Crystal Dynamics, best known for its Tomb Raider franchise, released a four-minute video celebrating the veteran developer’s 25-year history.
“Crystal occupies a special place in the games industry. Over a third of our team have been with the studio for more than 5 years, and several have been here for more than 20 years, which makes us a tightly knitted team,” said Ron Rosenberg, Head of Studio. “Over the years, many industry luminaries have worked at Crystal and contributed to the creative culture that our current rock star developers embody and evolve. From the very beginning, we’ve shared a common goal of crafting incredible character-driven games, and 25 years later that flame of innovation burns brighter than ever.”
Crystal Dynamics was formed in 1992 and acquired by Eidos in 1998. Eidos and Crystal Dynamics were acquired by Square Enix in 2009. Crystal Dynamics’ 30+ game library includes the Gex and Legacy of Kain series. But none hold a candle to Tomb Raider, one of the most well-known series, and heroines, in gaming.
Tomb Raider games have collectively sold over 63 million copies worldwide. The 2013 Tomb Raider reboot has sold 12 million. Most recently, its 2015 sequel Rise of the Tomb Raider reached seven million. The rebooted franchise has been well received by fans and critics, and a major motion picture is currently in development.
“We exist thanks to the generosity and love our amazing players show us; and it’s a true privilege to do what we do for what we feel are the best fans out there. So following their example, we are always looking for meaningful ways to give back to those in need and share our good fortune,” added Scot Amos, Head of Studio at Crystal Dynamics. “Crystal exists to make the best games possible… be it within our legacy of Tomb Raider or our future with the Avengers project, we do this because we love making people happy. And that’s what giving is all about.”
The Avengers Project was announced earlier this year through a multigame partnership between Square Enix and Marvel. We don’t anything about it other than it will “introduce a universe gamers can play in for years to come.” It’s being developed by both Crystal Dynamics and Eidos Montreal, makers of the Deux Ex series.
