Earlier this year Crystal Dynamics took the wraps off of ‘The Tomb Raider Trilogy,’ a compilation of past Tomb Raider games on one Blu-ray disc for PlayStation 3.

When the trilogy pack goes on sale later this month, you’ll be able to get your hands on remastered versions of Tomb Raider Legend and Tomb Raider Anniversary (i.e. high definition art assets used to improve the visuals), as well as Tomb Raider Underworld (which was previously release for PS3) – all in one collection!

To showcase the huge difference in visual fidelity between the original ‘Legend’ and ‘Anniversary’ games on PlayStation 2 compared to the remastered versions on PlayStation 3, Crystal Dynamics has released a few comparison images with both versions side-by-side:

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Like clockwork, two more games have appeared on Xbox LIVE’s Games on Demand digital download service, and Xbox 360 gamers are now able to purchase and download the action adventure game, Tomb Raider: Underworld, while more Xbox 360 gamers are now able to get the strategy game, Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

As is El33tonline’s wont, we’ve collected a bunch of trailers and gameplay videos for both games to give you a better idea of what these games are all about, as well as some official explanations to further fill in those information gaps.

You can find all of that below:

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Crystal Dynamics, the San Francisco based developer responsible for the resurrection of the Tomb Raider series, has been forced to let go a further 25 members of their staff, as a spokesperson confirms the bad news:

“We can confirm that Crystal Dynamics has made a reduction of approximately 25 people at the San Francisco studio. This decision is a reflection of the continued drive to focus resources at the studio.

“We would like to thank all of the employees affected by this difficult decision for their hard work during their time at Crystal and we wish them all the best in the future.”

This news comes after a rather tumultuous time for the developer and operating publisher, Eidos, after Crystal Dynamics saw layoffs due to an underperformance of their latest title, Tomb Raider: Underworld, while Eidos itself was acquired by Japanese gaming giant, Square Enix.

Source: Kotaku

Eidos today announced that Tomb Raider: Underworld will join the Classics range for the Xbox 360 and Platinum Hits range for the PS3 on the 22nd of May. The new range will retail at £19.99.

El33tonline quite enjoyed Underworld, in fact we thought that her “new role demands she be taken seriously as an adventurer that is not only here to stay, but threatens to give other adventurers like Nathan Drake a serious run for their money.” Worth checking out, if you haven’t already.

Eidos and Crystal Dynamics have been quite generous in how they’ve continued to support Tomb Raider: Underworld through DLC. Just a few months since its release, we’ve already been gifted with two sets of additional costumes for our heroine, as well as Beneath the Ashes, a new Tomb Raider episode released as a downloadable expansion to Underworld. Hot on the heels of that first episode comes Lara’s Shadow, the second expansion. Like its predecessor, it’s exclusive to the Xbox 360 version of the game, available as a download from Xbox Live Marketplace. Unlike Beneath the Ashes, however, Lara’s Shadow refuses to play it safe.

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of Tomb Raider: Underworld - Lara’s Shadow (DLC).

Tomb Raider fans have been spoiled these last few years. Not only did Lady Croft’s seminal series see a glorious return to form after having veered so terribly off-course before, but fans were treated to no fewer than one new Tomb Raider game per year for the last three years. Lara’s re-emergence culminated in last year’s Tomb Raider: Underworld, an excellent entry sporting the same beautiful environments, fantastic puzzles and superb platforming that the series has been known for. It seems like it might be a few years before we see another Tomb Raider entry, but fortunately Crystal Dynamics and Eidos have treated fans to Tomb Raider Underworld: Beneath the Ashes.

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of Tomb Raider: Underworld - Beneath the Ashes (DLC).

If Anniversary marked Lara Croft’s comeback, then Underworld is her way of sending a very serious message to the videogame industry that not only is she back, but she plans on staying.

The story is told through a series of cutscenes, mostly consisting of Lara dictating her findings into a tape recorder. Even though we are told that the story picks up from where Legend and Anniversary left off, I think it’s possible to follow even if you haven’t played the previous games. With that being said, as with previous installments, the story is still lacking and could have been more compelling.

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of Tomb Raider: Underworld.

Eidos announced a little while ago that the second chunk of downloadable content (DLC) for Tomb Raider: Underworld, entitled Lara’s Shadow, is now up and available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for a piffling 800 MS Points.

This new piece of Underworld content, available exclusively on Xbox 360 and following on from the first set of DLC, gives players the opportunity to play as an entirely new character, the Doppelganger, which allows faster movement, shadow powers and a melee attack that ‘decimates enemies with devastating accuracy and speed.’ Cool.

The Doppelganger apparently opens up new gameplay mechanics, areas and puzzles which weren’t possible while playing as Lara Croft in the original Underworld adventure. Grab Tomb Raider: Underworld – Lara’s Shadow on Xbox LIVE Marketplace while now.

Major Nelson has just announced that there are a bevy of free game add-ons now available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for three different games, namely Tomb Raider: Underworld, FEAR 2: Project Origin and Trivial Pursuit.

