minute concert suite for full orchestra and chorus based on his original music. McCree’s Tomb Raider Theme has been re-used, arranged, and adapted in many of the Tomb Raider incarnations, including the movies, and is as famous in the game world as the James Bond Theme is in the movie world. McCree calls the event "a wonderful opportunity for the fans, as well as me, to hear the music as I had always intended it."
The Tomb Raider Suite will be performed live by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and chorus, conducted by Robert Ziegler. On a giant screen above the orchestra, the story of 20 years of Tomb Raider will be told through images and game footage. McCree will also host a pre-concert event in which he'll discuss creating the music for the original Tomb Raider games. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any Tomb Raider fan!
Tickets can be purchased througheventimapollo.com. A VIP Package—including preferred seating, a Tomb Raider lanyard, as well as a limited-edition print and concert program signed by Nathan—is available for hardcore fans.
The Rise of the Tomb Raider Scavenger Hunt is back! Pre-order the 20 Year Celebration edition; complete weekly trivia, photo, and social challenges; and unlock DLC, prizes, and for one lucky winnner, an Arctic adventure holiday!
It's official! This morning Crystal Dynamics announced that Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration will launch on PlayStation 4 October 11. This special edition will include the main game, all previously released DLC, plus a new story chapter called "Blood Ties," set in Croft Manor. Other new features include co-op play for Endurance Mode and PlayStation VR support. A collector's edition will also feature a 28-page book filled with official concept art and community contributions.
Here's a quick rundown of the new features:
The price for the 20-Year Celebration edition without the Artbook is set at $59.99. Since the game includes all DLC, there is no Season Pass. (Compare to the Xbox One and PC releases were $59.99 plus $29.99 for the DLC season pass.)
The new single-player Croft Manor DLC chapter, "Blood Ties," will allow players to explore Croft Manor in the main story mode, then defend it against a zombie invasion in a replayable Expedition mode called "Lara’s Nightmare." Blood Ties includes approximately 60 minutes of new gameplay.
"Endurance Mode," a DLC pack previously released for Xbox and PC, will include a new online co-op expansion. Nadia (the NPC from the earlier Baba Yaga and Cold Darkness Awakened DLC, will be the second playable character. However, through clever design and dialogue, each player will appear as Lara, collaborating with Nadia for survival.
Brutal new "Extreme Survivor" difficulty mode with no checkpoints.
Re-designed cold-weather outfit inspired by the Antarctica levels in Tomb Raider III, plus classic Tomb Raider Uzis.
Classic Lara card pack which will allow fans to play Expedition Modes using one of five classic Lara models: Original Croft Manor, Classic Tomb Raider II, Tomb Raider II Bomber Jacket, Tomb Raider: Chronicles Catsuit, and Classic Angel of Darkness. (See the Expedition Modes FAQ for details on these special game modes included with the main game.)
All existing DLC including "Baba Yaga: The Temple of the Witch" and "Cold Darkness Awakened" packs, 12 outfits, 7 weapons, 35 Expedition Cards, etc., will be included at no extra cost.
Support for PlayStation VR that challenges players to unlock the mysteries of Croft Manor in first person.
PS4 Twitch integration featuring custom frame and viewer voting.
The Artbook Edition will be available worldwide on PlayStation 4 through participating retailers (TBA). Select European retailers will also offer the Artbook Edition for PC.
Rise of the Tomb Raider 20th Anniversary Edition (with all the DLC mentioned above) will also be available for PC and Xbox One, though not for Xbox 360. If you already own the original ROTTR game, the Blood Ties DLC and co-op Endurance Mode will be available for PC and Xbox One either separately or as part of the Season Pass. This new DLC is not available for Xbox 360.
If you do not own the Season Pass and wish to purchase only the "Blood Ties" pack it will be available separately for $9.99.
Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration includes tons of new content. Click to enlarge.
