According to foreign media reports, "Tomb Raider: Relics of Atlantis," currently being developed by Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog, hasn't even been released yet, but remakes of "Tomb Raider II" and "Tomb Raider III" may already be in the works.
This news comes from the well-known leaker account PSInsideFr. The account claims its source is linked to Flying Wild Hog, the co-developer of "Tomb Raider: Relics of Atlantis." However, it's important to note that there has been no official confirmation of remakes for "Tomb Raider II" or "Tomb Raider III," so the veracity of this information remains to be verified.
"Tomb Raider: Relics of Atlantis" is not a traditional full remake but a reimagining of the original 1996 "Tomb Raider." The developers have previously stated clearly that the game will expand upon the story, gameplay, and world while preserving the classic adventure framework. The game is being co-developed by Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog using Unreal Engine 5.
Currently, "Tomb Raider: Relics of Atlantis" is scheduled for official release on February 12, 2027.
If this leak is accurate, it suggests that the development team may not be waiting for the release of "Tomb Raider: Relics of Atlantis" to gauge market response before deciding on further classic reimaginings, but has already planned subsequent content in advance.
The most likely candidates for reimagining are "Tomb Raider II" and "Tomb Raider III." From a commercial perspective, such a plan is hardly surprising.
"Tomb Raider" boasts a vast library of classic titles, from the original first six installments to later entries like "Legend" and "Underworld," offering plenty of material for redevelopment. If "Tomb Raider: Relics of Atlantis" proves successful, reimagining these classics and alternating them with new "Tomb Raider" releases would undoubtedly help maintain the series' momentum.
Notably, "Tomb Raider: Relics of Atlantis" itself adopts a "reimagining" approach rather than a simple remake. The developers previously revealed that the game will not only recreate classic scenes and gameplay but also add new content and narrative connections, linking the original adventure to Lara Croft's future story.
This also means that if remakes of "Tomb Raider II" and "Tomb Raider III" are released in the future, the development team will have considerable creative freedom.
For example, classic locations, characters, and storylines from the original games can be redesigned and adjusted to fit a new timeline; some originally fragmented plots could be reconnected, or even expanded with new adventures.
It has been officially confirmed that "Tomb Raider: Catalyst" is being developed as a brand-new entry in the series, while "Tomb Raider: Relics of Atlantis" is tasked with reimagining Lara's classic origins.
If "Tomb Raider: Relics of Atlantis" is indeed followed by reimagined versions of the classic "Tomb Raider II" and "III," the franchise might adopt a development model similar to "Resident Evil"—alternating between launching new mainline entries and remaking classic titles, keeping both fresh in rotation.
Of course, all of this remains speculative for now.