Summer Game Fest 2026: First Hands-On Reactions to Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis
Summer Game Fest gave players their first chance to go hands-on with Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis. The demo sent them deep into the Lost Valley on a mission to reveal the entrance to the Tomb of Qualopec — solving puzzles, navigating treacherous terrain, and facing off against the iconic T-Rex along the way. Among the journalists and creators who picked up the controller were two voices well-known across gaming: Nick Apostolides (Resident Evil) and Troy Baker (The Last of Us, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle).
Nick Apostolides
Nick came away from the demo grinning. “Hell of an experience,” he said. “I got used to the mechanics in about one minute flat. It’s very intuitive.” For Nick, the demo proved that the franchise’s DNA is alive and well: “Tomb Raider started all these types of games, and here it is in true form 30-something years later. So fun.”
He was joined by fellow creator Ashleigh Morghan (Fortnite), who highlighted the balance between honoring the original and pushing it forward. “It still has the heart of the Tomb Raider we grew up with, the Lara we grew up with,” she said, “and then just enhanced it and made it even bigger, wider, and more adventurous.”
Nick also gave a special shoutout to Alix Wilton Regan’s performance as Lara: “Alix, hats off. Kudos. I want to be with your character for a good 20, 30 hours.”
Troy Baker
Troy was equally captivated, and equally reluctant to put the controller down. “I’m angry that I’m not still playing,” he laughed, “which is always a good thing.”
What struck Troy most was how the reimagining honors its roots. “There’s always this temptation when you’re doing a reboot to throw everything out. What I really love is that this feels like the game felt to me back then. It’s the perfect spiritual successor and the evolution of it, as opposed to an abandonment.”
He also couldn’t resist boasting about his skills, claiming the producer told him, “I’ve never seen somebody play this perfectly.” When Alix pressed him on it, he conceded he may have died a few times, but insisted it was “intentional, because I wanted to see the diversity in the game.”
If your play style is anything like Nick and Troy’s, you’re going to have a great time with Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis.
Pre-order Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis
The new Lara Croft takes her first plunge into the Lost Valley on February 12, 2027. Pre-orders are live now. Secure your edition before launch, and join us across the months ahead for new mini-documentaries, deep dives, and exclusive looks at the world of Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis.