Pre-order the PS4 edition through your local game store or Amazon.com I will add links for Amazon UK, the Artbook edition, and the PC/Xbox One editions as soon as I have them.
All five issues of Lara Croft and the Frozen Omen are now collected in a 120-page, full-color trade paperback from Dark Horse Comics. I've ordered a copy for our Extra Life giveaway in November. If you can't wait to win it, it's also available at Things From Another World (at 10% off the $19.99 cover price) or as single-issue downloads from Dark Horse Digital.
The series is set in the same universe as the Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light and Temple of Osiris games. The story, by Corinna Bechko, centers around Lara's and fellow adventurer Carter Bell's attempts to stop a shady cult from unleashing global devastation. According to the promo blurb, "Ancient ivory artifacts hold the key to both salvation and destruction, and these rivals turned friends must recover them before the cultists in a race against time! Lara's newest quest is filled with incredible action, dual pistols, and high-spirited adventure."
You've probably seen the rumors floating around that the PS4 version of Rise of the Tomb Raider has been cancelled. Just letting you all know this is NOT TRUE. According to Crystal Dynamics, "As stated previously, Rise of the Tomb Raider's PlayStation 4 release is set for Holiday 2016. That's all we can say on the subject." I know it's difficult, but please try and be patient. The developers are probably not able to comment due to the terms of the exclusivity contract with Microsoft. Stay strong, friends. It's coming.
In case you missed any of the Tomb Raider news coming out of E3 this week, here's a quick recap. There has still been no announcement on the release date for the PS4 Rise of the Tomb Raider, but hopefully we'll hear more about that soon.
Tuesday 6/14
Square Enix Presents #TombRaider20 Top Tombs
Senior Community Manager Meagan Marie got together with superfans Raymond Croft and Jade Jolie for a segment on some of the "top tombs" in franchise history.
Gamespot
Meagan was also interviewed by Gamespot's Jeff Cannata, Ashley Esqueda, and Danny O'Dwyer about the 20th anniversary festivities and Tomb Raider's legacy.
Crystal Dynamics' Meagan Marie and Rich Briggs announced the upcoming release of a series of 20th Anniversary Lara Croft statues by Gaming Heads. The collection will include three Core Design-era Lara statues and three inspired by the Crystal Dynamics games. The first five designs have already been finalized, but fans are invited to vote for the sixth. Visit the official Lara Croft Facebook Page to vote for Chronicles Lara with VCI HQ catsuit or Angel of Darkness Lara.
Gamespot 20 Years of Tomb Raider book cover reveal
Meagan and Rich also spoke with Gamespot's Mary Kish about the upcoming 20-year retrospective book Crystal Dynamics is producing with Prima Games. They talked about the making of the anniversary logo and revealed the book's final cover design. The book is due out in October and is available for pre-order from Amazon or Amazon UK.
Shacknews
David Craddock from Shacknews also sat down with Meagan and Rich on Wednesday. This segment includes more nostalgic Tomb Raider reflections, as well as an announcement that the Re\Visioned Tomb Raider animated series, originally produced by GameTap for Tomb Raider's 10th anniversary, is now available in HD on the official Tomb Raider YouTube channel. If you only have time to watch one episode, make it "Pre-Teen Raider," by Gail Simone who later went on to write the TR reboot comics.
Meanwhile at WWDC....
Last but not least, and unrelated to E3, this week at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference Lara Croft GO was named one of 12 winners of the Apple Design Awards. If you missed this mobile gem, it's still available for iOS and Android, and Windows Phone/PC/Tablet.
Big thanks to Tomb Raider Arabia for the video clips above. Visit their site and check out their social media for more great TR content.
Check out this exciting new fan project! History and Geography in Tomb Raider is a documentary-style web series focusing on the historical, archaeological, and geographical aspects of the Tomb Raider franchise. Both the trailer below and the first episode will be narrated by original Lara Croft voice actor Shelley Blond. Subscribe to CroftManor on YouTube and follow TRHistory on social media for updates.
