Material from a Supposed Cancelled Tomb Raider VR Game Has Surfaced

A new report has brought to light the existence of a cancelled Tomb Raider virtual reality project, which was allegedly in development at Vertigo Games Amsterdam, the studio behind Metro Awakening.

According to the information published, the game was internally known as Project U and would have been a standalone experience designed specifically for VR. The project reportedly used Unreal Engine 5 and was planned for platforms such as Meta Quest 3, PlayStation VR2, and PC.

What makes this especially interesting is that development was apparently not limited to an early concept phase. The report claims that more than 50 developers worked on the game and that it even reached a stage known as a vertical slice, meaning an advanced sample used to showcase how its main mechanics and visual direction would work.

The leaked material shows a fairly ambitious attempt to adapt the classic essence of Tomb Raider to virtual reality. Among the mechanics reportedly explored were rock climbing, diving, ziplining, environmental puzzle-solving, and combat against different types of enemies.

The setting also seems to have leaned heavily into an archaeological and mysterious tone, featuring ancient temples, underground locations, and inspiration from Mesopotamian and Babylonian cultures. Among the enemies shown in the material were skeletons with shields, bats, venomous scorpions, hyenas, and creatures infected with plant-like elements.

In addition, some concept art reportedly references historical or mythological figures, including Amytis, Queen of Babylon, as well as relics inspired by Mesopotamian deities. The team also appears to have worked on an encounter against a massive guardian statue, suggesting that the project aimed to recapture that sense of adventure, discovery, and danger that has always defined the franchise.

The game was reportedly cancelled in January 2026 as part of an internal restructuring, months before the definitive closure of Vertigo Games Amsterdam. For now, neither Crystal Dynamics nor Vertigo Games has officially announced this project, so all information should be treated as part of an unconfirmed leak.

Even so, the material that has surfaced paints a very clear picture: Tomb Raider in VR could have been one of the most immersive and different experiences in the franchise. Seeing Lara Croft explore ruins, solve puzzles, and face ancient creatures from a first-person perspective would have been a risky move, but also a very powerful one for fans of the series.

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CONCEPT ARTS