Next Tomb Raider Teased in Embracer's "Still to Be Dated" Lineup of Major Releases

Embracer Group quietly sparked interest in one of gaming's most enduring titles again in a recent financial presentation. The words, which were buried in a slide called "Selected Upcoming Releases," were simple but full of meaning: The date of Tomb Raider's major next release has not yet been set.

The link was found in the business's Q1 interim report, which covered April through June 2025. The next Tomb Raider didn't seem like a set date for release; instead, it fit into the "to be dated" group with games like Tides of Tomorrow, Rise of Hydra, and a remake of Gothic 1. Its lack of a clear plan makes people both hopeful and cautious.

A closer look at the slide shows an interesting mix of projects that will happen in the far future and in the near future. Some games, like Metal Eden and Tides of Tomorrow, have set release dates for the next year. Some, like Marvel 19, are already set for the beginning of 2026. Even so, Tomb Raider is in the same place as projects that won't be finished for years, like the long-awaited Darksiders 4.

The positioning is telling. If the next Tomb Raider were truly nearing completion, it would likely appear in the upper segment of the list alongside early 2026 titles. Instead, it sits among long-lead projects — games investors know by name, placed there as a reassurance rather than a countdown. In corporate presentations, such inclusions serve a dual purpose: reminding stakeholders of marquee brands while sidestepping concrete promises.

One omission speaks as loudly as the inclusion. Although Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin had been announced before and sparked a lot of attention among fans, it was not at all on the list. Others who are keeping an eye on its progress will be confused by its absence, which could mean that goals have changed or that the production schedule is uncertain.

The strange situation with SpongeBob SquarePants makes things even more interesting. In spite of a confirmed November 2025 release date, it is listed without a date, which throws off the logic of the slide. It's not clear if this was just an oversight or a sign of flexible schedule, but it shows that these predictions are unpredictable.

This has clear effects on Tomb Raider. At best, the next installment might surface in the latter half of 2026, though a 2027 or later launch is far more plausible. Grouping it with titles still in early stages reinforces the sense that Lara Croft's next expedition is in no rush to meet the public.

Embracer's strategy here is subtle but deliberate. By putting the game next to other well-known but far-off releases, the company tells investors that the brand is still alive without giving a specific release date. This deliberate vagueness keeps people interested while growth goes at its own pace.

Fans shouldn't have too high of hopes. Being on the list proves that the project exists and is still being worked on, but it doesn't mean that big announcements or quick progress are on the way. The fact that it's hidden suggests the opposite: the next Tomb Raider game may still be in the early stages of development, with the team working away from the public eye to make it better.

For now, Lara's return remains an open-ended promise. Somewhere within Crystal Dynamics' studios, her next adventure is being crafted — but the path to unveiling it will be measured in years, not months. And in the delicate language of investor slides, that is perhaps the clearest signal of all.