XProger Leads Tomb Raider Remastered Trilogy Development

XProger, the esteemed modder behind OpenLara, has stepped into the limelight with the revelation of their role as the lead developer for the Tomb Raider remastered trilogy. With a tweet confirming their involvement, the modder disclosed their deep commitment to the project, which has been in the making for the past year, marking the culmination of an eight-year journey.

A dream project unveiled

In a tweet reported by Eurogamer, XProger expressed gratitude towards the leadership at Saber Interactive for entrusting them with the helm of the project. They assembled a dedicated team of passionate fans to bring their vision to life, reflecting on the freedom granted from the project’s inception. 

The team embarked on what XProger described as an “impossible goal,” requiring relentless dedication from a select group of individuals prepared to work tirelessly towards a shared vision.

Design decisions and player engagement

With the project unveiled, inquiries about design decisions and the remaster’s reception poured in. Questions surfaced regarding the frame rate limitations in classic mode versus modern graphics. XProger clarified that the original game logic operates at 30Hz, necessitating a similar frame rate for consistency. 

While acknowledging the potential for higher frame rates with modern hardware, they highlighted technical constraints, citing potential input lag issues associated with interpolation.

Missed opportunities and industry response

Amidst the acclaim for Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered, inquiries arose regarding potential collaborations with other studios. XProger’s mention of reaching out to Nightdive Studios, known for their acclaimed remakes and enhancements of classic titles, garnered interest. 

However, a response from Nightdive Studios’ lead engine developer revealed a change in personnel, indicating that the individual in question was no longer part of the team.

Critical reception and prospects

As reviews for Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered surface, the remaster is currently holding a respectable average score of 78 on Metacritic. Notably, TheGamer awarded the remaster four stars, with Editor-in-Chief Stacey Henley lauding it as a “solid remaster of excellent games.” 

However, comparisons were drawn to other remastered trilogies like Crash Bandicoot and Spyro, suggesting room for further improvement to enhance accessibility for newcomers.