The First Lara Croft Character Has Permanently Disappeared According to A Warning From A Previous Producer
The Tomb Raider franchise has returned from its dormant period however some people do not share in the celebrations. Crystal Dynamics develops two major projects while a vocal series character from the past alerts to trouble. Cedric Chassang who worked as a producer on Shadow of the Tomb Raider project has shared his negative opinion about the direction that Lara Croft should take.
Chassang wants to investigate the development process because he believes the team should be studied instead of their creations. He believes that the problems began during the time when the 2013 reboot trilogy was being developed. He claims that during that period leadership selected executives who could not create engaging content because they embraced political conflicts instead of valuing artistic ability.
His most serious accusation shows that management used power to silence all workers who disagreed with their decisions while Square Enix pretended to ignore the situation. He claims that the lack of supervision has made the franchise vulnerable to its upcoming transition into a new developmental phase.
Chassang holds an extremely dim outlook about the upcoming game releases. He describes the modern Crystal Dynamics as being "very Californian" a critique of the studio’s current culture that he believes will negatively impact the game's foundation. His predictions for the next installments are blunt:
- Weak Storytelling: A fear that the lore foundation will be poor.
- Lack of Innovation: No real "mental challenges" or gameplay breakthroughs.
- Identity Politics: The narrative will follow current trends instead of maintaining traditional tombraiding elements.
- Lara in Name Only: The main character will make existing fans doubt her identity.
The series has an established trajectory despite internal objections to its direction. The upcoming years will present two distinct paths which fans should watch for:
- Legacy of Atlantis (2026): This project is being framed as a reimagining of the original classic game that started it all.
- Tomb Raider Catalyst (2027): This title is expected to serve as a direct continuation of the story established in Tomb Raider: Underworld.
Chassang believes he might be incorrect however his industry knowledge makes him suspicious of others. The upcoming years will determine whether Lara Croft returns to her original character or whether these warnings become reality for a franchise that has lost its direction.
Source: Reddit
