December 4, 2022

Extra Life 2022 Raffle Winners

Congratulations to the 11 winners of the Tomb Raider Community Team's Extra Life raffle! Everyone has been contacted by email. We hope to hear from you all soon so we can send you your prizes.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider Ultimate Edition (Europe) - Jack (TheHellmouth_), UK
Shadow of the Tomb Raider Ultimate Edition (North America) - Paul M., USA
Taryn Platt's Lara Croft Portrait - Pikkufighter, Finland
Hunger Club Dragon's Lair Poster - Claire, UK
Pix'n Love Tomb Raider signed by Inna Vjuzhanina - Kallia Croft, UK
Tomb Raider Dark Angel Symphony signed by Peter Connelly - Didi, Bulgaria
Tomb Raider Suite signed by Nathan McCree - NevByte, UK
Tomb Raider Legends Board Game - Amanda H., USA
Tomb Raider Collectible Card Game Bundle - LuckyThirteenth, USA
Lara Croft Totaku Figurine - Matt T., USA
Lara Croft Funko POP! - ChrisOrMiss, USA

We're grateful to everyone who entered, donated to our Extra Life campaign, watched our livestreams, and helped to spread the word! As of today we have raised $10,578 for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. If you haven't donated yet but would like to, Extra Life accepts contributions through the end of the year. Visit the team's Extra Life page for details.

Photo montage showing the 11 prizes listed above.

We would also like to give special thanks to the following prize donors for helping to make this raffle and our marathon weekend such a success. 💙

  • Nicolas Croft for donating the European SOTTR package, as well as the signed Dark Angel Symphony and Tomb Raider Suite CDS, and for supporting the team's efforts throughout the year.
  • Our teammate Taryn Platt for donating her time and her beautiful Lara Croft portrait.
  • Hunger Club and teammate Kelly M. from Tomb Raider Horizons, for the Dragon's Lair poster.
  • Inna Vjuzhanina for the signed copy of Pix'n Love Editions Tomb Raider with her fantastic cover art.
  • All of the gamers who have donated through my Ko-fi page this year. Your contributions helped us buy and ship the other great prizes!

November 19, 2022

I'm (Finally) on Instagram

Following the rumors of Twitter's imminent demise, I've decided to make a public Instagram account for Tomb Raider stuff. I'm not much for posting pics and real-life updates, but you may catch a glimpse of country living, my flock of chickens and ducks, random gaming stuff, and who knows what else. I hope you'll give me a follow. I'm happy to follow back.

As always, you can find me and all my social, gaming, and charity fundraising links at tombraiders.net. And, if you feel so inclined, you can help keep the site running by buying me a ko-fi. Thanks always for your support!

stock photo of mobile phone with Instagram icon

November 13, 2022

Extra Life 2022 Game Day Stream with StardustLegacy

If you missed my Extra Life game day stream with StardustLegacy, you can watch it here. My husband pledged to donate $1 to each of our fundraisers for every red skull we collected, so you're about to witness the sloppiest Guardian of Light speedrun ever attempted. As you can see, we had a blast—both literally and figuratively!

This year's Extra Life marathon happened last weekend, November 5-6. The Tomb Raider Community team's Extra Life raffle runs through November 30, and we're accepting donations through the end of the year. All proceeds benefit Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Thanks again for your support!

November 10, 2022

$10,000 for Children's Hospitals! Thank you!

I'd like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make the Tomb Raider Community's Extra Life marathon a success. We had an amazing weekend! We streamed for 41 hours and, with your help, raised more than $10,000 for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals across the U.S. and Canada.
I'd need decades to write a post thanking everyone who assisted, but indulge me as I call out a few shining stars:
  • All of our teammates for contributing their time and energy. Many of them are still streaming and raising money for their local children's hospitals. Please check out the team roster and support where you can.
  • Earl Baylon (the voice of Jonah in the TR Survivor trilogy and a wonderful friend to the team) for offering four online meet-and-greet sessions as donation incentives, boosting us across the finish line.
  • Nicolas Croft for his generous raffle prize donations and for supporting the team throughout the year.
  • Hunger Club and teammate Kelly M. from Tomb Raider Horizons, for donating the extremely cool Dragon's Lair poster for the raffle.
  • Taryn Platt, also an Extra Life teammate, for contributing a fantastic Lara portrait for the raffle. She also has a bunch of cool art incentives for her donors.
  • Inna Vjuzhanina, who despite the many challenges of creating art in a war zone, has always been there for us. Check out her raffle contribution, a signed copy of Pix'n Love Editions Tomb Raider with her gorgeous cover art.
  • NondescriptMidnight for designing the team logo, which is also available on a variety of swag in the Tomb Raider Community Redbubble store. (Beware of imitations! Our artwork has been stolen and reposted in several stores. Follow our link for the real deal.) All proceeds will be donated to Extra Life.

Most of all, THANK YOU! Without you, there would be no Tomb Raider community. You donated, joined the streams to chat and cheer us on, and helped get the word out. We are so grateful for your support!

If you missed the marathon, it's not too late to contribute. The raffle is open through November 30, and we're still accepting donations through the end of the year. Follow these links for details about Extra Life, the team raffle, my personal donor incentives, and how donations are used.

Tomb Raider Community streamer UnchartedRaider wearing a puffy T. rex costume while streaming during Extra Life marathon weekend.
Tomb Raider Community teammate UnchartedRaider doing whatever it takes to get that $10K!

November 2, 2022

Extra Life 2022 Charity Marathon and Raffle

Welcome to another Extra Life season! This weekend, November 5-6, the Tomb Raider Community Team will be playing our 11th annual Extra Life charity marathon to benefit Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. I am once again gaming in support of San Jorge Children & Women's Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico. If you'd like to make a donation, just click the banner at right or visit my Extra Life page. Contributions are tax deductible and ALL PROCEEDS fund critical healthcare services for kids in Puerto Rico.

