It's been a few decades, but at last, the first three Tomb Raider games are being remastered for modern computers and consoles. Developer Crystal Dynamics is partnering with Aspyr, the company behind previous Macintosh Tomb Raider ports, to release Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft for PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam, GOG, and Epic Games.
The official announcement, made during the Nintendo Direct livestream on September 14, featured this trailer highlighting a few iconic levels from each game.
According to the developers, players will be able to toggle between enhanced and original graphics on the fly, as well as switch between classic and modern control schemes. Naturally, the updated games will include unlockable achievements and trophies.
The bundle, priced at $29.99 U.S., will include the mainline games, as well as all of the official expansions: "Unfinished Business" and "Shadow of the Cat" for TR1, "The Golden Mask" for TR2, and the All Hallows secret level and "The Lost Artifact" expansion for TR3.* This will be the first time console players will have the opportunity to play most of these bonus levels.
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered will release on Lara Croft's birthday, February 14, 2024. Preorders are open now.
On a more personal note, as many of you know, I've been on hiatus for the past few years. This announcement has inspired me to get cracking on the major site overhaul I've been planning for a while. I'll be diving into that project soon, and I look forward to seeing you all again in February.
*Follow this link for a timeline of the various Tomb Raider game release dates.
I'm looking forward to this, Stella! How stoked for these remasters are you?
ReplyDeleteI've never been able to play the Lost Artefact expansion for Tomb Raider 3 as I think it's unsupported on the steam version, but I have played the ones for Tomb Raider 1 & 2. Although Shadow of the Cat sounds alien to me. Was that released on Windows? The steam version only includes Unfinished Business. I like that we'll be able to switch to old school graphics and controls. It should make the current steam versions obsolete. Fine with me as they all have to be modded quite a lot to get them working well.
Only disappointment for me is no remaster of TR4:LR, as that's the one I'll usually stop at. Saying that I would take a remaster of TR5 as well, but I don't know how easy it would be to fix the various bugs in it.
Take care!
Hey, Lukuss. Thanks for commenting. I'm over the moon. Can't wait! Actually, I can wait, since I need to do some site redesign and get ready for extra traffic, but it's a great feeling. I am so excited that these remasters will bring back some long-time fans and bring more new people into the fold. The fact that they're finally releasing the bonus levels for consoles is well worth the price of admission. (Shadow of the Cat is the Egypt section of the TR1 expansion, btw. Unfinished Business is technically just the Atlantis portion.) I also hope they'll remaster 4-AOD, but that might depend on how well this trilogy does. Fingers crossed.
DeleteAs usual they have missed out Mac users. Why do they keep doing that?
ReplyDeleteIt is very disappointing, but Aspyr has a fairly good track record with Mac ports, so I hope they'll release Mac versions eventually.
DeleteI am on a Mac and TR Remastered works flawlessly using steam in Whisky! Whisky essentially is a windows translation layer that allows you to run windows programs natively in the macOS environment, without having to partition your hard drive for a full windows install. Before I installed I was a bit worried it would be too technical but it's actually quite simple. 1) Go to your steam account and purchase TR Remastered. 2) go to the website and download steam for windows (it should be an .exe file) 3) download and install whisky, guide here https://docs.getwhisky.app 4) create a bottle in whisky to open the steam installer and install steam and login 5) launch TR Remastered.
DeleteThat's great news! Thanks so much for sharing the process. It soundsds pretty simple.
DeleteAs soon as I got the news I rushed over to your site to see your report about it. I’ve been using your site since I was about 10 years old! Glad to see that you’re still around and hope you’re as excited for this as me!
ReplyDeleteI am super excited! I do have some work to do before the remasters come out, but I'm very much looking forward to playing them.
DeleteThis is a lovely surprise, especially since I'm almost finished on my playthrough of TR1 which I never really finished originally.
ReplyDeleteI had a feeling they'd be announced eventually, but yes, most definitely welcome news!
DeleteI’m so excited for these remasters! I remember playing the originals over and over while using your walkthroughs back when I was in high school over a decade ago. When I saw they were planning on releasing these I immediately ran to your site! I’m so glad you’re still around.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm still here, and I'm hoping to do a little redesign before the remasters come out. Maybe if I say it out loud, I'll find the time and energy to actually do it. In any case, I'm also really looking forward to revisiting these amazing games!
DeleteI love this news. I remember playing Tom raider three on PlayStation and enjoying it, but also remember how dark it was - especially in the London levels. I hope they fixed this issue. Also should remaster last revelation, chronicles and aod - why not?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! I hope the first collection will do so well that they'll be motivated to do the others.
DeleteHi Stella, long time fan! Just wondered if you wouldn’t mind clarifying something? In the description for the Remasters when it says - “This will be the first time console players will have the opportunity to play most of these bonus levels.” Were there even more expansion levels released for the PC for TR 1-3 or am I missing something lol?
ReplyDeleteYes, there were expansions for 1, 2, and 3, but they were only released on PC and Mac. Enterprising players have made unoffiical console ports, but this will be the first official release. They are Unfinished Business for TR1, The Golden Mask for TR2, and The Lost Artifact for TR3. Details and walkthroughs are on my main site. In the top menu click Games > Core Design > etc.
DeleteIf that's not what you meant, then I'm sorry if I didn't phrase it clearly. I meant these are the ones that were made, and most console players haven't played any except All Hallows. That TR3 bonus level was unlockable in all versions by finding the secrets.
