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Amazon Games, the video game publishing arm of the retail juggernaut, will lend its “full support” to Crystal Dynamics on the next Tomb Raider title – and it will act as the release’s publisher. The legendary developer was purchased by the Embracer Group earlier in the year, after a lengthy stint under the Square Enix umbrella. But now it’s Amazon Games’ logo that will foreshadow the next adventure starring Lara Croft.

In a joint statement, as shared by Eurogamer.net, the outing will be a “single player, narrative-driven adventure” – a genre yet to be explored by Amazon Games. The release is said to have “mind-bending puzzles to solve” and a “wide variety of enemies to face and overcome”. While development is still early, it will apparently be “the biggest, most expansive Tomb Raider game to date”. More details will be announced at a “later date”.

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Amazon Games is increasing its footprint in the lucrative video game industry, announcing that it’ll also be publishing Bandai Namco’s free-to-play online RPG Blue Protocol. Judging by comments from Crystal Dynamics boss Scott Amos, there’s a cross-media strategy at play here: “Transformative is what we're looking for, and with Amazon Games, we found a team that shares our creative vision, ambitions, and values for a Lara Croft universe across the spectrum of possibilities,” he said.

Ironically, the Tomb Raider movie series has stumbled of late, with Amazon’s buyout of MGM forcing it to lose the rights to the franchise – and former Lara Croft actress Alicia Vikander is no longer attached. We can’t help but wonder if this development will help get things back on track.

[source eurogamer.net]