Tomb Raider Remastered Collection Includes Content Warning, Crystal Dynamics’ Warning and South Pacific Reference

Tomb Raider Remastered Collection contains content warning

On February 14, Tomb Raider 1-3 Remakes were released on PC and multiple consoles with a noteworthy content warning. In the warning, Crystal Dynamics, the studio responsible for the Tomb Raider series, condemned certain elements of the original trilogy as “rooted in racial and ethnic bias.” The three games were originally developed by Core Design, and Crystal Dynamics later took over the series through multiple changes of developers.

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Although the remaster was primarily handled by Crystal Dynamics’ sister company Aspyr Media, which decided to address the objectionable content, Crystal Dynamics chose to preserve the content in its original form to reveal its harmful effects, aiming to raise awareness and understanding of outdated viewpoints.

The decision to retain these offensive depictions is an acknowledgement of their negative impact. Crystal Dynamics believes that retaining these depictions provides an opportunity to recognize and learn from cultural insensitivity issues in games. Therefore, the Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered Collection is not only a visual enhancement, but also a retrospective lens through which players can reflect on the evolving standards and values ​​in game narratives.

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Crystal Dynamics issues warning about South Pacific in Tomb Raider remake

Crystal Dynamics’ content warning for the Tomb Raider 1-3 remake series doesn’t provide specific examples, but broadly mentions elements rooted in racial and ethnic bias. The description of “people” narrows down the range of potentially controversial levels in the original trilogy, given that there weren’t many human enemies or friendly characters in the original trilogy. By excluding white and completely unknown human enemies from consideration, attention is focused on the coastal village and Puna Temple in Tomb Raider 3. Both levels are located in the South Pacific section of the game and are potential focal points for offensive stereotypes, particularly regarding the depiction of tribesmen as cannibals.

These particular clips from the 1998 game show tribesmen armed with spears, axes and poison darts, suggesting cannibalism. Such depictions have been criticized for perpetuating harmful cultural stereotypes. For example, human rights group Survival International filed a complaint in 2011 over media reports suggesting that a missing German tourist in Polynesia had been “eaten by cannibals.”

The complaint states that such stories portray tribal people as “primitive savages,” which is no different than labeling Germans as Nazis based on historical stereotypes. The content warning appeared when the remaster was released, and will only reappear if players delete their save files, highlighting Crystal Dynamics’ commitment to transparency regarding potentially offensive content.

Tomb Raider I–III Remastered

The highly anticipated action-adventure game Tomb Raider I–III Remastered will be released on February 14, 2024. Developed and published by Aspyr, the game is a collection of remastered versions of the original three games in the iconic Tomb Raider series: Tomb Raider (1996), Tomb Raider II (1997), and Tomb Raider III (1998). Originally produced by Core Design, these classic games will be modernized to bring enhanced gaming experiences to players on platforms such as Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Gamers are looking forward to a nostalgic journey through Lara Croft’s early adventures, and Tomb Raider I–III Remastered aims to provide an updated and visually appealing version of the popular trilogy. With the upcoming release of the game, fans can relive iconic moments from the original Tomb Raider game in remastered form across a variety of gaming platforms.

Tomb Raider I–III Remake gameplay

Tomb Raider I–III Remastered brings a modern twist to the classic Tomb Raider trilogy, retelling the iconic adventures of Lara Croft in a remastered format. The collection includes remastered versions of Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider II, and Tomb Raider III, giving players the opportunity to relive the captivating stories and thrilling challenges of the original games. As players guide Lara through ancient ruins and tombs, the Remastered Collection introduces new features such as enhanced and original graphics options, classic and modern control schemes, camera lock-on, health bars for boss fights, photo mode, and an extensive list of over 200 achievements.

Fans of the series can look forward to an updated and visually richer gaming experience that retains the essence of the original games while adding modern elements to enhance the gameplay and aesthetic. Set to release on February 14, 2024, Tomb Raider I-III Remastered will be available on multiple platforms including Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, inviting new and experienced players alike to embark on a nostalgic journey with Lara Croft.

Tomb Raider I–III Remastered Trailer

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