Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog reveal Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis gameplay at Summer Game Fest
Unveiled at Summer Game Fest 2026, the title utilises Unreal Engine 5 to modernise the original’s Peruvian setting, introducing vertical traversal mechanics and a time-slowing combat ability while retaining the franchise’s iconic dual-wielding style.
Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog have unveiled the first gameplay demo for Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis during Summer Game Fest 2026. The upcoming title serves as a remake of the 1996 original, positioning Lara Croft’s narrative arc chronologically between the classic debut and the recent Survivor trilogy. Built on Unreal Engine 5, the demo showcased a lush Peruvian mountainside environment, highlighting how the developers have elevated the source material with modern graphical fidelity and dynamic environmental interactions.
The gameplay demonstration centred on an early section of the original game, featuring the iconic giant cog puzzle. Rather than the static mechanics of the 1996 release, the remake transforms this sequence into an exploratory challenge where players must utilise a grappling hook and climbing axe to swing across chasms and manipulate objects. These tools allow Lara to pull mechanisms into place and interrupt waterfalls to reveal new paths, integrating verticality that was absent in the original title.
Combat mechanics have also been significantly updated to accommodate contemporary action-adventure standards. Lara retains her signature dual pistols with infinite ammo but has been granted a new 'Focus' ability. This skill slows time during gunfights, allowing for greater precision in targeting or facilitating rapid target switching. The ability can also be combined with aerial manoeuvres, drawing functional parallels to mechanics seen in titles such as Max Payne.
The demo featured intense encounters with dinosaurs, including red velociraptor-adjacent creatures and a high-speed set piece involving a Tyrannosaurus rex escape sequence. Lara can collect healing packs from trees and caves to sustain herself during these engagements. The game also includes a PDA interface that functions as an encyclopedia for discovered items and a scanner that provides navigational tips, addressing potential disorientation in the game’s dense, vertical environments.
While the title integrates modern skill trees and collectible hunting mechanics, such as converting fangs into skill points, the core experience remains rooted in the original’s action-adventure roots. The game is scheduled for release on 12 February 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Steam, and Nintendo Switch 2.