The producer is also looking for help with localization. If you speak any language other than English and want to contribute to the project, feel free to add subtitles in your language by clicking on the gear icon at the bottom right of any of the videos and choosing "Add Subtitles."
Square Enix Presents will be streaming live from E3 this week. The main Square Enix press conference starts tomorrow (Tuesday, June 14) at 11:45 PDT. The Tomb Raider segment, #TombRaider20: Top Tombs, a nostalgic episode focusing on favorite levels from past Tomb Raider titles, will be tomorrow (Tuesday) from 1-1:30 pm PDT.
UPDATE: The stream is finished now. You can find archived video on Square Enix's Twitch Channel. The TR segment begins at 01:29:06.
The Twitch and YouTube chat scroll way too fast for decent conversation, so if you want to chat during the event, I will be hanging out on Twitter as usual. Follow me @stellalune and/or the #TombRaider20 hashtag.
For details on the entire Square Enix E3 lineup visit Square Enix Presents. Hope to see you tomorrow!
Just a quick update to let everyone know that we now have strategy guides for all three major Rise of the Tomb Raider DLC packs. I put off working on them to the point where it was becoming embarrassing, but fortunately a couple of great friends have come to my rescue. I am eternally grateful to Treeble and John T. for their hard work and generosity. Better late than never!
ENDURANCE MODE was released December 29, 2015, as part of the Rise of the Tomb Raider Season Pass or as a separate download. It includes hours of gameplay, new Expedition Cards, a new outfit and weapon, plus 15 Steam/Xbox One achievements (10 achievements for Xbox 360).
DLC Description: Alone and in the wild, Lara must scrounge, scavenge, craft and survive the harsh elements by day, as well as lethal threats from enemies, both man and beast, by night. This is her ultimate woman-versus-wild test to push the limits of how long she can survive on her own in sprawling, unforgiving landscapes. Fire takes fuel, cold kills the unprepared, food restores health, but everything must be caught, collected, or crafted. You start with nothing and must find everything. Challenge friends to your longest survival run and battle to the top of the leaderboards for the title of Ultimate Survivor.
BABA YAGA: THE TEMPLE OF THE WITCH launched January 26, 2016. It's also available separately or as part of the Season Pass, and includes a story-driven adventure, a new outfit and weapon for Lara, new Expedition Cards, and 22 achievements (15 on Xbox 360).
DLC Description: Deep in the wilds of Siberia lies a forest that no man will enter, where a Soviet expedition vanished without a trace. Lara enters the Wicked Vale in search of a missing man, but she finds a nightmare that defies explanation. Is the witch, Baba Yaga, haunting the forest? Or is there more to the myth? Featuring three hours of new gameplay, Lara will face new adversaries, explore a new tomb, solve a decades old mystery, and face off against an ancient evil.
Baba Yaga: The Temple of the Witch concept art (click to enlarge)
COLD DARKNESS AWAKENED, the third major DLC drop, came out March 29. As with the others, it's available separately or as part of the Season Pass. In addition to a solid, replayable Expedition, the DLC includes a new weapon and outfit, two new card packs, and 10 achievements.
DLC Description: Decommissioned during the Cold War, a dormant weapons research base has been breached, unleashing a mysterious affliction into the Siberian wilderness that transforms men into blood-thirsty, mindless killers. Lara must overcome increasingly dangerous waves of these infected adversaries while scavenging their equipment and crafting additional gear on the fly, in kill or be killed survival-combat. Fight for your life against new enemies and complete new challenges, while discovering a way to stop or perhaps even reverse this impending catastrophe.
Calling all collectors! As you may have heard, the Tomb Raider developers have been amassing a huge collection of Lara Croft magazine covers as part of the 20th anniversary celebration. The count now stands at around 1,050 unique covers—enough to secure a Guinness World Record for Lara Croft as the Video Game Character with the Most Magazine Front Covers.
