Vertigo Games’ Amsterdam Division Was Working On A Tomb Raider VR Game Prior To Closing

The Amsterdam branch of Vertigo Studios was working on a Tomb Raider VR title prior to its closure, having previously cut its teeth on a number of major VR titles including Metro Awakening.

Tomb Raider VR would have been the first full-fledged virtual reality in the Lara Croft-fronted adventure franchise, having previously dabbled in VR in the past with Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration, where players could explore Lara’s home using PSVR. According to a report on MP1st, the project was scrapped early this year, but some details have since emerged online.

Development on the Tomb Raider VR project reportedly spanned November 2024 — January 2026, and was known internally as Project U and powered by Unreal Engine 5 with over 50 developers involved. The game was targeting a release on Meta Quest 3, PSVR2, and PC. The website for one of the development team members stated the studio completed a vertical slice milestone that was praised internally and externally, but noted its cancellation was actually due to structural reorganisation and not as a result of the closure of the company itself.

Footage revealed on the Tomb Raider VR project confirms that it would have implemented classic mechanics from the core franchise, and would have taken place primarily in the Middle East. There’s also a clear influence from Mesopotamian and Babylonia culture in its sprawling temples and palaces, with rock and underwater climbing featured.

Elsewhere, concept art for the project has revealed a number of enemies that players would face, including a large guardian statue that presumably serves as a boss, alongside shield-wielding skeletons, bats, scorpions, and hyenas. Illustrations also seemingly confirm that Lara would be joined by a young Arabic character named Tarik.

Crystal Dynamics is currently working on two major entries in the Tomb Raider series, namely Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Tomb Raider Catalyst, the former being a remake of the 1996 game.

[Source – MP1st]