Gear Up for an Unprecedented Gaming Encounter: Call of Duty Raises the Stakes for the Upcoming Tomb Raider

Highlights

Call of Duty: Warzone is known for its collaborations, and its latest crossover with Lara Croft sets a high bar for the next Tomb Raider game.

The Warzone Lara Croft skin flawlessly blends the classic features of the original Lara Croft design with a rugged survivor aesthetic. This includes her blue tank top, tan cargo shorts, dual pistols, and jade necklace.

Keeley Hawes breathes life into Lara Croft's voice lines in Warzone, infusing the character with the witty British charm that fans have been yearning for. The anticipation for the upcoming Tomb Raider game has reached unprecedented levels.

Crossovers have long been a common occurrence in the entertainment industry, but in recent years, they have become particularly widespread in the gaming world. Kingdom Hearts and Super Smash Bros. have been uniting beloved characters from various franchises for quite some time, but it was Fortnite that truly revolutionized the concept by bringing together iconic properties such as Star Wars, Marvel, and DC. This move proved to be extremely lucrative for Fortnite. Now, Call of Duty: Warzone is following suit, showing that where there is money to be made, the game is not far behind.

In recent years, Call of Duty: Warzone has been progressively collaborating with other franchises. These collaborations usually come in the form of cosmetic skins and have encompassed a wide range of popular culture. From action heroes like John McClane from Die Hard to horror icons like Jigsaw, and even celebrity appearances from Snoop Dogg and Nicki Minaj, Warzone has left no stone unturned. Now, the game is about to venture into the realm of video game franchises with the addition of Lara Croft from Tomb Raider on September 9. Lara Croft's design in this crossover sets a remarkably high standard for the next Tomb Raider installment.

Call of Duty: Warzone's Lara Croft Sets a High Bar

Simply put, the Lara Croft design in Call of Duty: Warzone is practically flawless and fulfills the long-standing requests of fans. Crystal Dynamics' previous version of Lara, known as the "Survivor" iteration, aligned well with the gritty and realistic tone of the Tomb Raider reboot and its sequels. However, it lacked the iconicity of the original Lara Croft design. The blue tank top, tan cargo shorts, and dual pistols that defined her character were replaced with a plain gray vest, green trousers, and the absence of her iconic weaponry for most of the series.

In 2021, Crystal Dynamics announced a new Tomb Raider game in the making, which aimed to bring together all versions of Lara Croft. The Lara Croft skin in Call of Duty: Warzone achieves just that. While the Warzone version shares similarities with Crystal Dynamics' Lara in terms of facial features and the green pendant, her attire unabashedly pays homage to the beloved original look of Lara Croft.

Lara Croft in Call of Duty: Warzone sports her iconic blue top and tan cargo shorts, accompanied by a visible brown backpack and her trademark long ponytail. Additionally, the Warzone's Lara Croft Operator bundle includes unique blueprints for the new 9mm Daemon sidearm, featuring her classic dual pistols. The visual modernization of Lara Croft is undeniable, but there's more to it.

Similar to other Call of Duty: Warzone Operator bundles, Lara Croft brings a multitude of distinctive voice lines. Keeley Hawes, known for previously voicing Lara in Tomb Raider games such as Anniversary, Underworld, and Legend, returns triumphantly, recapturing the sassy British charm that has been absent from the character for a considerable time. This version of Lara Croft stands out as one of the finest interpretations of the character on screen. It remains uncertain whether Activision alone is responsible for this design or if Crystal Dynamics had a hand in its creation. Nonetheless, it sets a remarkably high standard for the future of the Tomb Raider franchise. Fans now anticipate a new Lara Croft that not only resembles her original iconic design but also embodies her voice and personality.

Call of Duty: Warzone is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.