But like all true raiders, they're not content with 99% completion. They want EVERY Tomb Raider cover printed. So they're encouraging all of us to look through our personal collections to unearth any covers that have not yet been included. If you find one, please scan it or take a high-quality photo and either put it up on Flickr and send me a link, or send the scan directly to me () and I will make sure it is included.
Please use Flickr, since it is free and allows for uncompressed image uploads, and Crystal Dynamics can then easily add your pics to their Favorites. (If you prefer not to creat a Flickr account, you're welcome to contact me, and I will gladly upload for you and credit you in the photo caption.)
Upload cover only (no inside pages) to a PUBLIC album so other contributors can see which magazines are already in the collection
These can be any magazine with images of Lara Croft or Tomb Raider on them related to the Tomb Raider games, comics, movies, or merchandise. Even covers with Angelina Jolie on them count, as long as they are billed as an interview about Tomb Raider. The only thing we won't accept is adult magazines with ties to Tomb Raider.
The cover can be shared with another gaming character, as long as Lara takes up at least half of the image.
Please ensure the cover doesn't have a mailing address on it. If it does, please Photoshop or obscure any personal details prior to scanning.
In the title of the image, please put the magazine name, issue number, and month/date of release. In the caption, please put the country it is from.
You can watermark the cover image if it is a rare image, but please put it somewhere small and inconspicuous so that it doesn't detract from the overall design. We want this to feel like an art gallery.
Thanks for your help and happy Tomb Raider 20th anniversary!
In case you missed last week's official announcement, Tomb Raider (2013) has at last come to Steam OS + Linux . For more information, including system requirements, visit publisher Feral Interactive's Tomb Raider minisite and the Tomb Raider product page on Steam.
As part of today's PAX East panel Lara Croft: The Undisputed Queen of Gaming, composer Nathan McCree announced his latest project: The Tomb Raider Suite, an all-new album based on his original music from the first three Tomb Raider games.
The collection will include all the original fan favorites, plus extended versions of many pieces, performed by a live orchestra and recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London. In addition to a CD/digital download release, there will be a live performance at a major London venue in conjunction with the Tomb Raider 20th anniversary festivities later this year.
The entire process—from composition to concert hall—will also be the subject of a documentary entitled Tomb Raider: Remastered, produced by David Burns of Eden Films and directed by Matthew Longfellow, who has previously documented such music legends as Pink Floyd, Metallica, Blondie, and Queen.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for the fans, as well as me, to hear the music as I had always intended it," McCree told the official Tomb Raider Blog.
Today at PAX East, Crystal Dynamics announced 20 Years of Tomb Raider, a hardcover compendium exploring the history of the franchise from the original 1996 game to Rise of the Tomb Raider.
The book is still in production, but I can tell you it will be HUGE! Fans from all eras will find something to drool over, including many previously unpublished images and assets, and insights into unreleased titles such as the Core Design Anniversary Edition and the Angel of Darkness trilogy. It will also feature exclusive interviews from developers at both Core Design and Crystal Dynamics, official voice actors, composers, live-action models, artists, and more.
In addition to in-depth coverage of every game, there will be sections spanning the entire Tomb Raider universe from the comics to the Hollywood movies, pop culture influences, merchandise and collectibles, and all of us—the community.
Previously unpublished Tomb Raider: Legend concept art by Toby Gard.
This adorable young Lara model didn't make it into Rise of the Tomb Raider.
Meagan Marie, Crystal Dynamics Senior Community Manager and a lifelong Tomb Raider fan, has been working tirelessly for months researching and writing this book. I and several other fan site admins have had the pleasure of pitching in. It's been a struggle not being able to talk to you about it, but we know you're going to love it!
20 Years of Tomb Raider will be out October 18. Pre-order from Amazon or Amazon UK.
In case you missed it, the entire hour-long PAX panel, "Lara Croft: The Undisputed Queen of Gaming" is archived here on the PAX2 Twitch channel.
