Tomb Raider Reboot Multiplayer Uncovered

The Tomb Raider reboot has been received with a surprising amount of enthusiasm, and only a vocal minority of meh-sayers. So it will be interesting to see how the public feels about the latest details regarding the game, once again due to the incompetence of Crystal Dynamics.

Job listings on Gamasutra (since taken down) point to multiplayer for the reboot:

“Crystal Dynamics is looking for a talented, enthusiastic, and highly organized individual with demonstrable project management experience to take on a major production role in the multi-player part of an upcoming action adventure title. For this role, we are looking for an individual with outstanding communication skills and a proven track record in production, having successfully produced or managed a team designing multi-player parts of an AAA title.”

This is important for a number of reasons, not the least of which is it takes the wind out of what was undoubtedly meant to be a big reveal for the game (probably around E3). It also marks the first real Tomb Raider game to support multiplayer, but how will it be incorporated?

Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood proved that sometimes multiplayer works better than you might expect it to in a previously single-player-only design, but the new Tomb Raider’s focus is on survivalism and a more realistic Lara Croft. Tacking on some medicore multiplayer endeavor would be detrimental to the uphill battle Crystal Dynamics is already fighting.

Finally, it’s a little late in the game to be bringing people on board, isn’t it? Tomb Raider is not likely to see a release until 2012, but to be searching for employees well into the game’s development suggests that the multiplayer aspect wasn’t the priority, and the entire game may suffer because of it.

[Source]