Amazon will be providing support as the publisher of Crystal Dynamics' next Tomb Raider game.
According to GameSpot, Amazon Games and Crystal Dynamics announced today in a press release that they have already reached an agreement.
Under the agreement, the new multiplatform Tomb Raider title will be developed by Crystal Dynamics, while Amazon Games will provide full support. Likewise, the company will publish the game globally.
Upcoming Tomb Raider Will be Made Using Unreal Engine 5
The game is still in early development, so it is likely that it will still take a few years before you can finally get your hand on it. However, Amazon Games vows that it will keep all the hallmarks of the franchise.
The still-untitled new Tomb Raider title is a single-player, narrative-driven adventure. It is a continuation of Lara Croft's story in the Tomb Raider series.
The upcoming Tomb Raider game will be the first mainline game since 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider, according to Engadget.
According to news reports, the upcoming game will be created using Unreal Engine 5.
The game's developer, Crystal Dynamics, used to be a part of the Japan-based international publisher Square-Enix.
However, earlier this year, the parent company sold it together with the Tomb Raider intellectual property to the Swedish holding company Embracer Group.
The sale also includes Deus Ex, Thief, and Legacy of Kain franchises together with other associated studios, meaning most of the western studios and properties of Square Enix.
Following the announcement of the sale to Embracer Group, Crystal Dynamics then announced that they are developing the new Tomb Raider title at the State of Unreal event.
Crystal Dynamics head of studio Scot Amos said that following the acquisition by Embracer Group, the company has an extraordinary opportunity to redefine a publishing relationship for Tomb Raider.
He added that the company is looking for something "transformative" and they found a team that shares the company's creative vision, ambitions, and values for a Lara Croft universe with Amazon Games.
Amazon Games is Committed to Bringing Games of Highest Quality to Players, Executive Says
The fledgling division of Amazon is known for developing the MMO New World, which was launched last year, as per The Verge. However, recently it has been making a big push into publishing.
For instance, earlier this year, Amazon Games published the Diablo-style action game Lost Ark. It was developed by Korean studio Smilegate.
During this year's Game Awards, the company announced that it fostered a partnership with Bandai Namco to publish the anime "MMO Blue Protocol" next year.
According to Christoph Hartmann, VP of Amazon Games, Amazon Games is committed to bringing games of the highest quality to players.
Likewise, the company aims to bring games from the best developers across various platforms and genres. Hartmann added that Amazon Games is honored by the opportunity to work with Crystal Dynamics in the upcoming Tomb Raider title.
According to Ars Technica, as Embracer Group has its own publishers of games so, it is surprising that Amazon is publishing the next Tomb Raider game.
However, according to Amos, Amazon Games is "uniquely positioned to rewrite what publishing and development collaborations are."
The news outlet clarifies that Amazon Games is not acquiring Tomb Raider or Crystal Dynamics, but rather just publishing the next game in the franchise.
Related Article: Tomb Raider's Lifetime Sales Revealed Following Embracer Acquisition - How Much Was It?