This Friday, April 22, starting at 3 pm EDT, Crystal Dynamics will kick off the Tomb Raider 20th Anniversary celebration at PAX East in Boston with a panel discussion "Lara Croft: The Undisputed Queen of Gaming." Panelists include
moderator Greg Miller, Gamespot's Alexa Ray Corriea, Crystal Dynamics' Meagan Marie, Kam Yu, and Jason Botta, and classic Tomb Raider composer Nathan McCree.
UPDATE: For those who can't attend in person, the panel will be streamed live on the PAX2 Twitch Channel, and should be archived there after the event.
Nathan and the Crystal Dynamics crew have teased a few special announcements, and I'm planning to livetweet during the panel if I can get out of work early on Friday. Join me on Twitter @Stellalune if you can.
Several of you have sent me links and questions about a rough Rise of the Tomb Raider video that was recently leaked. My first guess was early April Fools' joke, but apparently it is a soryboard-type placeholder for some possible future DLC. Normally I don't share leaked media, but since the developers have addressed it directly, I'm passing on their statement which follows.
As some eagle-eyed Rise of the Tomb Raider players have discovered, two placeholder movies were accidentally included in the latest patch. This content was not meant to be released, but now that it is we wanted to respond to the questions we've received as a result. The movies are part of a DLC expansion we're exploring for Rise of the Tomb Raider. Our fans continue to enjoy Rise of the Tomb Raider and its DLC, including Cold Darkness Awakened which released on Tuesday, and we receive many requests for additional story content. We're always listening to feedback from our fans; especially this year as we celebrate 20 years of the iconic Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider franchise together.
If you have any questions you'd like me to pass on to the developers, please leave a comment below. It may take some time before they're able to reveal details, but I'm always happy to send your messages on to them.
Back in February, the awesome Jamie Sparks invited me to be the first guest on his new podcast. The result is this fun conversation about a few of my favorite things, including Tomb Raider, social media, and Extra Life. The Solid Gold Games Podcast is available on thejamiesparks.com, Soundcloud, and iTunes.
Note that my prediction about Star Wars' Daisy Ridley being cast as Lara Croft in the next Tomb Raider movie preceded the rumor mill by several weeks. Go, me!
Jamie also has a blog in which he discusses all sorts of things from gaming to music to life's ups and downs. Check out his post on Why Lara Croft Should be Your Girlfriend. Some of his reasons may surprise you.
You can also find Jamie on Twitter @thejamiesparks. Give him a follow and tell him I said hey!
The last major installment of downloadable content for Rise of the Tomb Raider, Cold Darkness Awakened, releases Tuesday, March 29, on Steam, Xbox One and Xbox 360.
Decommissioned during the Cold War, a dormant weapons research base has been breached, unleashing a mysterious affliction into the Siberian wilderness that transforms men into blood-thirsty, mindless killers. Lara must overcome increasingly dangerous waves of these infected adversaries while scavenging their equipment and crafting additional gear on the fly, in kill or be killed survival-combat. Fight for your life against new enemies and complete new challenges, while discovering a way to stop or perhaps even reverse this impending catastrophe. Includes the Ushanka outfit, which reduces Lara’s damage from melee attacks, the devastating Voidhammer shotgun, and the Cold Darkness Awakened Card Pack which includes over 15 new Expedition Cards.
Previous Rise of the Tomb Raider DLC includes Endurance Mode, in which players test their mettle against the elements, and Baba Yaga: The Temple of the Witch, a story-based expansion featuring elements of Russian folklore. Cold Darkness Awakened is part of the Rise of the Tomb Raider Season Pass or can be purchased separately. I have not seen a stand-alone price for this expansion, but the others are $9.99 each. The Season Pass is $29.99 and includes all three major expansions plus bonus outfits, weapons, and Expedition Cards.
