Tomb Raider: Catalyst has moved from a broad 2028 release window to a more specific target: Embracer Group expects Crystal Dynamics’ next original Lara Croft adventure to launch before the end of its 2027/28 financial year, meaning it is planned for release by April 2028.
Tomb Raider: Catalyst release window
The game was first announced for 2027 before being pushed into the less precise 2028 window last month. Embracer’s latest earnings report now places it within the company’s 2027/28 fiscal-year plans.
That does not represent a locked launch date, and another delay remains possible. However, “by April 2028” is considerably clearer than simply saying 2028.
A new chapter in Lara Croft’s timeline
Tomb Raider: Catalyst is set to continue the franchise’s unified timeline, which brings the Survivor Trilogy together with the earlier Tomb Raider games. In that chronology, the new adventure takes place after the events of 2008’s Tomb Raider: Underworld.
It will also be the first entirely new Tomb Raider game since 2018’s Shadow of the Tomb Raider concluded the Survivor Trilogy. The available teaser material shows Lara in India, giving the next chapter a setting distinct from the previous trilogy’s central locations.
Crystal Dynamics faces a difficult development period
Embracer acquired Crystal Dynamics in 2022, and the studio has subsequently gone through several rounds of layoffs. The latest round, reported in March, affected 20 employees. That background adds uncertainty to any projected release window.
Readers following the wider arcade and gaming news cycle will know that long development timelines can change, so the fiscal-year target should be treated as an expectation rather than a guarantee.
Legacy of Atlantis arrives first
Tomb Raider fans have another project to watch before Catalyst. Legacy of Atlantis, a remake of Lara Croft’s first adventure, is scheduled for 12 February 2027. It was announced alongside Catalyst in 2025 and was itself delayed from an earlier release planned for this year.
For anyone planning a dedicated gaming space around upcoming adventure titles, RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide and range of arcade machines offer a practical starting point.
Other games in Embracer’s plans
The same earnings report also lists Darksiders 4 and the next game in the Kingdom Come franchise for release before the end of the 2027/28 fiscal year. Embracer said Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 performed well, helping explain the company’s continued investment in that series.
For now, the clearest expectation is that Tomb Raider: Catalyst should arrive no later than April 2028, provided development stays on course.
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