Crystal Dynamics, the renowned video game developer, has offered fans a sneak peek at the highly anticipated Lara Croft redesign that will feature in the upcoming game, Tomb Raider Next. The official unveiling took place on a new Tomb Raider website, which coincidentally launched on the fictional adventurer's birthday, February 14.

In addition to celebrating the iconic franchise's legacy, the website also showcased a remastered collection of the first three Tomb Raider games, released on February 13. Fans were thrilled to discover a glimpse of the future appearance of the beloved heroine, as Crystal Dynamics teased her updated look.

The revealed design bears a significant resemblance to a Lara Croft character model featured in the popular video game, Call of Duty, released in 2023, thus confirming speculations among fans that this would be the unified version of Tomb Raider. This exciting development has further heightened anticipation for the next mainline installment, currently being developed in Unreal Engine 5.

While the game's development is being supported by Amazon Games, details regarding Tomb Raider Next have been rather scarce since its announcement in April 2022. This upcoming title will mark the first new entry in the franchise since Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018, which concluded a trilogy of games during the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One generation.

The previous trilogy delved into a grittier setting that reimagined Lara Croft's origins. However, it remains uncertain how Tomb Raider Next will fit into this narrative equation, leaving fans eager to uncover the exciting new direction of the series.

With the anticipation building, gamers and enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting further updates and details on the highly anticipated Tomb Raider Next game. Crystal Dynamics' first official look at the redesigned Lara Croft has undoubtedly ignited fervor and intrigue within the gaming community. Stay tuned for more news and announcements as the release date approaches.

[Image credit: Crystal Dynamics]

Disclaimer: Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter known for his expertise on The Witcher but is not directly related to this Tomb Raider Next news article.