Lara Croft is raiding tombs again, and apparently she brought a neural network along for the adventure. Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, the upcoming Unreal Engine 5 remake from Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog, quietly surfaced a generative AI disclosure on Steam that confirms AI-generated assets were used during development - though the studios insist everything has since been "replaced or refined by humans," according to Game Informer.
The game made its proper comeback during last week's PlayStation State of Play, complete with a shiny February 12 release date. Nothing says "we believe in this product" quite like a Valentine's Day launch window - nothing says romance like dual pistols and ancient Greek mythology, honestly.
So... how much AI are we actually talking about?
The Steam disclosure is one of those classic "yes, but also no" situations that the games industry has become increasingly fluent in speaking. AI was used at some point in the pipeline, but the developers claim human hands have gone back through and tidied everything up. Whether that's a full renovation or more of a light dusting remains the big question mark hanging over the project.
Game Informer also got hands-on time with Legacy of Atlantis during Summer Game Fest 2026 media play days, suggesting the game is far enough along to put in front of press. That's at least one green flag in what is otherwise shaping up to be a PR obstacle course for the development team.
Why this matters beyond the drama
The AI disclosure conversation in gaming is still in its early levels - no one has quite figured out the meta yet. Studios using generative AI for early prototyping or placeholder assets is becoming more common, but transparency around how much of that makes it into the final build is still all over the place. Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog at least get credit for not hiding it behind a loading screen.
Legacy of Atlantis has February 12 locked in as its release date, which gives the team roughly enough time to either win back skeptical fans or accidentally speedrun a PR crisis. Either way, Lara's comeback arc is officially in motion - AI baggage and all.
