A new generation of console hardware is the perfect excuse for Square Enix to develop a long-overdue new Tomb Raider game. Yesterday, Tomb Raider Reloaded was announced, but it won't be taking advantage of the performance offered by the PS5 or Xbox Series X.
Tomb Raider Reloaded is a free-to-play action arcade game heading to mobile devices in 2021. The trailer, which you can watch below, doesn't reveal very much about the game other than to suggest it's highly stylized. This is no true follow-up to 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider and I'm sure many Lara Croft fans are going to be disappointed about that.
The game is being developed by Square Enix London's mobile team in collaboration with Canadian developer Emerald City Games. Emerald's past titles include G.I. Joe: War on Cobra, Lionheart: Dark Moon, Stormblades, Lionheart Tactics, and Sacred Seasons.
As Eurogamer points out, though, 2021 is the 25th anniversary of Tomb Raider, so hopefully this is just the first new game reveal for the franchise. A Tomb Raider game for PS5 and Xbox Series X is both highly desirable for gamers, but also a perfect showcase for what the new hardware can do. Both Sony and Microsoft would be very eager to secure an exclusive deal for that game if it exists.
For now, we can look forward to a Tomb Raider experience that's sure to be filled with microtransactions to ensure a good return on that "free" gaming experience. Hopefully, Square Enix reveals more about the game and shares some actual gameplay footage soon.