Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered is getting a new update, but players aren't happy

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latest Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered the update is fueling online controversy over what some fans perceive as a lack of quality control, both in terms of asset handling and technical performance. The backlash is so intense that a vocal section of the community is now asking Aspyr Media to rehire Saber Interactive to fix Tomb Raider remasters.

Officially, the March 12 patch was positioned as a free expansion to the collection and added Challenge Mode, 10 outfits, 15 achievements, and some other unlockable modifiers. While Aspyr framed this as adding value, much of the resulting conversation focused on whether Tomb Raider Remastered the developer brought more trouble than the update was worth, especially considering that the new content is proving to be polarizing at best.

Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered Lara Croft with dual control in the air

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Tomb Raider fans push back on Aspyr's new patch

Ongoing criticism focuses on two fronts: the appearance of the new clothing and reports from players that the patch caused or exacerbated technical issues. One widely shared post by Reddit user Darkon_Redfiend complains about the poor quality model work resulting in visual artifacts such as sunglasses melting into Lara's head and pixelated textures, in addition to the new Tomb Raider Remastered the collection update introduces “AI slop”, referring to the suspiciously nonsensical symbols appearing on some of the new costumes.

Arrange the covers in the correct US release order.




Arrange the covers in the correct US release order.

Easy (5) Medium (7) Hard (10)

“I'm sorry, but even if it's free, it's far from acceptable,” Darkon_Redfiend concluded. Their post made the front page of the r/TombRaider subreddit, a forum with more than 115,000 members, on March 12, suggesting that a vocal segment of the fandom agrees with his underlying sentiment. Elsewhere, players complained about various technical issues that occurred after the new patch, including Tomb Raider 3 In Lara's mansion, music plays from the main menu, subtitles freeze on the screen after the accompanying lines are spoken, and unlocked clothes linger in the menu when they shouldn't. Other fans are also reporting that the waist stamps are now missing, while Lara's braid broke while in use. Tomb Raider photo mode remasters.

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Giovanni Lucca, main artist at Tomb Raider Remastered collection, took to Twitter on March 14 to add to the ongoing fan backlash by sharing a video poking fun at some of the new outfits. While he only added a clown emoji to the tweet, he clarified in a separate post two days earlier that he was not involved in the art direction of the surprise update. In fact, none of the original developers at Saber Interactive had anything to do with it, Lucca said.

Tomb Raider fans are asking for Saber to come back and fix the Challenge Mode patch

One of the clearest signs that the backlash has moved beyond routine patch complaints is a Change.org petition asking Aspyr to re-hire Saber Interactive to patch a new patch. As of March 15, three days after its launch, the online initiative had collected around 700 signatures. The opinion currently dominating online fan discourse is that getting nothing can be better than a free update of this level of quality.

The patch itself is currently available on PlayStation and Xbox consoles as well as PC. The Nintendo Switch version will receive it next Wednesday, March 18. Aspyr has yet to comment on the ongoing backlash to the Challenge Mode update. The new controversy comes about six months after French actress Françoise Cadol sued Tomb Raider Remastered developer for allegedly using artificial intelligence to imitate her voice without her permission in the process of remastering the second trilogy of games starring Lara Croft.

Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered March 2026 Update Notes

  • Challenge Mode: A new game mode added to the main menu for Tomb Raider I, II and III.

    • Go to: Tomb Raider I, II or III / Game Menu (Pass) / Mode / Challenge Mode
    • Replay classic levels in new ways: Lara can now replay completed levels. Each completed level will have level customization modifiers for new and exciting challenges.

    • Challenge Mode Modifier Options:

      • Select Region

      • Select a chapter

      • Select Outfit: Once you've unlocked a new outfit with new effects, it will appear here.

      • Use Outfit Bonus: Choose whether to use unique outfit effects in this level.

      • Lara's Health: Select Lara's max health during level 10%-500%. The default value is 100%.

      • Lara's Regen: Choose Lara's Regeneration speed, -5hp/s–100hp/s. The default value is 0.

      • Unlimited Air: Choose Lara's ability to breathe underwater. The default value is No.

      • Equipment: Choose Lara's first aid kit and ammo supply. This will not affect any keys or items relevant to the level.

      • Additional Weapon: Choose which additional weapon Lara starts the level with. The default is no other weapons.

      • Enemy Health: Select enemy health, 25%-250%. The default value is 100%.

      • Enemy Damage: Choose the amount of damage that enemies deal per level, 25%-250%. Default value is 100%

      • Number of Enemies: Select the number of enemies present in the level. Default value is 100%

      • Enemy Type: Options will vary depending on level. Choose different types of enemies to face in the level.

    • Check your challenge rating: Each modifier changes the level rating, granting different rewards and bragging rights.
    • Challenge mode can be used as a level selector if you do not select any modifiers.
    • Challenge Mode restarts each level as a “start over” experience where all items collected in previous levels (medipacks/weapons/ammo) will be removed. Without modifiers, Lara starts with only basic pistols.
  • Unlock new outfits with Challenge Mode!

    • To understand how to unlock each new outfit, go to: Tomb Raider I, II or III / Game menu (pass) / Extras / Outfit.

    • Each new outfit comes with unique bonuses and effects! These effects will only be available in Challenge mode.

    • Pattern of peace

    • Established Explorer

    • Atlantean bio-armor

    • Master Mobster

    • Ahab Approved

    • Dragon Warrior

    • Speed ​​demon

    • Flying high

    • Honest damned

    • Cooler than Cool

  • Achievements: Added 15 new achievements/trophies. Unlock them by completing levels in challenge mode with a higher challenge rating.
  • Save file/checkpoint Updated system: Saves in challenge mode behave the same as regular saves, but will be marked with a skull icon.

Optimizations and bug fixes

  • Fixed various accelerator issues

  • Fixed achievement issue: “The Business is Finished” achievement unlocks after the second level of Unfinished Business instead of after completing all levels

  • Xbox

    • Fixed button binding issue

    • The buttons were grayed out and could be changed

  • Steam

    • Fixed missing UI element when changing Lara's hair in Photomode

    • Fixed issue in classic mode

    • Hand of Rathmore does not appear in its spawn point

  • Mobile

    • Game menu optimized for mobiles

    • Game touch control added for mobile


Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered Starring Lara Croft Tag Page Cover Art


Released

February 14, 2024

ESRB

T for Teens // Blood, mild language, mild themes, violence


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