Still no word on the PlayStation 4 release except that it will be along sometime in the last quarter of this year. Hang in there, friends!
Rise of the Tomb Raider launches for PC tomorrow! For a chance to win the Steam Digital Deluxe Edition, which includes the game and Season Pass, use the widget below to enter with your email address or Facebook account. Unlock bonus entries by following me on Twitter, tweeting about the giveaway, and taking a quick Rise of the Tomb Raider survey.
This giveaway is only open for 24 hours. Entries will be accepted until January 28, 2016, at 10 pm EST (3 am GMT January 29). The winner will be chosen at random and notified by email as soon as possible afterward. This prize has been donated by Crystal Dynamics, the game developers. Thanks to everyone there for their generosity and hard work.
For details about the game, including minimum and recommended system specifications, visit Steam's Rise of the Tomb Raider page. System Requirements Lab also has a handy "Can I Run It?" tool in case you're not sure whether your PC can handle the game.
Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics announced today that Rise of the Tomb Raider will be available for Windows PC January 28, 2016. The game launched exclusively on Xbox One and Xbox 360 in November, leaving most of the fan base out of the loop. So this should come as good news to PC players. PlayStation 4 gamers will have to wait until late 2016.
Rise of the Tomb Raider will be available as a digital download from Steam, the Windows 10 store, Amazon, the Square Enix e-store, and other retailers. The standard edition is priced at $59.99. The Digital Deluxe edition is $89.99, and includes the Season Pass for current and future DLC. A physical disk will be available in some countries.
A deluxe edition is available for pre-order exclusively through the Square Enix Store. It is priced at $149.99 and includes download codes for the game and Season Pass, a 12-inch statue of Lara Croft, a collectible steel case, and replicas of Lara's leather journal and jade necklace.
For additional information, including minimum system requirements, check out the Q&A from the developers below. For spoiler-free details about the game—along with my walkthrough in progress—visit my Rise of the Tomb Raider page and previous blog posts, which cover things like the Season Pass, game modes and Expedition, and other features.
Who led development of Rise of the Tomb Raider for PC?
Longtime partner Nixxes took lead in developing Rise of the Tomb Raider for PC, in close collaboration with Crystal Dynamics.
What are the minimum specs for Rise of the Tomb Raider on PC?
Minimum OS: Windows 7 64-bit
Processor: Intel Core i3-2100 or AMD equivalent
GPU: NVIDIA GTX 650 2GB or AMD HD7770 2GB
RAM: 6GB
HD Space: 25GB
DirectX: DirectX 11
Input: Mouse + Keyboard
What frame rate and resolution is Rise of the Tomb Raider on PC?
At recommended settings you can run the game at 60 FPS at 1080p. With max settings you will be able to run the game in 4K resolution.
What territories will sell Rise of the Tomb Raider for the PC as a physical disk?
Confirmed territories that will sell Rise of the Tomb Raider for PC as a physical disk include UK, France, Germany, and Poland. Further territories TBD.
Will Rise of the Tomb Raider also release on Mac?
We do not have any details on a Mac version at this time.
Will DLC already released for Xbox be available at launch?
Yes, all content currently available on Xbox One and Xbox 360 will be available as part of the season pass at launch. All future content will be released simultaneously across all platforms.
Can you play Rise of the Tomb Raider on PC with a controller?
You can play Rise of the Tomb Raider on PC with a controller, or with mouse and keyboard.
Are there any unique features for Rise of the Tomb Raider on PC?
The PC version of Rise of the Tomb Raider will support 4K resolution and features improved framerate and visuals.
Is the January 28 release date global?
Rise of the Tomb Raider will release digitally on January 28th worldwide. The physical version will go on sale in select territories on January 29th.
Are the languages the same for Rise of the Tomb Raider on PC? Any additional languages?
The languages options for Rise of the Tomb Raider on PC are the same as the Xbox One and Xbox 360 version. [Check the Steam product page for the 12 supported languages.]
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