Uploaded April 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In 1994, an aspiring game designer dreamed up a cinematic adventure that would forever change the gaming industry. Two years later, his vision became a reality with Tomb Raider, a third-person action game that immersed players in a world of ancient tombs and mythical realms, challenging players to solve puzzles and navigate deadly traps. Yet, the game's true breakthrough was its female protagonist, Lara Croft, who shattered stereotypes and won the hearts of gamers worldwide with her intelligence, fearlessness, and sheer tenacity.
Tomb Raider was a phenomenon, but success came at a price. The original team faced tremendous pressure to churn out yearly releases and meet Eidos' demands, leading to exhaustion and burnout. Despite massive royalty checks, the creators of Tomb Raider eventually had to step away from the franchise they had brought to life in 1997.
A new team was assembled, hoping to keep Lara at the forefront of gaming, but their efforts fell short, and the franchise's once-mighty reputation crumbled. In a desperate bid to salvage its image, Eidos made a fateful decision, one that would forever alter the legacy of Tomb Raider. Join us on a journey of triumphs and tragedies, of daring dreams and harsh realities, as we explore the fascinating history of how Core Design built and lost a legend
CREDTIS
- Andrew V
- Multi
- tartancroft
- Stella's Tomb Raider Site
- TheGebs24
- Footi
- Steven3517
- Core Design
- CroftEd
youtu.be/8PyBEmj7StQ?si=xCgJKwxZ7OzxjzuR
youtu.be/u263ubObh90?si=ncMtFA_zDTCD5qma
youtu.be/VTJqA5EQWa8?si=kbE8OV3LZof1OcQi
gamedeveloper.com/design/interview-with-toby-gard
virtual-lara.tumblr.com/post/626618586324254720/the-croft-times-interview-with-toby-gard
eurogamer.net/20-years-on-the-tomb-raider-story-told-by-the-people-who-were-there
archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20098%20%28September%201997%29/page/n95/mode/2up?view=theater
arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/03/it-felt-like-robbery-tomb-raider-and-the-fall-of-core-design
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1410480.stm
theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2006/apr/18/larascreators1
ign.com/articles/2011/11/04/the-redemption-of-lara-croft
web.archive.org/web/19981201052730/http://www.gamespot.co.uk/pc.gamespot/action/tombraid2/interview2
ign.com/articles/2008/03/01/ign-presents-the-history-of-tomb-raider
In 1994, an aspiring game designer dreamed up a cinematic adventure that would forever change the gaming industry. Two years later, his vision became a reality with Tomb Raider, a third-person action game that immersed players in a world of ancient tombs and mythical realms, challenging players to solve puzzles and navigate deadly traps. Yet, the game's true breakthrough was its female protagonist, Lara Croft, who shattered stereotypes and won the hearts of gamers worldwide with her intelligence, fearlessness, and sheer tenacity.
Tomb Raider was a phenomenon, but success came at a price. The original team faced tremendous pressure to churn out yearly releases and meet Eidos' demands, leading to exhaustion and burnout. Despite massive royalty checks, the creators of Tomb Raider eventually had to step away from the franchise they had brought to life in 1997.
A new team was assembled, hoping to keep Lara at the forefront of gaming, but their efforts fell short, and the franchise's once-mighty reputation crumbled. In a desperate bid to salvage its image, Eidos made a fateful decision, one that would forever alter the legacy of Tomb Raider. Join us on a journey of triumphs and tragedies, of daring dreams and harsh realities, as we explore the fascinating history of how Core Design built and lost a legend
CREDTIS
- Andrew V
- Multi
- tartancroft
- Stella's Tomb Raider Site
- TheGebs24
- Footi
- Steven3517
- Core Design
- CroftEd
youtu.be/8PyBEmj7StQ?si=xCgJKwxZ7OzxjzuR
youtu.be/u263ubObh90?si=ncMtFA_zDTCD5qma
youtu.be/VTJqA5EQWa8?si=kbE8OV3LZof1OcQi
gamedeveloper.com/design/interview-with-toby-gard
virtual-lara.tumblr.com/post/626618586324254720/the-croft-times-interview-with-toby-gard
eurogamer.net/20-years-on-the-tomb-raider-story-told-by-the-people-who-were-there
archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20098%20%28September%201997%29/page/n95/mode/2up?view=theater
arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/03/it-felt-like-robbery-tomb-raider-and-the-fall-of-core-design
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1410480.stm
theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2006/apr/18/larascreators1
ign.com/articles/2011/11/04/the-redemption-of-lara-croft
web.archive.org/web/19981201052730/http://www.gamespot.co.uk/pc.gamespot/action/tombraid2/interview2
ign.com/articles/2008/03/01/ign-presents-the-history-of-tomb-raider