Even if you are unable to donate, I hope you'll join us for 40+ hours of Tomb Raider this weekend on Twitch. The marathon begins at 6 am EDT (10 am GMT) and runs through Sunday night.

FULL MARATHON SCHEDULE FOR YOUR TIME ZONE

I'll be playing Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light with StardustLegacy on her twitch channel starting at 12:30 pm EDT (4:30 GMT). My husband has set a challenge for us and will donate $1 to each of our Extra Life fundraisers for every red skull we collect. So watch us attempt the sloppiest speedrun ever! :D

Extra Life Co-op Guardian of Light Livestream, Saturday, November 5 at 12:30 pm EDT, twitch.tv/thestardustlegacy

The team has also launched our annual Extra Life raffle, with 11 prizes, including two Shadow of the Tomb Raider Ultimate Edition boxed sets, fabulous fan art, and other great swag. Anyone can enter, but Extra Life donors receive bonus entries. The deadline to enter is November 30.

RAFFLE DETAILS & ENTRY FORM

Some of our teammates will be streaming apart from the marathon, through the end of the year. They have some great rewards and incentives lined up for their donors, so be sure to browse the team roster and support where you can. Thank you so much!

September 8, 2022

Extra Life 2022: Play Games, Heal Kids, Win Valuable Prizes!

Attention, friends and fellow raiders! I am once again participating in Extra Life, a fundraiser for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. I'm playing for San Jorge Children and Women's Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I'll be streaming occasionally on Twitch in the run-up to the main event, a weekend-long gaming marathon November 5-6. Follow me there and on Twitter for updates.

So far I've raised almost $200 toward my $1,000 goal. To sweeten the pot, I've lined up several FUNDRAISING MILESTONE GIVEAWAYS. When we reach each milestone, I'll do a random drawing for the following prizes:
  • $250 – 20 Years of Tomb Raider hardcover book - Milestone reached 9/11. Winner: StardustLegacy!
  • $500 – Tomb Raider Legends: The Board Game - Milestone reached 9/12. Winner: Narayan L.!
  • $750 – The Art of Tomb Raider 2-volume set from Dreams & Visions Press. Milestone reached 9/17. Winner: Vinessa!
  • $1,000 – Tomb Raider III Lara Croft Regular Edition statue by Gaming Heads. Milestone reached 10/1. Winner: RadiantViper!
UPDATE 10/2: All prizes have now been given. Thanks to everyone for your support! Stay tuned for the Tomb Raider Community raffle later this month and the Extra Life marathon November 5-6.

Extra Life milestone prizes: The Art of Tomb Raider book set by Dreams and Visions Press, Tomb Raider Legends: The Board Game, 20 Years of Tomb Raider by Meagan Marie, and the Tomb Raider III Lara Croft regular edition statue by Gaming Heads


HERE'S HOW TO ENTER:
  • Email ( ) with the subject "Extra Life Giveaway" and a brief message letting me know you're interested. I will confirm I received it within a few days.
  • Include your name or nickname and the country where you live. I can ship almost everywhere, but there are a few countries where the US Postal Service won't deliver. If you win a prize and I can't get it to you, I'll try to find a digital alternative.
  • If you donated to Extra Life through my fundraising page, please remind me, especially if you donated using a different name or email address. You don't have to donate to win, but DONORS of $5 or more get THREE chances to win each prize. Non-donors only get one.
  • If there is a prize you're NOT interested in, let me know. Otherwise, I will assume you're up for any of them.
  • You only need to send ONE email to be entered in every drawing as we reach each milestone.

To donate in support of San Jorge Women and Children's Hospital, visit my Extra Life page or use the donation panel on my Twitch channel. If you'd rather contribute offline with a check or money order made out to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, that's fine too. Contact me to work out the details.

Be sure to check the other Tomb Raider Community team members' fundraising pages for more giveaways, livestreams, and other incentives. We will also be hosting our ANNUAL EXTRA LIFE TEAM RAFFLE in October/November with some very special prizes. Stay tuned for details. (Also, please note that unlike the big raffle in the fall, these giveaways are open to TR Community team members.)

If you'd like to join the Tomb Raider Community team and participate in Extra Life, we'd love to have you! Check out this Extra Life FAQ, sign up here, and feel free to contact me with any questions.

Thank you for your support!

April 6, 2022

Next Tomb Raider Game In Development Using Unreal Engine 5

At the tail end of yesterday's State of Unreal 2022 Keynote Presentation, Crystal Dynamics Franchise General Manager Dallas Dickinson announced that the studio has "just started development of [the] next Tomb Raider game, powered by Unreal Engine 5." No further details or visuals were revealed, but Dickinson said, "This new engine translates into next-level storytelling and gameplay experiences.... 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." This new logo, reminiscent of the trapezoid-shaped boxes from the classic games, was also unveiled.

new Tomb Raider logo

Although a mobile game, Netflix Anime, and Live Experience venue were announced last year during the 25th anniversary celebrations, the only significant news about the main series came in a January 2021 community update, in which Game Director Will Kerslake introduced the concept of a "unified timeline" for future Tomb Raider adventures, combining elements of classic, Legend era, and Survivor era storylines. With Tomb Raider 12 still untitled and still in the early stages of development, it will likely be years before release, but fans can look forward to gorgeous visuals and exciting stories...eventually.

Watch the whole State of Unreal presentation here, or just the Tomb Raider announcement on Twitter.


Also, check out this Unreal Engine 5 tech demo from May 2020, exuding some serious Tomb Raider vibes.


I'd love to hear your impressions, hopes, and concerns about the upcoming game. Leave a comment below, or get in touch on Twitter or through my main site.