Tomb Raider remaster sparks controversy over content warning

The new Tomb Raider remaster is getting major attention online, so here is our breakdown of why the game is under such scrutiny.

In the current video game industry, it is very common for cult classic games and franchises to be given the remaster or remake treatment. Allowing players to either dive into old-school games for the first time or for fans to once again revisit some of their favorite titles.

Typically, remasters include updated graphics and gameplay while some remakes go the extreme mile and completely reinvent the game with new content, dialogue, and more.

The latest classic title to receive the remaster treatment is the original Tomb Raider trilogy. The first Tomb Raider, which was released back in 1996, was one of the first games to truly place a female character center stage.

The success of these early games spawned multiple movies, comics, and even more games. However, the new Tomb Raider remaster is causing major controversy online.

Continue reading as we break down why the Tomb Raider remaster is receiving backlash online and what people are saying about the situation.

Tomb Raider remaster controversy explained

It has become quite commonplace for video game remasters of old-school classics to find themselves figuring out whether or not the original content is reflective of the world we currently live in.

An example of this is the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. As well as updated graphics and gameplay, the devs chose to rework certain shots from cutscenes that focused on sexualizing certain characters such as Miranda in Mass Effect 2.

The Tomb Raider remaster, which released on February 14, 2024, has found itself in the middle of a similar controversy.

Instead of removing potentially harmful content for the Tomb Raider remaster, devs Crystal Dynamics choose to offer up a disclaimer at the beginning that reads as the following:

“The games in this collection contain offensive depictions of people and cultures rooted in racial and ethnic prejudice. These stereotypes are deeply harmful, inexcusable, and do not align with our values at Crystal Dynamics. 

“Rather than removing this content, we have chosen to present it here in its original form, unaltered, in the hopes that we may acknowledge its harmful impact and learn from it.”

Fan reaction to the Tomb Raider remastered backlash

Fans have begun flooding social media, debating back and forth as to whether Crystal Dynamic made the right decision to keep all the content in the game instead of removing it altogether.

One player called out the devs, stating “deeply harmful and inexcusable which is why we are remastering them and reselling them to you.”

Another added, “While I prefer this over censoring the games, it is striking that any remaster of a media that is more than 10-15 years old always has to carry this warning.”

Furthermore, others also called out the devs for acknowledging that parts of the game are harmful but still putting them in the remaster.

“Funny how Crystal Dynamics have condemned the Classic Tomb Raider remasters for “racist stereotypes” depicting cannibals, meanwhile in their reboot trilogy you kill a native girl’s dad who wants to sacrifice her in a barbaric ritual.”