Crystal Dynamics Reaffirms Dedication to Tomb Raider Series Amid Fourth Round of Layoffs in a Year

Crystal Dynamics, the studio behind the upcoming Tomb Raider: Catalyst, has declared its unwavering commitment to the Lara Croft franchise, even as it faces its fourth round of staff reductions within the past 12 months. In a recent LinkedIn announcement, the company revealed it is letting go of 20 team members, affecting both development and operational roles. This marks a challenging period for the studio, which has undergone multiple restructuring efforts since its acquisition by Embracer in 2022.

At the time of the acquisition, Crystal Dynamics employed 273 people across offices in Austin, Bellevue, and San Mateo. Since then, the studio has experienced layoffs in March, August, and November 2025, following 10 job cuts in 2023. The latest reduction brings the total workforce down further, though the exact number of remaining employees is currently unknown.

In its statement, the studio explained that as projects progress into new development phases, it regularly evaluates team structures to align with long-term goals. While efforts are made to transition staff into new roles, these departures have become unavoidable. Crystal Dynamics expressed gratitude for the contributions of those affected and is offering severance and job placement support. The studio also encouraged others in the industry to reach out with potential opportunities for these talented developers.

Despite the layoffs, Crystal Dynamics emphasized its continued focus on the Tomb Raider series, assuring fans that it remains dedicated to developing its announced titles. The studio's immediate priority, however, is supporting the departing colleagues.

This follows previous layoffs in August of last year, which occurred after the cancellation of Perfect Dark by Xbox, a project Crystal Dynamics had been assisting with. Currently, the studio is working on two Tomb Raider games: Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, a remake of the 1996 original set to release later this year, and the new title Tomb Raider: Catalyst, scheduled for next year. Alix Wilton Regan will take over the role of Lara Croft in both games, succeeding Camilla Luddington from the Survivor Trilogy.

Both games are published by Amazon Game Studios, which has also faced recent challenges including cancellations, closures, and layoffs. Additionally, the Prime Video Tomb Raider series, starring Sophie Turner of Game of Thrones fame, is currently in production in Surrey, England.