For Trivial Pursuit, you can get the free ‘Movie Pack’ with hundreds of new questions for Trivial Pursuit featuring your favourite films. Does that interest you?

Or how about a Tomb Raider: Underworld Designer Costume Pack containing two new costumes created by fashion designers? No?

Well then, how about a FEAR 2 Toy Soldiers Map Pack, where players are only inches tall and fight it out inside a pinball machine, a hospital lab room or a playground sandbox? Still no? Well, there’s just no pleasing some people!

Have a look at these free add-ons the next chance you get, ‘cause they’re free!

Beneath the Ashes, the new downloadable level in Tomb Raider: Underworld, is now available to download exclusively on Xbox Live Marketplace. It will cost you 800 Microsoft Points.

The DLC was first announced by Eidos back in January but met with a sudden delay in February.

Beneath the Ashes is the first of two new downloadable levels for Underworld. This new adventure sees Lara returning to the remains of Croft Manor, where she discovers a series of new caverns and crypts used by her father to protect a deadly source of power. The pack also contains six new costumes and 125 achievements points.

The second pack, titled Lara’s Shadow, will follow in March. Both packs will be available exclusively on the Xbox 360 via XBLM.

Check out the latest trailer for Beneath the Ashes below.

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Eidos have announced that the release of the Tomb Raider: Underwolrd downloadable content (DLC), Beneath the Ashes, has been delayed due to technical reasons. Expected to release today on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, an Eidos spokesperson confirmed the delay of the DLC thus:

“An unexpected technical issue means that Beneath the Ashes will not be available to download on 10th February as planned.

“We apologize for this delay and we are doing everything we can to bring you this exciting new content for Tomb Raider: Underworld as soon as possible.”

More news as it’s available.

The upcoming Tomb Raider Underworld downloadable content (DLC), Beneath the Ashes, aims to add an entire new chapter and adventure to the game, set in a series of catacombs beneath protagonist Lara Croft’s manor.

The ancient chambers have been used throughout the centuries to house a ‘deadly source of power,’ whatever that is. It’s then up to players to jump, climb and shimmy their way around to get to the bottom of the matter. Here’s some newly released footage of the DLC to give you a better idea of what you can expect:

Tomb Raider Underworld: Beneath the Ashes is coming to Xbox 360 LIVE Marketplace on March 10th.

Rumours are being kicked up about a new Tomb Raider movie currently in the works, including how it plans to re-imagine Lara Croft’s story and background.

Movie consumer site Empire is reporting that Warner Bros. is currently working on the third Tomb Raider movie, following the ‘OK but not great’ franchise movies of 2001 and 2003.

Of some interest is the idea that the third movie would be a ‘re-imagining’ of the Tomb Raider series, essentially ‘rebooting’ the franchise and changing Lara Croft’s origins, introducing a love interest and setting up a new antagonist.

There is apparently no cast, writer or director just yet, so this will probably be something to ‘look forward to’ rather than expect any time soon.

These rumours are circulating amidst the news and ongoing developments of Warner’s bid to acquire Eidos, the holder of the Tomb Raider license, as well as a slump in the sales performance of the latest Tomb Raider game, Underworld.

Eidos have revealed the release date for the upcoming, exclusive to Xbox 360, downloadable content (DLC) for Tomb Raider: Underworld, and have released two screenshots to prove its existence.

Entitled Tomb Raider: Underworld – Beneath the Ashes, the DLC sees series protagonist, Lara Croft, returning to the ashes of her destroyed home, Croft Manor, where she discovers a massive network of caverns and crypts beneath the mansion’s remains, apparently “used to protect and hide a deadly source of power.”

Beneath the Ashes contains six new costumes and provides and additional 125 Achievement points. This is the first of two DLC packs coming to Xbox 360, the second of which is Tomb Raider: Underworld – Lara’s Shadow.

Tomb Raider: Underworld – Beneath the Ashes releases on February 10th on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, while Lara’s Shadow will release on March 10th.

After it was announced by Eidos that the latest Tomb Raider game, Underworld, had performed worse than expected and as a result reduced their annual financial forecasts, Eidos’ stock value expectedly fell by over 25%, which follows the general downward spiral of their stocks, falling 80% in value in the last 12 months.

Eidos’ annual financial revenue forecast is now sitting at between £160 million and £180 million, down from the publisher’s previous guidance of between £180 million and £200 million. Tomb Raider: Underworld’s sales would have a large part to play as Eidos has become heavily dependant on the series’ performance for revenue.

Despite having sold approximately 1.5 million copies worldwide, Underworld was expected to perform better, as Eidos points the blame at the current state of the US economy, as well as the tough competition during the initial sales period.

Fallout from the poorer-than-expected Tomb Raider: Underworld sales includes 30 redundancies at Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics, as well as the possibility of a Lara Croft redesign to attract a wider audience, and keep the character appealing to female players. Eidos CFO Robert Brent said of the proposed plan:

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