New Tomb Raider game announced, will be download-only

It speaks volumes for the growing popularity of downloadable games that the next Tomb Raider will only be available via download. Crystal Dynamics just announced the first new game in the series since 2008’s surprisingly good Tomb Raider: Underworld.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light sees curvy architect/adventurer/raider of tombs Lara Croft return for her tenth game in fourteen years. Here’s a Crystal Dynamics bigwig telling us all how terribly excited he is:

“This is a really exciting project for Crystal Dynamics, we have created something completely new and very different to what people might be expecting. Lara Croft is such an iconic character in videogames, with Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light we have created what we believe is a truly original digital experience.”

Different to what we’re expecting? I’m calling cel-shaded Tomb Raider! Or … perhaps not. But people still care about Tomb Raider, right? The sales certainly suggest so, and I reckon you should, seeing as the latest two games rescue a series that was becoming thoroughly shitty.

No news yet on which platforms this is headed to, but it’ll be out this year.

[Via press release]