Evil Hat has walked from their deal with Crystal Dynamics to produce an official Tomb Raider tabletop roleplaying game.
The FATE publisher has cited creative differences and informed fans that the work they’ve put into the game so far will be released as an alternative standalone game.
Sad news: We are canceling the Tomb Raider RPG project. Due to creative differences we couldn’t get our vision to gel with the licensor’s, so we’ve chosen to part ways. The stellar team designing this game put their hearts into making this an exciting, dynamic RPG of adventure and exploration. We’re proud of the work they’ve done and we plan to retool the project as a standalone game with a fresh, original setting. You haven’t seen the last of it.
The problem is “creative differences”, and that’s a phrase which could mean any number of things.
- Tone and Style: Evil Hat might have envisioned a Tomb Raider game with a particular tone (e.g., more emphasis on puzzle-solving, survival, or character relationships) that didn’t align with Crystal Dynamics’ desired portrayal of Lara Croft and the series.
- Narrative Direction and Lore: The interpretation of Tomb Raider lore, the direction of the overarching story, or how new narratives would fit within the established canon could be a point of contention. Licensors often have a strong desire to maintain brand consistency, and any deviation by Evil Hat from Crystal Dynamics’ preferred narrative or character arcs might have led to a stalemate.
- Character Portrayal: The portrayal of Lara Croft and other established characters in the game could be a major sticking point. This includes their personality, motivations, and even visual representation (as some online discussions about early art suggest this might have been a factor).
- Game Mechanics and System: While Evil Hat is known for its FATE system, the specific mechanics chosen to represent Tomb Raider’s core elements (exploration, combat, puzzles, archaeology) might have been debated. Crystal Dynamics might have wanted certain gameplay elements emphasised or de-emphasised, or even requested a different mechanical approach entirely.
- Target Audience: Disagreements could arise over who the primary audience for the RPG should be. Evil Hat might have aimed for a specific niche within the tabletop community. At the same time, Crystal Dynamics might have pushed for a broader appeal or vice versa.
- Code: Ultimately, “Creative Differences” might be code for anything from costs to the way women are presented in the game.
There was drama from the start. Geek Native’s article back in February 2024, when the game was announced, went with the headline about how the insecure reacted to the TTRPG news.
Even then, when I was quickly checking up on the breaking news, I found that too much social media was full of toxic comments from people complaining about “Diversity”. Evil Hat’s cover for Shadows of Truth depicted Lara Croft in the background, with other tomb raiders standing in front. One of the tomb raiders was a person of colour with prosthetic legs, similar to those worn by Paralympians for running, jumping, and competing.
Earlier this month, Crystal Dynamics announced a new partnership with Zen Studios to make a digital Tomb Raider pinball game.