DeleteNo, you did thanks 👌🏼 and thank you so much for replying. As I know you don't have to because you are such a busy lady! Also if I could ask you just one more question? Then I'll leave you be I promise. 😆 Are you planning on doing new walkthroughs for the remasters or just editing/updating the originals?
DeleteIt will really depend on the extent of the updates. I will definitely add achievements/trophies and alternate screenshots for the HD version, while still keeping pages with the originals, but if there are more extensive updates, I'll probably need to do a full parallel guide for each. And you're not bothering me at all. I love to talk Tomb Raider. :D
DeleteCool!👌🏼 Thanks so much for answering my questions Stella! 😊
DeleteHi stella - do you know if these remasters are physical releases or just online? Also, and this is nitpicking, but will they include the FMV cutscenes for all three games? Those movies were a huge part of the experience, and the nostalgia that goes along with them is so great 3) will Lara's home be different in all three games just as in the originals or will there be one uniform Lara's Home for the whole release? Any info would be appreciated and thank you for your wonderful website and walkthroughs.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard anything about a physical release yet, but there's still some time left, so maybe more will be revelead. I can only assume all the levels from all the games will be included, along with updated cinematics, but I don't have any more information than the rest of the fans. I'm sure we'll hear a LOT more as the release date approaches.
DeleteJust wondering if the remasters will include all three of the different Lara Homes, 2) if the fmv movies will be restored for all three, and 3) if this is just an online experience or a physical release. Any insight would help, and thank you for your wonderful website and walkthroughs.
ReplyDeleteOops! I replied to your first comment before I saw this one. But thank you so much for the kind words! <3
DeleteYour welcome. I would not have made it through these classic games without your walkthroughs! So helpful.
DeleteLooking forward to the remasters and your site update!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping I have time to do it before the games launch. :D
DeleteHi Stella
ReplyDeleteI like many others have used your site for a long time. I don't how I'd have got through some of the games without you. I'd lost hope there would be remasters so got a ps1 again to play TR 1 - 3 again. Then the announcement came lol. Bring them on, sooooo excited especially as the expansions will also be there and having played the games on playstation I'm looking forward to this
Aww, thanks so much! It's been a while since I've played most of the classics, so I'm super excited as well.
DeleteWill the remastered games on pc allow use of the mouse rather than just the keyboard?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure. The devs have said players will be able to "toggle on the fly between enhanced and original graphics, as well as switch between classic and modern joystick control schemes." I don't know whether that means mouse support for the modern controls or not.
DeleteI too was wondering about mouse controls. It would be nice, but given the choice, I would probably stick with traditional keyboard controls, as per the originals. It took me a while to get used to the camera view on Legend and the newer games.
ReplyDeleteI was just having a conversation about this with another player on Twitter. We're both relieved there's an option to use the old control scheme on the remasters, though I understand that some people who are new to the games will prefer the 'modern' controls. I play the classics with keyboard and Legend onward with controller. I first played Legend and Anniversary with keyboard and mouse, but controller is so much easier for combination moves like grapple swing and jump, adrenaline dodge, etc. I would not go back at this point.
DeleteI'm very excited for this release, every few years I come back replay these games, and I've been saying for years that all the classic games need are updated graphics, as long as the gameplay and levels are still as great as they were originally. Your site is great btw, and has helped me get through some tough spots over the years. Can't wait for release day!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! I'm looking forward to February as well.
DeleteAs a console user, I expect the TR Remasters will have a sensitivity option for controller sticks/buttons. That will be really helpful given some of the struggles I had with PS1 controller on sections with timed runs, e.g. Palace Midas Fire blocks to get the Lead Bar. I would still like the ability to use Save Crystals as an option to match the original PlayStation games. Wonder if we shall have that useful 'corner bug' ?
ReplyDeleteI've only ever played the classics with keyboard, but I love that they're giving players options. Hopefully this will bring more new people to the old games. I can do without save crystals, but a 'hardcore mode' would be cool for those who want it. And if they don't keep the classic bugs (corner, safety drop, etc.), I will be very sad. :'(
DeleteHi Stella, this is really surreal. Back in 1996 or 1997, I started playing TR. I printed out all of your walkthroughs for TR1-5. My now adult children were excited little kids sitting along side of me watching and my oldest was reading along telling me what to do next! Now so many years later, the kids are grown up and living their own lives and I'm semi-retired and out of curiosity, this January, I looked up Tombraider games to discover the new remastered games would be released this February. I excitedly started TR1 on 2-14-24 and right away looked you up to find your walkthroughs again! I hate to admit how much I suck at trying to figure it out on my own. LOL Your walkthroughs are a great as ever and I just finished the remastered TR1! It's funny, but I feel like you are an old friend I hadn't talked to in years! I am savoring this remastered games - they are so nostalgic to me, as are your walkthroughs! So I just wanted to say "Thank you so much, old friend!" You Rock!
ReplyDeleteHi Stella, great to see you back. ❤️ I'm only on level 2 of the revised TR1. The graphics are wonderful - I can actually see what I'm doing! 😄 Gameplay has been simplified. No ropes or parallel bars to swing on, for example. So far, the only glitch I've found is getting trapped after pulling levers and having to reload. I advise everyone to step back rather than to the side.
ReplyDeleteWishing you well.
I'm glad to hear you're enjoying them. I am too! The games are virtually identical to the originals, so no ropes until TR4 and no bars until TR5. You're "safe" for a little while. :D I haven't had any issues with switches yet, but I try to save often just in case. And the graphics are gorgeous indeed!
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