Timed for Comic-Con, Eidos Interactive and Crystal Dynamics have announced Rhianna Pratchett has been working with the developer for the past two years as the lead writer on Tomb Raider.
“Seldom do we get the opportunity to reimagine and reinvent a legend, so getting my narrative hands on Miss Croft was a once-in-a-life-time opportunity,” said Pratchett in the announcement release.
Pratchett’s known for her work on Mirror’s Edge, the Overlord series, and Heavenly Sword, among others.
It’s not surprising that we’re seeing Tomb Raider news as Comic-Con begins, but given this game’s involvement in recent controversies regarding the representation of women in games, it’s perplexing the companies involved did not move up the disclosure of Pratchett’s involvement. Knowing a woman was chiefly involved in setting the tone and establishing the context of this new game, one that finds Lara Croft put in harrowing, formative situations, would have framed the conversation differently.
I would have been interested in hearing her thoughts, anyway.
“I grew up playing Tomb Raider, uncovering the world’s secrets and unearthing its treasures; I have lived and died as Lara Croft, but nothing comes close to the challenge of re-writing her,” said Pratchett.
We’ll learn more about Pratchett’s perspective in the coming days, as she’ll be participating in two different panels at Comic-Con, the details of which are on the official Tomb Raider Blog.