Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis reveals combat, crafting and dual-pistol details in new behind-the-scenes video

Lara Croft's dual pistols are back. Amazon Game Studios and Crystal Dynamics released the sixth behind-the-scenes video for Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis on 17 August 2026, and it lays out how combat, crafting and progression will work in the upcoming remake.

The episode, titled "Combat & Progression Reimagined", focuses on how the teams at Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog evolved the game's fighting and skill systems from the 1996 original — the genre-defining debut adventure that introduced Lara Croft to the world (Crystal Dynamics).

A central addition is the focus meter, which fills as the player deals damage, takes damage and dodges attacks. Once charged, it lets Lara slow down time and perform acrobatic manoeuvres — a mechanic that pulls the remake closer to modern action games while keeping the acrobatic identity of the original.

Progression has shifted toward an RPG-style framework. Lara has a skill tree, but upgrades are not earned through experience points from completing tasks. Instead, players collect artefacts scattered around the levels, and those artefacts drive progression. Design director Jason Epps said he felt more engaged playing the Survivor series — the three Tomb Raider games released between 2013 and 2018 — because he could directly affect and increase Lara's power, and that philosophy guided the new system (Eurogamer).

Crafting plays a role too. Players collect herbs that can be brewed into buffs — effects that reduce incoming damage or restore health. It is a layer that the 1996 original never had.

The arsenal includes four weapons, each tuned to a different playstyle and combat range. Lara's iconic dual pistols return as a "baseline" tool, confirmed by Flying Wild Hog. They are joined by a shotgun, SMGs and an assault rifle, each suited to different situations. Senior system designer Marcin Steliga said each weapon is focused on different playstyles and distances from enemies (Eurogamer).

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis was originally slated for release in 2026 before being delayed to 12 February 2027. It is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2 and PC via Steam (Eurogamer).

Crystal Dynamics unveiled the remake in a surprise announcement at The Game Awards on 11 December 2025. A cinematic trailer showcased by Flying Wild Hog on 11 August 2026 highlighted diverse environments and high-fidelity visuals (Flying Wild Hog).

The project has not been without controversy. In June 2026, Amazon, Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog faced criticism over the use of AI during development, prompting the studios to publicly address how the technology was being used.

For fans, the behind-the-scenes details paint a picture of a remake that respects Lara's roots while modernising the systems around them. The dual pistols, the artefacts and the focus meter all point to a game built to let players shape how Lara fights, explores and survives — with six months still to go before release.